4 January, 2011
Dushanbe
The Coalition of the Tajik media organizations recently formed for protection of professional rights and journalists – The Committee of 29 September – has declared its voluntary dissolution in connection with main tasks.
In October 2010, a group of media managers, representatives of media and public organizations and particular activists created a media coalition, which was named “The Committee of 29 September”. This name is related to the date of the beginning of the unprecedented pressing of the Tajik independent mass media.
On 29 September 2010, the authorities blocked access to two local and three foreign web sites (Avesta.Tj; Tojnews.Tj and Tjknews.com; Ferghana.Ru; Centrasia.Ru accordingly). A few days later, the Tax Committee officials accompanied by the state TV crews held inspections of all private printing houses countrywide, after which the latter refused to provide their services to three private newspapers – Farazh, Nigokh, and Paykon. These actions were also accompanied by statements of the Minister of Defense accusing the private media of provocations and “jetting a crisis” upon the background of a complicated military-political situation. There was another particular statement about censoring of the contents of all periodicals prior to printing.
Members of the Committee promised to coordinate their activities and undertake all possible legal actions in order to return the situation to the previous state and terminate censorship.
It should be noted that the main participants of the Committee – representatives of the four blocked online sources and one association, NANSMIT – have undertaken joint actions to accomplish the tasks. These actions have resulted in the following:
— a statement addressed to the head of the state and his direct subordinates;
— a statement addressed to the international human rights bodies and foreign governments;
— a wide-scale public information campaign focused on the problems in the area of the freedom of speech (development of a web blog; social network pages; launching of banners; a series of interviews in foreign online media and TV);
— preparation of claims and legal actions against the government bodies exercising and supporting pressure against the independent media;
— negotiations with parties involved.
These actions have caused an international resonance and essential feedback in the Tajik government and non-governmental organizations. Gradually, the web sites were unblocked; the newspapers Nigokh and Farazh resumed their publications.
By 1 January 2011, the Committee fully accomplished its tasks. The attempts to limit the media freedom are neutralized by the Committee; the local media work in normal mode. Thus, the Committee decided to declare its voluntary dissolution.
Along with that, the media and other organizations, the former members of the coalition henceforth, jointly and individually, will keep protecting the indispensable rights of citizens on access to information. The web site of the coalition – http://tjk29.livejpurnal.com and the e-mail address – komitet29@gmail.com will be valid for further activities and consolidation of the media community to keep informing the public about the problems and the progress of the parties, former members of the coalition, as well as about the monitoring of rights in the media.
The created coalition, its success and victories have proven that the media community is a serious public force able to influence the processes of democratic development and civil rights.
Steering Committee
www.nansmit.tj