Milosevic's latest

Slobodan Milosevic is at it again. The Serbian leader has now essentially banned the voices he fears most. Yugoslavia's independent radio and television stations. He apparently believes that he can get away with it because the world is concerned with the growing tension in Kosovo, and with trying to get Mr. Milosevic to agree to serious, internationally supervised talks there. But the media are the only voices in Serbia that challenge his nationalist assault on Kosovo. Preserving them is crucial for a settlement in Kosovo and to keep alive any hopes of democracy in Serbia.

The ban was disguised as a normal licensing decision by Mr. Milosevic's Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry. Of 38 independent radio and television stations that broadcast news in the Yugoslav republics of Serbia and Montenegro, 35 were shut down. Only three were granted new licenses. They are two television stations and the radio station B-92, known internationally as the leader and organizer of the independent media.

Those stations are now required to pay licensing fees of US$12,000 to $15,000 a month, which will quickly put them out of business.

All the other outlets granted frequencies either do not broadcast news or are pro-Milosevic. Mr. Milosevic's wife, son and daughter now each own a broadcasting station.

Censoring the press was just one of Mr. Milosevic's recent activities. Last week he also tried to stir up ethnic conflict in Montenegro and to squash its new government, which bravely opposes his rule. Mr. Milosevic comes up with one creative idea after another to keep himself in power at the expense of his people. Most require propaganda. For Mr. Milosevic, controlling the media is critical to controlling his country.

-- The New York Times