Stupid Arguments Against:
It is obvious that Radio 101 was not awarded a concession for broadcasting because Radio 101 had not sold out, neither in a political nor in financial sense. Of course, it would have been simpler it they did both; then they could easily get a concession. Only those who are politically absolutely and explicitly suitable, or those who are in some sort of a financial arrangement [with the ruling elite], either as owners or as victims, can survive in this state. The worst in all of this was shameless posturing regarding the so called democratic decision, which we could watch on the TV; there, it seemed that the individuals involved were making their own decision, as if the instructions had not been passed from the top. Members of the Telecommunications Council should be media experts and honorable public personalities - people without political connections. The way it is now, members of the Telecommunications Council are there as high ranking HDZ members and they pretend to vote as private citizens. Arguments against Radio 101 were very week, almost stupid. One of the objections was that some shows on the station have English names - in the situation where there are so many Hercegovacki cafes with English names and the authorities have completely lost their bearings and cannot cope with the total Americanisation of the culture. Then, the idea that the two competing programs, those of radio Globus and Radio 101, were the same, as if those who read Globus and listen to Radio 101 do not know that they represent two absolutely different concepts in journalism. Globus journalism is based on scandals and tabloid press; it allows release of frustrations and channels negative emotions towards marginal problems. On the other hand, Youth Radio (as it was named while I worked there), or Radio 101, gives equal access to all those who have something to say, regardless whether the authorities, or even the editors, like it or not. Finally, the simplest and the worst of the so-called objections was the one about the politicization, which came on behalf of a middle class non-political station, station whose program is implicitly very political and tied to the ruling party. I hope that Radio 101 will be awarded a concession very soon and that we, both the public and you at the station, won't have to go through the trouble of new decisions and new applications one more time.
Zvonimir Berkovic, professor at the Theater Academy in Zagreb, a publicist
People Against an Imposition
Since yesterday, nothing in this country is the way it use to be. People woke up and said no. If there is a no with historical significance, than this is it. The people will not allow to be told what to like, what to respect, will not tolerate imposition of foreign values.
Miljenko Jergovic, writer
Blowing Cold
When an American newspaper, for example Washington Post, writes that the freedom of press is in danger in Croatia, then a horde of all kinds of patriotic journalists finds it appropriate to respond and try to deny that. I think that this will be a great opportunity to repeat yet again that the freedom of press is not in danger in Croatia. Still someone should reply to a basic question: why Radio 101 doesn't have a right to broadcast and some non-existent radio stations do? I am afraid that this regime has more confidence in "its" people without experience in broadcasting than in an absolutely normal radio station which, in my opinion, was not a threat to the authorities.
Dijana Nenadic, movie critic
The Last Straw
This is the last straw. I find it ridiculous that a member of the commission which decided about the concession could state that the Radio 101 program was political, representing the view of the party which had made all parts of our lives political and won't let us live. Since I've already experiences similar things as a journalist in Slobodna Dalmacija I fully understand my colleagues at Radio 101 and offer my wholehearted support; I hope that this time the authorities will be reasonable.
Borivoj Radakovic, writer
This was the last chance that citizens of Zagreb, together with their city, let it be known what they think about the invasion of crime, gangsters and horrible ruralism, which doesn't exist anywhere else in Europe. Those who wanted to abolish this radio station, obviously had never listened to it. If they had, they would have known that "Turn on the radio!" [pali radio] is very important to all of us who have listened to the radio since its founding thirteen years ago. I hope that very soon we will be able to say something which hasn't happened anywhere else in the world: "They fell because of a radio!" [pali su preko radija]
These statements were broadcast on Radio 101 between November 21 and 22, in the show Antena. Interviewers were Agata Juniku, Branimira Lazarin, Andelko Subic, Igor Tomljanovic and Sergej Pristas.