ASTANA — Kazakh media NGOs and international experts say that country’s new broadcast law would put restrictions on the freedom of information, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

The draft law — initiated by the Communications and Information Ministry and passed by the Senate on December 28 — has been sent to President Nursultan Nazarbaev for final approval.

It requires all foreign television and radio stations to be fully registered with an official Kazakh entity and that 50 percent of the broadcasts of foreign channels consist of domestic content by 2018.

The Kazakh human rights organization Adil Soz, the National Association of Kazakh Broadcasters, and the NGO Internews-Kazakhstan wrote a letter to Nazarbaev requesting that he postpone adopting the law until after parliamentary elections scheduled for January 15.

The letter was signed by some 40 Kazakh media NGOs and it expressed concern about media restrictions within the draft law.

Dunja Mijatovic, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) representative on freedom of the media, also expressed concern about the legislation in a statement issued on December 28.

She said the draft law would violate the rights of citizens to freely receive and impart information and it increases state control over the electronic media.

The statement also noted that the recommendations made to the Kazakh government and parliament members by the OSCE and Kazakh civil society organizations during the last several months were not considered in the final writing of the legislation.

Mijatovic sent a letter to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on December 12 in which she called on Nazarbaev to veto the draft law.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakh_senate_approves_controversial_broadcasting_law/24438533.html

DUSHANBE — Huge billboards urging people to denounce corruption have been prominently placed in front of two Tajik universities this month, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

The billboards, in the capital, Dushanbe, depict two hands: one extended hand offering cash with another hand rejecting the apparent bribe by pushing the money back.

«We Say NO to Bribery in the Education Sector,» read the billboards, which appeared ahead of the winter exam season at Tajik universities.

The billboards were prepared by Tajikistan’s anticorruption agency along with the Dushanbe offices of the UN Development Fund and Britain’s Department for International Development.

Corruption is rampant in Tajikistan, and the country’s education sector is particularly notorious for its widespread bribery.

Several students at Tajikistan’s National University (TNU) told RFE/RL that some professors demand a bribe in order to pass a test and there is even a concrete price for each exam and test, ranging from 30 to 100 somonis (approximately $6-$20).

In a recent meeting with students at TNU, Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov admitted that bribery exists in Tajik universities. But he blamed the students’ parents for the problem.

«It’s common knowledge which professors at which schools accept bribes,» Rahmonov said. «It wasn’t like this before. It’s the parents’ fault. I personally heard some of them saying they would agree to pay a bribe as long as their children pass their exams.»

TNU student Abubakr Mulloev told RFE/RL that he hopes the anticorruption billboards will prompt students and professors to think twice before giving or receiving bribes.

Mulloev said «many university professors — although not all of them — have let students know how much their exams and tests will cost.»

Tajikistan is ranked 152 in the 2011 Corruption Index of Transparency International, a body that annually ranks countries on their perceived levels of corruption.

http://www.rferl.org/content/anticorruption_billboards_erected_tajikistan/24438555.html

Professional and amateur photographers can participate in a contest on human rights.

The annual FotoEvidence Book Award will recognize a documentary photographer whose project demonstrates courage and commitment in addressing a violation of human rights, a significant injustice or an assault on human dignity.

The winning project will be published in book form, as part of a series of FotoEvidence books dedicated to photographers whose commitment and courage create an awareness of social injustice. The photographer will receive royalties on book sales.

Applications are accepted all year until the February 15 deadline, submissions received after are entered in the 2013 contest. Photographers should submit up to 15 images from one project along with a $50 entry fee. (That fee may also be waived by writing to contest organizers.)

For more information, click here: http://www.fotoevidence.com/book-award

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/documentary-photo-contest-open-worldwide

Journalists who want to improve their writing and reporting skills can apply for fellowships to a course in London.

Applicants must be currently working as a journalist or regular contributor to media organizations. They must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country, must have at least two years’ professional experience and have a good level in spoken and written English.

Full bursaries for journalists from the developing world/countries in political transition working for organizations with no resources for training. Bursaries include return air travel (economy class), accommodation and a modest living allowance.

Part-funded bursaries are available for journalists from the developing world/countries in political transition who work for organizations that have limited resources for training, in this instance Thomson Reuters Foundation waives the tuition cost and you will be expected to cover travel and accommodation costs. In exceptional circumstances, journalists from the developed world will be considered for part-funded bursaries.

Thomson Reuters Foundation also offers training for journalists from any region from an organization that has the resources to fully cover the costs of the program.

For more information, click here. Deadline for applications is January 6, the course will be held in March.

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/reuters-offers-fellowships-writing-reporting-class-worldwide

DUSHANBE — Huge billboards urging people to denounce corruption have been prominently placed in front of two Tajik universities this month, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

The billboards, in the capital, Dushanbe, depict two hands: one extended hand offering cash with another hand rejecting the apparent bribe by pushing the money back.

«We Say NO to Bribery in the Education Sector,» read the billboards, which appeared ahead of the winter exam season at Tajik universities.

The billboards were prepared by Tajikistan’s anticorruption agency along with the Dushanbe offices of the UN Development Fund and Britain’s Department for International Development.

Corruption is rampant in Tajikistan, and the country’s education sector is particularly notorious for its widespread bribery.

Several students at Tajikistan’s National University (TNU) told RFE/RL that some professors demand a bribe in order to pass a test and there is even a concrete price for each exam and test, ranging from 30 to 100 somonis (approximately $6-$20).

In a recent meeting with students at TNU, Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov admitted that bribery exists in Tajik universities. But he blamed the students’ parents for the problem.

«It’s common knowledge which professors at which schools accept bribes,» Rahmonov said. «It wasn’t like this before. It’s the parents’ fault. I personally heard some of them saying they would agree to pay a bribe as long as their children pass their exams.»

TNU student Abubakr Mulloev told RFE/RL that he hopes the anticorruption billboards will prompt students and professors to think twice before giving or receiving bribes.

Mulloev said «many university professors — although not all of them — have let students know how much their exams and tests will cost.»

Tajikistan is ranked 152 in the 2011 Corruption Index of Transparency International, a body that annually ranks countries on their perceived levels of corruption.

http://www.rferl.org/content/anticorruption_billboards_erected_tajikistan/24438555.html

Press Release
19 December 2011

Participants of the round table “Political correctness in the Tajik mass media”, have discussed the issues of political correctness in Tajikistan and stressed that the political correctness implies an unconditional advantage of the conventional rights and freedoms in the society and in the state versus individual advantages any party.

Studying the experience of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in dispute resolution involving elements of political correctness, we have come to the conclusion that the mass media should become conductors of the rules of correct behavior, implementers of civilized procedures protecting from deviations in attempts to resolve political problems.

Along with that, it was noted that observance of the principles of political correctness should not restrict the freedom of expression. Stressing the importance of legal and ethical impact of political incorrectness in the media, participants of the round table have developed the following recommendations to the media community and the government institutions:

— To continue studying various aspects of political correctness in Tajikistan’s mass media;
— To adopt the international standards of political correctness in daily practice among Tajik media professionals;
— To develop procedures protecting the media from political incorrectness of any public structures;
— To develop a list of “undesirable words” based on the principles of political correctness;
— To restrain from affiliating criminals to any nation, ethnicity, religion, etc;
— To restrain from mentioning nationality in criminal reports in the media.

http://nansmit.tj/news/?id=2347

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS/ REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES
Press release/ Communiqué de presse

English: http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-two-journalists-convicted-but-free-14-10-2011,41203.html
Français: http://fr.rsf.org/tadjikistan-deux-journalistes-independants-en-14-10-2011,41200.html

TAJIKISTAN: Tajik journalist spared punishment in partial court victory
Reporters Without Borders is relieved that the journalist Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov has been spared any penalty in the case brought against him over his investigation of alleged corruption by local officials, but calls again for a review of the verdict and full recognition of his innocence.

The regional court in the northern province of Sughd yesterday upheld a decision by a lower court in the north-western city of Taboshar which found him guilty of defamation, insult and inciting hatred (see below).

However, in view of a recent amnesty he was spared the penalties originally imposed by the lower court, consisting of a fine of 35,000 somoni (approximately 5,400 euros) and a ban on practising his profession for three years.

“We are pleased that the pressure on Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov has at last eased to some extent, but we deplore once again the hypocrisy of the legal system in this matter,” the press freedom organization said.

“As in the case of BBC journalist Urinboy Usmonov (see below), it is trying to save face. However, it must not be forgotten that the journalist spent 11 months in custody as a result of the investigation. We fully support the action of his lawyers who are preparing to appeal to a higher jurisdiction to seek the acknowledgment of their client’s innocence.”

http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-two-journalists-convicted-but-free-14-10-2011,41203.html

Reporters Without Borders deplores yesterday’s decision by the Tajikistan Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of the BBC journalist Urinboy Usmonov (Урунбой Усмонов) for contacts with a banned Islamist organization.

“By persisting in this absurd verdict, the legal system has once again proved its lack of impartiality,” the press freedom organization said.

”The main effect of this decision is to intimidate journalists who hope to cover the activities of Hizb-ut Tahrir and the anti-religious activities of the Tajik government.

“However, they will not get rid of the problem by imposing a black-out. We urge the judicial authorities to take this final opportunity to acknowledge the innocence of the BBC correspondent and to allow the press to do its work.”

The Supreme Court confirmed a three-year sentence imposed on Usmonov by a lower court on 14 October for having contacts with the Islamist party Hizb-ut Tahrir. He was immediately pardoned and released after his case led to international protests and he decided to appeal against his conviction.

He had been covering the trials of Hizb-ut Tahrir members at the request of his editors.

His lawyer, Fayziniso Vohidova, told Reporters Without Borders further recourse might still be available at home.

“As soon as we receive (yesterday’s) decision, we shall lodge an appeal with the presidium of the Supreme Court. This is composed of the highest judicial authorities, such as the president of the court and the attorney general. It has oversight powers which can be used to overturn the verdicts of Supreme Court bench.

“However, that can take time since there is no legal deadline specified. If the presidium again upholds the conviction, we are resolved to take the case to international law.

Another journalist convicted at the same time, Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov (Махмадюсуф Исмоилов), a correspondent for the newspapers Nuri Zindagi and Istiklol who has also appealed to the Supreme Court, has been remanded in custody for almost a year because of his investigations into corruption among local officials.

He was released on 14 October, but was fined 35,000 somoni (5,400 euros) and banned from practising his profession for three years on charges of libel, insult and inciting hatred.

Reporters Without Borders asks the Supreme Court to acknowledge his innocence as soon as possible.

http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-two-journalists-convicted-but-free-14-10-2011,41203.html

Deadline:10/12/11
Journalists and writers who are in financial need due to political persecution can be nominated for a grant.

Human Rights Watch seeks nominations for writers of non-fiction, fiction or poetry deserving Hellman-Hammett grants, designed to recognize commitment to free expression and courage amid political pressure.

Grants range from US$1,000-10,000 and offer publicity, which can sometimes double as a protective measure. Anonymity is honored if requested. The grantees are chosen by a committee of authors, editors, and journalists who have a longstanding interest in free expression issues.

The nominator should provide biographical information about the nominee, a list of the nominee’s published works, a statement about the political persecution suffered and a statement of financial need.

The deadline is December 10.

For more information, click here: http://www.hrw.org/hhgrants/nominations

http://www.hrw.org/hhgrants/nominations

Deadline:09/01/12
Liberty Media
Journalists who cover society and economics can apply for an award.

The Media for Liberty Award is open to journalists who work on societal issues, economies, political structures and cultures that illustrate their pursuit of a free market environment and civil liberties uninfluenced by government agenda.

The most outstanding entry receives a US$50,000 prize.

Sample topics include but are not limited to: government involvement in private enterprise, dependence on foreign oil, access to healthcare, sovereign debt, basic goods (food, housing, healthcare) becoming prohibitively expensive for middle-class consumers and the cost of globalization from a societal, cultural, economic perspective.

Entries must be published or transmitted via print or electronic media between January 1 and December 31, 2011. Eligible media outlets must be generally recognized in their markets and accessible to a broad audience in the United States.

Prize sponsors Liberty Media seek to acknowledge and encourage media contributions that explore the relationship between economic and political liberty.

For more information, click here: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/nominations.doc

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/nominations.doc