Administration of the Central Library in the city of Kulyab decided to provide local journalists with free access to the Internet.

Abdurakhim Azimov, director of the library told the NANSMIT monitoring service that this decision has been made out of big respect to media professionals. The library is located in downtown area; it is very convenient for journalists to come and check their mail, and to send their reports and stories to editors.

The library administration has made its Internet facilities commercial, which allows it to cover some maintenance expenditures and take good care of its own personnel.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

On 19 June the Russian-Tajik Slavic University hosted a presentation of a textbook on ecological journalism

The Tajik non-governmental organization “Nature Protection Team” and the Regional Ecological Center organized the presentation of the textbook within the framework of the VII Central Asian Festival of Ecological Journalism. In 2007 the Nature Protection Team jointly with the Russian-Tajik Slavic University launched an educational program titled “The role of young journalists in nature protection”.

The purpose of the program is development of youth ecological journalism in Tajikistan. The project resulted in master classes on ecological journalism, ecological site visits, meetings and discussions with environmental experts, and presentations of best literary works compiled in the first textbook.
In Autumn Dushanbe will be hosting the grand finale of the VII Central Asian Festival of Ecological Journalism.

http://www.khovar.tj/

On 26 June the Tajik Union of Journalists will be hosting a round table “The periodical oriented to readers: design and contents”.

Organizers of the event – the Tajik Union of Journalists and Internews Network, Tajikistan – have invited Dmitri Surin, chief editor of the newspaper association “My District” from Moscow, Russia as a moderator.

Tajik editors and publishers will discuss the issues of design and contents of newspapers in contemporary World. Participants will be shown best practices and design samples in the printing industry.

Representatives of Internews Network, Tajikistan told the Asia Plus news agency that the event is being organized within the framework of the program “Innovations and development of multimedia editing boards”. The main purposes of this program are to improve quality of information and ensure access to mass media applying tools of online journalism; to strengthen relations between the media and public at large; and to improve communication between editors and correspondents using the Internet.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The independent school of journalism “Tajikistan – XXI Century” is selecting students for the second noncommercial training course for young media professionals.

The courses are being implemented within the framework of the project “Strengthening professional skills among young journalists” supported by the UNESCO International Program on Development of Communication (IPDC) and the US Embassy’s Democracy Development Commission. Sixty practicing journalists aged from 18 to 30 will take part in the second part of the program.

Training sessions will be conducted twice a week on the following subjects: “Printing Media”, “Radio” and “Television” under the guidance of leading Tajik media professionals.

The duration of the courses is three months (from 1 September to 30 November), after which the most successful students will have a chance to pass internship in the leading Tajik media and editing boards.

Applications are accepted until 30 August 2009.

Tajikistan – XXI Century

Obama administration refines 43-year-old law

Washington — The 43-year-old Freedom of Information Act is considered a bulwark of democracy by scholars, journalists and common citizens seeking information held by the U.S. government.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), enacted in 1966 and refined over the years, allows individuals and organizations (including non-U.S. citizens and groups) to request access to unpublished documents held by the executive branch of the federal government without having to provide a reason for the request.

When FOIA first was enacted, it was considered revolutionary. Only Finland and Sweden had similar legislation. Since then, about 80 nations have created similar laws, says Tom Blanton, director of the National Security Archive, a leading U.S. research institute that collects and publishes information gathered through FOIA requests.

President Lyndon Johnson was not enthusiastic about signing the act requiring the executive branch of the U.S. government to make many documents available upon request by the public. Many officials felt the transparency called for by FOIA would constrain them from communicating sensitive information in documents, thereby hampering government functions.

Since its inception, FOIA has become a popular tool of inquiry for journalists, scholars, businesses, lawyers, consumers and environmental groups. It has helped bring openness to the workings of government.

Areas of information that are exempt for release under FOIA include: personal privacy information, certain classified national defense and foreign relations matters, and trade and business secrets. The law does not apply to the two other branches of the U.S. government — the judicial (federal courts) and legislative (Congress) — or states. Individual states have their own FOIA-type laws that cover state government information.

In 1996, FOIA went digital when Congress revised the law to provide for public access to information in electronic form. Federal agencies provide information online on how to make requests for documents.

On his second day in office, January 21, President Obama instructed the Department of Justice to further enhance accessibility of information to the public. Attorney General Eric Holder, whose department oversees the handling and administration of FOIA requests among federal agencies, issued a set of guidelines on March 19 implementing Obama’s order.

Calling Obama’s directive “a sea change in the way transparency is viewed across the government,” Holder said FOIA “reflects our nation’s fundamental commitment to open government” and the new guidelines are “meant to underscore that commitment and to ensure that it is realized in practice.”

The new guidelines, which apply to all executive branch agencies, include a requirement that when responding to an information request, agencies should ask: “What can I release?” An agency should not withhold information simply because it is technically allowed to do so.

The guidelines also call for:

• Releasing records in part when they cannot be released in full.

• Ensuring discretionary release of documents when possible.

• Working cooperatively with requests and responding promptly.

• Better reporting by agency FOIA personnel to the Department of Justice.

The new guidelines aim to make the FOIA process more efficient and quicker. In 2006, the 30 federal agencies with the largest volume of requests reported receiving more than 774,000 requests for access to information under FOIA.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OVERSEAS

Other nations have seen firsthand the impact of greater government transparency through FOIA-type laws.

The United Kingdom’s Freedom of Information Act, passed in 2000 but only implemented over the past few years, recently helped American freelance journalist Heather Brooke expose a government scandal. The journalist, who lives and works in the United Kingdom, used her experience as an investigative reporter in the United States to make FOIA requests on the expense claims of members of Parliament.

Brooke’s request kicked off a vigorous debate in the House of Commons on whether the governing Labour Party could get an exemption for expense claims under the new law.

A major British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, gained access to some of the information and wrote a series of stories identifying 80 members of Parliament as alleged abusers of government expense accounts. The findings led to the resignation of the speaker of the House of Commons.

China is also experiencing greater government transparency after it recently promulgated its Regulations on the Disclosure of Government Information. The year-old law has resulted in more openness, an example being the Ministry of Finance’s decision to publish the government’s 2009 budget on the Internet on March 20. More environmental information has been released to the Chinese public over the past year.

Like its U.S. counterpart, the new Chinese FOIA also mandates that government agencies issue an annual public report on their progress in disclosing information to the public.

Источник: U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe

Pulod Umarov, former editor of the Tong newspaper and his two accomplices –Surayo Umarova, former accountant of this newspaper, and Dodojon Kasymov, an entrepreneur, are adjudged guilty by the Khujand city court. The criminals are charged for document forgery.

The Khujand city court convicted the criminals to two years in prison according to Article 340 Part two of the Tajik Criminal Code (forgery). However, on the basis of Article 71 of the Tajik Criminal Code, the court assumed a decision to transform the punishment into conditional sentence.

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

The Media Alliance of Tajikistan (MAT) has expressed concern over a confrontation between two private newspapers – “Nigoh” and “Ozondagon”.

“The analysis of recent publications in the newspapers containing mutual accusations is the evidence of a growing conflict potential between the parties, which is threatening to grow into a protracted “information war”, — says the MAT press release.

The media community has been undertaking essential efforts to consolidate journalists and media outlets. Such incidents are bringing these efforts to naught.

Members of the Media Alliance are confident that any conflicts and frictions within the media community – especially those concerning the issues of professionalism and the media market – severely affect the solidarity, democracy and the freedom of speech in the country.

The Media Alliance is especially concerned about the formal reason for the souring relations between “Nigokh” and “Ozondagon” – the publications reflecting political and economic interests of certain business structures and politicians. This seriously affects the image of all media in the country, which must play the role of an independent watchdog and an institution of public control over the authorities.

http://avesta.tj/

This monitoring presents a compilation of reports from Tajikistan’s media and private reports from the NANSMIT monitoring network in the country

Coordinator of the Monitoring Network in Tajikistan:
Abdufattokh Vokhidov
Head of the Legal Service:
Orifjon Azimov
Head of the Project in Tajikistan:
Nuriddin Karshibayev

Freedom of Speech in Tajikistan
June 2009

In June 2009 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 19 reports. Ten of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; five reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and four reports describe conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. PECULIARITIES OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY DEFINING THE FACTUAL SITUATION IN THE MEDIA

1. Public speeches and statements of superior officials defining the factual situation in the mass media

19 June
Bibishamsia Abdurakhimova, deputy mayor of Kurgan-Tube city, Khatlon prov ince

The first press center is opened in Kurgan-Tube city. It is headed by an experienced journalist Usmon Tuichiev.

“The press center will help resolving problems of access to information about activities of the mayor’s office”, — said deputy mayor of the city Bibishamsia Abdurakhimova.

2. Evaluation of the factual status of the media and the freedom of speech

12 June
Tajik Times, English-language newspaper, Dushanbe

On 12 June Nurali Shoev, a well-known Tajik journalist held a presentation of a new English-language newspaper “Tajik Times”.

The newspaper covers the issues of politics, economy, culture, science and healthcare. The newspaper will be disseminated in foreign embassies and international organizations accredited in Tajikistan. The new weekly has 16 pages; circulation is 500 copies.

24 June
Independent Tajik television, Dushanbe

On 18 June the independent TV company Simoi Mustakili Tojikiston celebrated its second anniversary. (Asia Plus weekly, #25, 24.06.09).

According to Zinatullo Ismoilov, director of the TV company, the media enterprise has modern digital equipment and is capable to produce video programs in various genres.

Ismoilov says that his journalists are able to conduct any journalist investigation in shortest time. “Moreover, our TV channel is a tribune for various opinions and viewpoints”, — he added. — “We started broadcasting with ten people, having only one room. At present we have 25 experienced employees”.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

25 June
All media, Dushanbe

A round table “The media in conditions of financial crisis: problems and proposed solutions” was held by the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan (UJT). More than 30 publishers, directors of printing outlets and broadcasting media from different regions of Tajikistan gathered to discuss how to survive in the conditions of crisis and rescue their information product, human and intellectual potential.

25 June
Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan – XXI Century”, Dushanbe

Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan – XXI Century” has launched the first practical journalism training for 60 listeners. The course is to be held within the framework of the annual project “Strengthening professional knowledge and skills among young journalists” supported by the IPDC UNESCO and the Democracy Commission under the US Embassy in Dushanbe.

Classes are held twice a week in Tajik and Russian groups covering the thematic areas “Printing media”, “Radio” and “Television”.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Impediments to professional activities

1 June
Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe

On 1 June Galina Dzutseva, correspondent and Gulnora Amirshoeva, editor of the Tajik weekly Vetcherny Dushanbe were visited by Safarali Zainutdinov, an official from mayor’s office, who demanded proof of the facts described in a published article (Vetcherny Dushanbe, #17, April 2009).

2 June
Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe

The Tajik security officers did not permit Jamila Khuseinova and Elena Pastorova, correspondents of Vetcherny Dushanbe to make pictures of President Emomali Rakhmon at a ceremony in Dushanbe on occasion of launching new residential houses.

2. Ungrounded denial of publicly important information

1 June
Asia Plus weekly, Kulyab, Khatlon province

Turko Dikaev, correspondent of the Asia Plus weekly in Khatlon told NANSMIT monitoring service that from now on, journalists would need to approach the Interior Ministry’s press service in order to receive simple summary reports on road accidents in the province.

Head of the province traffic police Talbi Safarov said that the order was received from senior authorities.

12 June
Sanitary epidemiological service, Sughd province

Correspondent of the Asia Plus news agency Bakhtior Valiev approached the sanitary epidemiologic station in Sughd province with a request of information on the quality of water in Syr-Darya river and the Kairakkum water reservoir. Deputy director of the sanitary service said that this information can be shared with the media only after obtaining permission from superior authorities.

3. Impediments in dissemination of printing products

11 June
Paikon newspaper

On 11 June the newspaper Paikon disappeared from kiosks in the city of Khujand. The newspaper is printed in Dushanbe and delivered to Khujand by plane. The airport services answered that the newspapers were delivered on 10 June, but street and kiosk vendors did not receive any copies.

After a while it became clear that somebody confiscated the whole consignment. The reason for that was an article about ethnic frictions between Tajiks and Uzbeks in the province.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Accusation of document forgery

9 June
Tong newspaper, Khujand, Sughd province

Former editor of the Tong newspaper and his colleagues Surayo Umarova, accountant and Dodojon Kasymov, entrepreneur are adjudged guilty in document forgery by the Khujand city court.

the three persons were sentenced to two years in prison, according to Article 340, part two of the Tajik Criminal Code. However, the court took a decision to change the punishment for probation, according to Article 71 of the Tajik Criminal Code.

2. Claim for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation affected by publication of certain data

4 June
Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe

Vetcherny Dushanbe weekly (#23, 04.06.09) complains that very often publications provoke numerous complaints and demands to apologize and confute certain statements. One of such complaints came from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The Ministry says that its reputation has been harmed because the author of the publication did not properly checked the facts described in the article.

19 June
National Bank of Tajikistan, Dushanbe

Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan Sharif Rakhimzoda published an article in Ozodagon weekly (#24, 18.06.09) in response to a publication on 21 May 2009 titled “The national currency has gone down in value by 32 percent”.

Rakhimzoda thanked the author for his comprehensive analysis. Along with that, he says the following: “Regrettably, many media in the country are under the influence of interests of certain groups and individuals. I urge journalists to apply their professionalism while they present the situation in the domestic economy”.

This report is based on compiled materials from the media and private information presented by correspondents of the NANSMIT Monitoring Network

Coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Abdufattokh Vokhidov

Project Manager
Nuriddin Karshibayev