February 15, 2011

George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much and good afternoon. It is a pleasure, once again, to be back on the campus of the George Washington University, a place that I have spent quite a bit of time in all different settings over the last now nearly 20 years. I’d like especially to thank President Knapp and Provost Lerman, because this is a great opportunity for me to address such a significant issue, and one which deserves the attention of citizens, governments, and I know is drawing that attention. And perhaps today in my remarks, we can begin a much more vigorous debate that will respond to the needs that we have been watching in real time on our television sets.

A few minutes after midnight on January 28th, the internet went dark across Egypt. During the previous four days, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians had marched to demand a new government. And the world, on TVs, laptops, cell phones, and smart phones, had followed every single step. Pictures and videos from Egypt flooded the web. On Facebook and Twitter, journalists posted on-the-spot reports. Protestors coordinated their next moves. And citizens of all stripes shared their hopes and fears about this pivotal moment in the history of their country.

Millions worldwide answered in real time, “You are not alone and we are with you.” Then the government pulled the plug. Cell phone service was cut off, TV satellite signals were jammed, and internet access was blocked for nearly the entire population. The government did not want the people to communicate with each other and it did not want the press to communicate with the public. It certainly did not want the world to watch.

Read full text on [url=America.gov: http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/February/20110215155718su0.3556896.html#]America.gov: http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/February/20110215155718su0.3556896.html#[/url]

Dushanbe, 16 February 2011 – The EU Heads of Mission strongly condemn the attack on Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, Chief Editor of Najot newspaper, and a member of the political council of the Islamic Rebirth Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).

The EU Heads of Mission consider this unprovoked and violent attack on Mr Saifullozoda an act of intimidation aimed against individual rights to freedom of political and media expression. The European Union firmly believes that individuals should not be subject to harassment or attack due to their political views, religious beliefs or as a result of views they have expressed in the media.

The EU Heads of Mission urge the authorities to undertake a full investigation into this attack, and make every effort to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

For further information you may contact Ms. Mahbuba Abdullaeva in the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan at tel: +992 (37) 2217407 or e-mail: Mahbuba.Abdullaeva@eeas.europa.eu

EC Office in Dushanbe

The European Union (EU) aims to redefine its development policy by the end of 2011. DW-AKADEMIE is actively following this process and has initiated a commentary on media and development.

Effectively and economically supporting developing countries so that they can sustainably improve people’s living conditions – this is to be the goal of Europe’s future development policy. A DW-AKADEMIE commentary regarding the EU’s Green Paper on development policy states the role the media can play in this process. DW-AKADEMIE’s contribution to the debate has been signed by other European media development institutions including the BBC World Service Trust, the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ), the Swedish Fojo Media Institute and the Radio Netherlands Training Centre (RNTC). With its Green Paper on development policy, the EU has initiated a consultation process at the European level. Involved in the debate are stakeholders from the fields of politics and civil society.

“Free and independent media have a positive effect on many areas and can support development processes as well as critically accompany them,” says Patrick Leusch, head of DW-AKADEMIE’s Project Development division and author of the commentary. “The future direction of EU development policy focuses on economic growth that creates jobs; on the effective use of funds; on the rule of law and good governance. In all these areas free and independent media are the most important social control factor.” That’s why, says Leusch, media development must be part of a sustainable European development policy.

The DW-AKADEMIE commentary on media and sustainable development will now be published by the EU and become part of the on-going discussion. A White Paper on the new strategic focus of EU development policy is to be released at the end of 2011. DW-AKADEMIE will continue to actively follow its formation.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6432814,00.html?maca=en-newsletter_en_DW-AKADEMIE-4842-html-nl

Date:01/08/11 — 06/08/11
Deadline:31/03/11
Transitions Online
Cost:1,125.00 USD
Location:PragueCzech RepublicJournalists and students interested in photojournalism can attend a course in Prague.

The Photojournalism Course, offered by Transitions Online, aims to provide an introduction to taking, editing and selling photographs. It will focus on both classroom training sessions and practical shooting and editing sessions. Sample topics include lighting, post-production and multimedia presentations.

The course will be led by Dean Cox, a freelance photojournalist who has sold his work to the Associated Press, the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, EurasiaNet and Bloomberg News.

Students are required to bring their own cameras, but organizers say «it doesn’t matter if it’s the cheapest camera on the market or a top-of-the range Canon or Nikon.» The course will be conducted in English. The course fee includes accommodation, but not travel costs.

Apply by March 31, 2011 for an early-bird discount, ?845 (US$1,125).

For more information: http://www.tol.org/client/training/course/21735-photojournalism-august-2011.html

http://www.tol.org/client/training/course/21735-photojournalism-august-2011.html

Date:24/07/11 — 01/08/11
Deadline:31/03/11
Transitions Online
Cost:1,395.00 USD
Location:PragueCzech RepublicJournalists and students interested in international reporting can attend a course in Prague.

The Foreign Correspondent Training Course, offered by Transitions Online, aims to provide an introduction to international reporting, through training by respected foreign correspondents and a practical reporting project.

Sample topics include pitching to editors, adapting to multimedia and breaking into the field. The course will allow participants to apply their new skills to a real-life reporting assignment. Confirmed trainers include BBC’s Rob Cameron, freelance photojournalist Dean Cox and Nikolay Pavlov from Radio Free Europe RFE .

The course will be conducted in English. The course fee includes accommodation, but not travel costs.

Applications must be received by March 31, 2011 to get the early-bird discount. For more information, click here.
.Topic: Specialized Reporting

https://ijnet.org/opportunities/foreign-correspondent-course-offered-prague

Deadline:25/02/11
Transitions Online (TOL)

Transitions Online (TOL), a Prague-based international publishing and media development organization, is currently offering a distance course, focused on religion coverage designed for journalists and bloggers.

The course on Religion and the Media was developed by TOL, specifically for the region of Central Asia. It aims to develop critical thinking, speaking, reading and writing skills of journalists.

Applications will be accepted from media professionals and citizen journalists from Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan). Citizens of those countries who currently resident elsewhere are also invited to apply.

Participation for the five-week course is free of charge and the working language is Russian. Participants who successfully finish the course will be awarded a TOL certificate. Those with the highest grades will be eligible for fully-funded scholarships at TOL journalism training courses in Prague.

In addition, successful participants will be offered an opportunity to become paid contributors on Central Asian issues to TOL’s award-winning Internet magazine http://www.tol.org. This project is funded by The National Endowment for Democracy.

For more information (in Russian), click here. To apply, contact with a resume and cover letter to Larisa Balanovskaya at larisa.balanovskaya@tol.org.
.Topic: Specialized Reporting

https://ijnet.org/opportunities/distance-learning-course-religion-journalists-media-professionals-an

DUSHANBE — A court in Dushanbe has begun hearing a lawsuit by a regional Interior Ministry official against the opposition weekly «Asia Plus,» but threw out a counterclaim filed by the paper against the same official, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Both cases concern an article published by «Asia Plus» on December 21 that accused Interior Ministry officials, including officers of the directorate against organized crimes in Sughd Province, of torturing suspects.

Anvar Taghoymurodov, head of that directorate, is demanding 1 million somonis ($227,128) in damages.

«Asia Plus» chief editor Marat Mamadshoev filed a counterclaim against Taghoymurodov for 150,000 somonis in damages. He told RFE/RL that Taghoymurodov’s suit could damage the weekly’s reputation.

Nusratullo Asadullo, the presiding judge at Dushanbe’s Firdawsi district court, said Mamadshoev failed to produce any official documentation to prove he is empowered to take legal action on behalf of «Asia Plus.»

Taghoymurodov’s lawyer, Jamshed Ghiyosos, said Umed Babakhanov, the owner of «Asia Plus,» should appear in court to defend the paper’s reputation. Babakhanov is currently resident in the United States, where his children are studying.

The next hearing is scheduled for February 24. Lawyer Shuhrat Qudratov, representing «Asia Plus,» said he is sure that at the next session the court will agree to hear the paper’s claim.

Tajik experts say this is the first time a court is hearing a case related to torture and violence against suspects. «Asia Plus» says it has written evidence to substantiate its accusations. But experts said that no court has ever given credence to such accusations.

Nargis Zokirova, an expert from the Human Rights Organization of Tajikistan, said it is difficult to speak about torture because it is almost impossible to inspect detention centers and prisons. She added that the authorities do not permit any domestic or international human rights organizations to visit suspects in detention centers.

Tajik experts say that all previous proven cases of torture were reclassified as abuse of power, and suspected torturers were tried for abuse of power, not for torture.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan_opposition_weekly_lawsuit/2309604.html

DUSHANBE, 11 February 2011

The Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, Ambassador Ivar Vikki, today condemned the violent attack on Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, member of the Political Council of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan and editor-in-chief of its newspaper, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Saifullozoda has been hospitalized since 7 February, when he was severely beaten outside his Dushanbe home by unidentified men. He is recovering from concussion and serious injuries to his head.

«The attack on Mr. Saifullozoda is deeply troubling,» said Ambassador Vikki. «Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a democratic society. Violence or threats against those who voice their opinion constitute an attack on values that are held with great respect in Tajikistan, with its history of intellectual debate and dialogue. OSCE commitments agreed by all participating States confirm the right of citizens to free and open information, and this right should be safeguarded by the state.”

Farrukhsho Dzhunaydov, Senior Media Analyst.

On 11 February, the Tajik Media Alliance held a forum in Dushanbe to discuss the contemporary threats to the freedom of speech and development of the media. The forum held in the National Press Center was supported by the Open Society Institute’s office in Tajikistan.

About 50 media managers and journalists from all regions of Tajikistan and representatives of international organizations accredited in Dushanbe and public officials took part in the forum.

Secretary general of the Media Alliance Khurshedjon Niyozov told the Avesta news agency that participants of the forum have discussed the existing problems in the Tajik media environment. “The time has come to develop mechanisms to neutralize these problems and consolidate the media community to better protect our professional rights and interests”.

The Media Alliance was created in 2005. At present, it unites the leading Tajik media, both printing and electronic.

www.avesta.tj

Tajikistan’s main opposition party accused the government today of violating civil rights and neglecting its people.

The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, the only officially registered Islamic party in Central Asia, said in a statement that corrupt, authoritarian rule has eroded democracy and «national unity.»

The party issued its statement after unknown assailants attacked Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, editor of its newspaper, ‘Najot,» and outspoken government critic, on Monday.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party denied the accusations.

It said Tajikistan, ruled since 1992 by President Imomali Rakhmon, had free media and eight functioning political parties.

The Islamic Revival Party formed the core of the alliance that fought government troops in a civil war from 1992 to 1997.

It now occupies the only two opposition-held seats in parliament.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik_islam_politics/2302447.html