Who wants our chief editor dead? - You can read the English version below.

Danes zjutraj nam je odgovorni urednik Zmago Šalamun v uredništvo poslal fotografijo oglasne deske v njegovim bloku v katerem živi iz katere je razvidno, da na oglasni deski visi naš časopis Ovtarjeve novice. Na naslovnici je fotografija odgovornega urednika in v sredini čela je v fotografijo zaboden risalni žebljiček.

Več o tem nam je povedal odgovorni urednik Zmago Šalamun: »Soseda mi je sinoči poslala fotografijo oglasne deske in me je poklicala, ampak ker sem imel telefon izklopljen tega sporočila nisem videl. Videl sem ga komaj danes zjutraj. Najprej sem mislil, da je nekdo videl časopis na tleh in ga je pritrdil na oglasno desko. Ob podrobnem ogledu pa mi je bilo takoj jasno, da gre za nekaj več. Na moji fotografiji na prvi strani časopisa imam prebodene oči in v sredini čela je v mojo fotografijo zarit rdeč risalni žebljiček.
To dejanje razumem kot resno grožnjo, zato sem o tem obvestil Policijo, ki se je takoj odzvala in na kraju dogodka naredila zapisnik. Kot sem povedal policistom je to zame grožnja s smrtjo in poskus ustrahovanja, ki se preganja po 135. členu Kazenskega zakonika, kjer v prvem odstavku piše: »Kdor komu, zato da bi ga ustrahoval ali vznemiril, resno zagrozi, da bo napadel njegovo življenje ali telo ali prostost ali uničil njegovo premoženje velike vrednosti, ali da bo ta dejanja storil zoper njegovo bližnjo osebo, se kaznuje ...« Verjamem v pravno državo in tudi verjamem, da bodo policisti opravili svoje delo.«

V uredništvu razmišljamo, kaj bi lahko bil vzrok za takšno dejanje in se sprašujemo ali je to možno v Sloveniji v 21. stoletju, ko so nas polna usta strpnosti, boja proti sovražnemu govoru in dialoga.
Na vprašanje, kdo bi to lahko storil pa nam je odgovorni urednik Zmago Šalamun dejal: »Prepričan sem, da tega ni storil nihče od stanovalcev iz našega bloka, saj je oglasna deska dostopna vsem. Zato menim, da je ta grožnja prišla od zunaj. Nekdo mi želi povedati, da ve kje živim in na praznik Dneva mrtvih si želi moje smrti. Kdo je avtor tega strahopetnega in podlega dejanja ne vem, prepričan pa sem, da je to posledica velike trojice, ki se je zarotila proti meni, našemu uredništvu in našem podjetju. To so župan David Klobasa in občinska svetnika iz občine Lenart Silvo Muršec in Maksimiljan Šuman. To so pač ljudje, ki si po svoje predstavljajo demokracijo in so prepričani v svoj prav. Skupaj z njimi je še nekaj tihih podpornikov, ki se ne upajo predstaviti javnosti, poznam pa njihova imena.«

Na vprašanje kakšne zamere ima trojiški župan, do urednika in časopisa, pa urednik odgovarja: »Če se postavim v položaj župana Klobasa ga kar pomilujem, ker očitno so se mu pričele sesuvati domine na katerih je gradil svojo politično kariero. Osebno proti gospodu Klobasi nimam nič, zato sem ga tudi povabil na sestanek (3. oktobra 2024) na povabilo se ni odzval, nenehno pa pljuva po nas na družbenih omrežjih. To pa jasno kaže na njegov interes, da si ne želi dialoga. Res pa je, da smo v našem uredništvu javnost opozorili na številne nepravilnosti, ki se dogajajo v Občini Sveta Trojica od napačnega zaračunavanja storitev odvajanja in čiščenja odpadnih voda, razblinili smo napačno predstavo o brezplačnem TrojicaFestu, o tem, da si župan letno izplača več potnih stroškov, ko znaša slovenska delavska plača, da že dve leti zavaja javnost pri projektu pridobivanje gradbenega dovoljenja za gradnjo vrtca, da je kršil integriteto itd.

Občinska svetnika Silvo Muršec in Maksimiljan Šuman iz Lenarta pa sta očitno pričela priprave na nove lokalne volitve, baje se bo zdajšnji župan ob koncu mandata upokojil in to je odlična priložnost za zapolnitev praznega županskega stolčka. Seveda pa gospoda Silva Muršca že dolgo poznam, pa se ga vedno spomnim, da je sodeloval pri raznih negativnih političnih akcijah. Gospod Šuman, pa nosi napačna očala in svet vidi črnobelo. Res pa je, da sem gospoda povabil v naš podkast in mu dal priložnost, da v uri argumentira njegove obtožbe do našega podjetja in medija ter dodal, če nam ne zaupa lahko pogovor prenašamo v živo na družbena omrežja. Sodelovanje je zavrnil. Verjetno pa je zgolj slučajno, da je omenjeni gospod predvčerajšnjim (31. oktobra) na družbenem omrežju Facebook objavil fotografijo našega časopisa na kateri je s flomastrom porisana moja fotografija. Na to objavo Maksimiljana Šumana sem se izjemoma odzval, v želji po dialogu, ki si ga omenjeni očitno ne želijo, zato so me dodatno napadli, kar kaže na jasni poskus degradacije mene, našega medija in podjetja.«

Foto: zajem zaslona

Res je, da je naš časopis nenehno tarča napada in poskusov ukinjanja. Omenjena trojica konstantno blati naše uredništvo in naše podjetje ter objavlja javne podatke o naših prihodkih podjetja itd. Vse to pa je olje na ogenj nestrpnosti, ki je v zadnjih letih v velikem porastu. Očitno pa ti akterji ne razumejo novinarskega dela - zelo narobe je, če novinarje kriviš, da so te dobili z roko v marmeladi. Najprej je treba razčistiti pri sebi, ali je res bilo upravičeno, da sem potisnil roko v marmelado?

»Objavljanje podatkov in širjenje govoric o nekih bajnih zaslužkih našega podjetja je zame naklepno dejanje blatenja in podpihovanje nestrpnosti.
Res je, spoštovani politiki, Ovtarjeve novice so bile moj projekt, ki je uspešno zaživel in nihče me ni vprašal za plačilo, tudi ga nisem zahteval. Z ničemer se nisem okoristil, koliko pa smo s poštenim delom zaslužili iz javnih sredstev od leta 2016 do danes pa je razvidno iz spletne strani https://erar.si/prejemnik/7137249000#transakcije,« je še dodal odgovorni urednik.

V uredništvu napad jemljemo skrajno resno, zato bomo o tem napadu na življenje in novinarsko svobodo obvestili vse institucije v RS in tudi evropske institucije, zato je tudi članek objavljen v slovenskem in angleškem jeziku.

Kot pravijo strokovnjaki, da sovražni govor spodbuja sovraštvo in nasilje, kar se očitno dogaja v tudi v našem primeru. Takšnim objavam na družbenih omrežjih bi morali jasno reči ne in ne da jih podpiramo ter razpihujemo, ko se pa zgodi primer, kot ga opisuje Ana Kamenik v knjigi Ravnateljeva hči pa nam je žal, ali pa se delamo, da mi tega nismo počeli. Preden pišete ali všečkate objave na družbenih omrežjih pa se spominite aktualne državne kampanije »Premisli, nato stisni.«

Najbolj pa nas žalosti, da v tem linču na družbenih omrežjih sodeluje tudi osnovnošolski pedagog, ki pri predmetu računalništvo poučuje mlade o strpnosti in nenasilni komunikaciji na spletu.

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Who wants our chief editor dead?

This morning, our chief editor Zmago Šalamun sent our editorial team a photo of the notice board in his apartment building, showing our newspaper, Ovtarjeve Novice, pinned there. The cover features a photo of the chief editor, with a thumbtack pierced directly in the center of his forehead.

Zmago Šalamun provided us with further details: "A neighbor sent me a photo of the notice board last night and tried to call me, but I had my phone off, so I didn’t see the message until this morning. At first, I thought someone had just found the paper on the ground and attached it to the board. But upon closer inspection, it became immediately clear that there was more to it. In the photo on the front page, my eyes were punctured, and a red thumbtack was driven into the center of my forehead.

I see this as a serious threat, so I reported it to the police, who responded immediately and took a statement at the scene. I informed the officers that I consider this a death threat and an attempt at intimidation, which is prosecutable under Article 135 of the Penal Code, where it states: ‘Anyone who threatens another with the intent to intimidate or disturb them, or threatens their life, physical integrity, or freedom, or to destroy their property of significant value, or does so to someone close to them, shall be punished…’ I have faith in the legal system and believe the police will do their job.”

We in the editorial office are questioning what might have motivated such an action and wondering whether something like this is possible in Slovenia in the 21st century, when we constantly preach tolerance, the fight against hate speech, and dialogue.

When asked who might be responsible, chief editor Zmago Šalamun replied: “I’m convinced that no one from our building did this, as the notice board is accessible to everyone. I believe this threat comes from outside. Someone wants me to know they know where I live and, on All Saints' Day, wishes me dead. I don’t know who committed this cowardly and despicable act, but I am convinced it is the consequence of work of the ‘big three’ who have conspired against me, our editorial office, and our company. These are Mayor of the Municipality of Sveta Trojica, David Klobasa, and municipal councilors Silvo Muršec and Maksimiljan Šuman from the Municipality of Lenart. These individuals have their own ideas about democracy and believe they are absolutely right. Among them are also a few silent supporters who are too afraid to reveal themselves publicly, though I know their names.”

Asked what grudges the mayor of Sveta Trojica holds against the editor and the newspaper, the editor replied: “If I put myself in Mayor Klobasa’s shoes, I feel sorry for him; it seems his political career is collapsing around him. Personally, I have nothing against Mr. Klobasa. I even invited him to a meeting (October 3, 2024), but he didn’t respond. He continues to speak against us on social media Facebook, which clearly shows he has no interest in dialogue. True, our editorial office has drawn public attention to numerous irregularities in the Municipality of Sveta Trojica, including overcharges for wastewater treatment services, debunking myths about the supposedly free TrojicaFest, highlighting that the mayor receives annual travel allowances exceeding the average Slovenian wage, misleading the public for two years about the nursery construction permit, and integrity violations, among other things.

Municipal councilors Silvo Muršec and Maksimiljan Šuman seem to have begun preparations for the next local elections; the current mayor is expected to retire at the end of his term, creating an opportunity to fill the vacant mayor’s seat. I have known Mr. Silvo Muršec for a long time and recall his involvement in various negative political actions. Mr. Šuman, however, seems to see the world in black and white, wearing the wrong glasses. I invited him to our podcast, giving him a chance to present his accusations against our company and media in an hour-long discussion, offering to broadcast live on social media if he didn’t trust us. He declined. Coincidentally, Mr. Šuman posted a picture of our newspaper on October 31 on Facebook, where he had defaced my photo with a marker. I responded to this post in the hope of dialogue, which he clearly doesn’t want, as I received further attacks, showing a clear attempt to degrade me, our media, and our company.”

It is true that our newspaper is constantly under attack, with attempts to shut us down. The trio persistently slanders our editorial office and company, publishing public information about our company’s income, further fueling growing intolerance. They obviously don’t understand journalism’s role—it’s misguided to blame journalists when they catch you ‘with your hand in the cookie jar.’ First, it’s essential to examine whether it was justified to take the ‘cookie.’

“Publishing data and spreading rumors about supposed excessive profits of our company is, in my view, a deliberate act of slander and incitement of intolerance.

Yes, respected politicians, Ovtarjeve Novice was my project, which successfully launched without anyone asking me for payment, nor did I request any. I haven’t taken advantage of anything, and our honest earnings from public funds since 2016 are transparently available at https://erar.si/prejemnik/7137249000#transakcije,” added the chief editor.

In our editorial office, we take this attack very seriously, which is why we will notify all relevant institutions in the Republic of Slovenia as well as European institutions about this threat to life and press freedom. This article is therefore published in both Slovenian and English.

As experts point out, hate speech fosters hatred and violence, which is evident in our case. Such social media posts should be clearly condemned rather than supported and fueled. When incidents like the one Ana Kamenik describes in her book Ravnateljeva hči occur, people express regret or pretend not to have contributed. So, before writing or liking a post on social media, remember the national campaign Premisli, nato stisni—Think Before You Press. What saddens us most is that an elementary school teacher, who teaches young people about tolerance and nonviolent communication online in computer science classes, is also participating in this smear campaign on social media.