The Tajik parliament is going to adopt the revisited version of the Law “Om printing and other mass media”. However, the local media organizations are very inactive. There are no signs of participation in discussions of the new draft law.

Would the media and journalists use this chance to voice their concerns and introduce changes? Or are they going to remain casual observers letting the bureaucrats to determine the fate of the Tajik journalism?

The full text of the article is available at: http://www.nansmit.tj/analysis/?id=87

www.nansmit.tj

Bishkek/Brussels, 23 August 2010: Without prompt, genuine and exhaustive measures to address the damage done by the pogroms, Kyrgyzstan risks another round of terrible violence.

The Pogroms in Kyrgyzstan,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, highlights the risk of spiralling violence in the south of Kyrgyzstan and the central government’s loss of control over the region. It calls for the Kyrgyz government to support an internationally backed enquiry into the pogroms which took place in May and June 2010 in Jalalabad and in Osh. It also urges the international community to form a united front in calling on the Kyrgyz government to address the root causes of the violence, and in warning the country’s leadership of the dangers of inaction and denial.

“The violence and pogroms of June have further deepened the gulf between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks”, says Paul Quinn-Judge, Crisis Group’s Central Asia Project Director. “If this problem remains unaddressed, another explosion is only a matter of time, and in the next outburst, the victimised party could look to Islamist radicals for help, or violence could spread to other ethnic groups – Russians, Uighur, Tatar or Dungan”.

Successive governments have failed to address ethnic tensions in the south or even to admit their existence. Many features of the 2010 violence strongly resemble the last round of bloody ethnic clashes, in 1990. One of the most striking differences, however, is that twenty years ago, a large number of elite Soviet troops were deployed in the region for six months to normalise the situation. This time, a weaker government facing a greater challenge has refused any external help, unrealistically arguing that it can handle the situation itself. In fact, the government has now lost control of a significant part of southern Kyrgyzstan, where the mayor of Osh, Melis Myrzakmatov, publicly rejects the president’s authority.

The Kyrgyz government should take a strong public stand against positions of extreme nationalism by prominent national and regional politicians. The government of Kyrgyzstan, as well as donors and supporters, should support a full, open and internationally backed enquiry into the recent pogroms.

Given the weakness of the Kyrgyz government, responsibility rests upon the shoulders of the international community. It should play a more forthright role than usual in raising the long-term dangers to Kyrgyzstan of extremism, the need to restore the central government’s political control over the city of Osh, and the urgent necessity of reconciliation between ethnic communities. It also needs to draw up a blueprint for establishing a long-term modus vivendi between the majority Kyrgyz and ethnic minorities, Uzbeks and others. This should include a unified strategy for the reconstruction of the south, involving extensive on-the-ground monitoring, the recognition of cultural sensitivities and the need to avoid worsening conflict risks.

“If the south remains outside of central control, there is a strong risk that the narcotics trade, already an important factor, could extend its power still further”, says Robert Templer, Crisis Group’s Asia Program Director. “Without decisive action by the international community, the region could also quickly become a welcoming environment for Islamist guerrillas”.

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*Read the full Crisis Group report on our website: http://www.crisisgroup.org
Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) +32 (0) 2 541 1635
Kimberly Abbott (Washington) +1 202 785 1602

http://www.crisisgroup.org

This distance learning journalism course is open to media professionals and bloggers from Central Asia. Participation is free of charge and applications are being accepted from media professionals and citizen journalists from any of the countries of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan).

Citizens of those countries who are currently residing outside of their respective country are also invited to apply. Deadline: September 20th, 2010For more information or to apply, go to: http://training.tol.org

http://training.tol.org

KYRGYZSTAN: Call for humane treatment for jailed journalists and respect for press charter

Reporters Without Borders is shocked by the way the authorities are treating Ulugbek Abdusalomov, a newspaper editor based in the southern city of Jalal-Abad who has been held since June’s inter-ethnic violence and who is currently hospitalised with serious cardiac problems. He is being kept handcuffed and under constant police surveillance in the hospital.

The editor of the independent Uzbek-language newspaper Diydo, Abdusalomov was arrested on 14 June and was charged on 10 August under four articles of the criminal code with extremism, inciting inter-ethnic hatred, organising and participating in mass unrest, and separatist activities aimed at destroying the state’s territorial integrity. Regarded by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, he is facing 3 to 12 years in prison if convicted.

The victim of a stroke two years ago, Abdusalomov suffers from hypertension and cardiac and intestinal ailments, which need constant medication. But the authorities transferred him to Jalal-Abad prison where the conditions are inappropriate for a seriously ill person, despite his lawyer’s repeated requests for a transfer to house arrest on medical grounds. This is his third spell in hospital since his arrest.

Because Abdusalomov referred to the problems experienced by the Uzbek minority during the weeks preceding last June’s riots and clashes in the south, the government accused him of being linked to the Uzbek protest movement and being responsible for the clashes with the Kyrgyz population.

Similar charges were brought on 13 August against Azimzhan Askarov, a reporter for the news website Pravo Dlia Vsekh (Rights for All) and head of the local human rights group Vosdukh, who was also arrested in Jalal-Abad in mid-June and who, like, Abdusalomov, is regarded by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience.

An outspoken critic of human rights violations and police abuses in Jalal-Abad and the humanitarian crisis in the south, Askarov was accused of inciting demonstrators to violence during the unrest on 13 June in which a policeman was killed.

Askarov has been beaten in detention and, according to witnesses, is covered with bruises. The Ferghana.ru news website reported that his lawyer was also attacked as he was going to the prison to visit him. The authorities have nonetheless refused to order an investigation into the mistreatment of Askarov and his lawyer.

The charges brought against these two journalists are typical of the current persecution of active members of the Uzbek community by the authorities. The security services investigating the June clashes are targeting human rights activists, journalists and civil society representatives for harassment, arrest and often mistreatment.

Reporters Without Borders urges the authorities to improve the conditions in which Abdusalomov is being held and to ensure he gets the necessary medical care. If the authorities insist on keeping him in detention, he should be placed under house arrest because his state of health is not compatible with prison detention. Askarov should be released conditionally because he is not safe in prison.

Reporters Without Borders also urges reporters and editors to act in a professional manner and to refrain from taking partisan positions. After hailing all of the news media’s adoption of a charter on ethical principles for journalists and media on 21 May, Reporters Without Borders stresses the importance of adhering to it.

Sakhira Nazarova, a freelance reporter based in the southern city of Osh who was one of the first to sign the charter, said the media were guilty of excesses during the inter-ethnic violence. “Ethnic affiliation was constantly mentioned in articles regardless of whether it was a decisive factor and some of the quotes just fuelled the anger between the two sides,” she said.

Here are some of the charter’s principles:
— We undertake to refrain from mentioning a person’s or group of persons’ ethnic affiliation.
— We know and we keep in mind that the real reasons for a clash are linked to political, social and economic interests and not ethnic affiliation.
— We realise that, in a society, the media can contribute to the spread of information based on ethnicity and ideology… We will not use stereotypes and clichés that could hurt an ethnic group.

English:http://en.rsf.org/kyrgyzstan-call-for-humane-treatment-for-19-08-2010,38179.html
French:http://fr.rsf.org/kirghizistan-pour-un-traitement-humain-des-19-08-2010,38178.html

http://en.rsf.org/kyrgyzstan-call-for-humane-treatment-for-19-08-2010,38179.html

The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concern over two ethnic Uzbek journalists held in detention since the ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan’s southern city of Jalal-Abad in June, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

RSF said in a press release that Ulugbek Abdusalomov, editor of the independent newspaper «Diydo,» faces charges of extremism, inciting interethnic hatred, organizing and participating in mass unrest, and separatism.

He has been transferred to a prison hospital with heart problems, where he is under constant police surveillance.

Azimzhan Askarov, a reporter for the website «Rights For All,» has been charged with inciting demonstrators to violence. He has allegedly been beaten in detention.

Amnesty International has designated both men prisoners of conscience.

At least 379 people were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes during clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in the southern regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad from June 10-14.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Rights_Group_Concerned_About_Jailed_Ethnic_Uzbek_Journalists/2133294.ht

DUSHANBE — Western diplomats in Tajikistan have expressed concern over the fate of the country’s only private university, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

In a letter to the Tajik government on August 17, the U.S., British, French, and German ambassadors and the head of the EU representation expressed concern at the Ministry of Education’s move to revoke the academic license of the Institute of Technical Innovations and Communication (ITIC), a private higher education institution, for reasons that remain unclear.

U.S. Embassy spokesperson Rachel Cooke told RFE/RL that the signatories to the letter hope that the government will handle the case based on a transparent investigation and the rule of law, and allow ITIC students to continue their studies.

But Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov responded on August 17 that the decision to revoke the ITIC’s license was taken not by his ministry but by the Economic Court.

ITIC head Sadriddin Akramov told RFE/RL last week that the institute filed a lawsuit against Rahmonov on July 31 in a Dushanbe district court.

In a letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the education minister described the ITIC as a hotbed of antigovernment propaganda and political opposition.

The ITIC is known as the «American» university because it was founded by a Tajik-born U.S. citizen and is funded by grants from the United States and other Western countries. It has been under pressure from the Education Ministry to change its name since 2003 and has done so several times.

In September 2009, the Education Ministry demanded the closure of the institute for three months for «technical reasons» to enable the ministry to check its documents and activities. But Akramov appealed to the district court last year and chose to keep the university open pending a court ruling.

Rahmonov said at a press conference last month that the Economic Court upheld all the ministry’s complaints. He said the court ruled that the ITIC should be closed and that its students continue their studies at other universities.

Akramov told RFE/RL he is convinced that the real reason the Education Ministry revoked the ITIC’s license is because its teaching staff includes some prominent opposition leaders and outspoken critics of the government.

Despite the ongoing dispute, 300 would-be students submitted applications to the ITIC this year.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Western_Concern_At_Fate_Of_Sole_Private_Tajik_University_/2130922.html

Course dates: May 30th – June 10th , 2011
Media: Radio, Television and Internet
Type of Diploma: Certificate
RNTC application deadline: 1st October, 2010
Embassy NFP application deadline: 1st December 2010

Deadline non-fellowship applicants: 28 February, 2011

Download the full information sheet

Summary:

Course Aim

To strengthen the capacity of managers working in the media sector (in programme and/or journalism management) to contribute to organisational development in a changing media environment.

Broadcast management: a discipline in it’s own right
More than ever broadcast managers have a crucial role to play in ensuring the success and the future of their organisations. Whether working for state, public, private or commercial broadcasters managers face the challenge of having to help their organisations adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive media industry. Characteristic of the industry are rapid technological change, fragmented and fickle audiences able to choose from a growing number of media outlets, and a complex, shifting political and legislative environment.

Traditionally broadcast managers have been either promoted from the ranks of programme-makers and journalists or appointed from management positions outside the broadcast sector. In both cases they often find themselves not well-equipped for the specific challenges of broadcast management in which a proper understanding of the creative process and the production pathway has to be combined with the ability to manage limited financial and technical resources, and give innovative leadership to a group of highly creative and articulate individuals.

Where once it was enough to have a background in either media or in some form of management, broadcast management is now increasingly seen as a discipline in its own right, requiring professionalisation; broadcast organisations now need to be committed to ensuring their managers develop and continue to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to be effective and successful.

Download full information here: http://sites.rnw.nl/rntc/assets/2011BM.pdf

http://sites.rnw.nl/rntc/courses/ICBM2011.php

ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)Enter your favourite photos of people managing water and technology to win up to ?5,000 in prizes in the CTA “Peoples’ Choice Photo on People, Water and and ICTs”

Upload your photos or vote for your favourite photos in the following themes:People and water (water use and management, including coping mechanisms used by ACP people with respect to water or its lack);
Technology and water (information and communication technology (ICT) and information and communication management (ICM);
Water and environment (role of water and climate change in agricultural and rural development).
Just click on annualseminar2010.cta.int/photo to post your photo or to vote for your favourite photo. The grand prize? A digital camera and an opportunity to participate – all expenses paid – in the annual seminar entitled Closing the Knowledge Gap: Integrated Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture, in Pretoria, South Africa , where the best photos will also be on display during the seminar from the 22-26 November 2010.

PrizesGrand PrizeThe grand prize winner will be invited to participate, all expenses paid, in the CTA Annual Seminar “Closing the Knowledge Gap: Integrated Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture” in Pretoria, South Africa. This includes transport, accommodation for five days, free entrance to the seminar, all seminar materials, breakfasts and lunches for five days.

The grand prize winner also will receive one CANON EOS 1000D EF 18-55, and a subscription to CTA’s Spore or Esporo magazines.

Category PrizesEach category prize winner will be awarded one CANON EOS 1000D EF 18-55and a subscription to CTA’s Spore or Esporo magazines.

1st and 2nd Runner Ups in the three categoriesThe first and second runner ups in each category will receive a subscription to CTA’s Spore or Esporo magazines.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. This contest is open only to citizens and residents of the European and the 78 member states of the Cotonou Agreement. Entries must be submitted electronically between July 19 and October 19 2010 in order to be considered for prizes. To enter, or review the complete official contest rules, go to http://annualseminar2010.cta.int. Finalists will be judged and selected by qualified CTA staff and a professional photographer. Read full photo contest rules and regulations (PDF).

Submission form is avaoilable here: http://annualseminar2010.cta.int/competition

http://annualseminar2010.cta.int/competition

Four out of five Tajik newspapers, which publication, allegedly, was supposed to be suspended, are published. On 4 August readers received the private weeklies – Ozodagon, Paykon, Millat and SSSR. According to the Asia Plus news agency, the fifth newspaper, Borgokhi Sukhan has come off the press as well.

Prior to that, some information agencies and Internet outlets said that the publication of the five weeklies is under threat. According to reports in the media, managers of the Mushfiki printing house (where these newspapers are regularly printed) warned about the inability of the next publishing – in view of particular technical reasons. However, unofficial sources said that the printing house received an order “from above” to exclude them from service – allegedly, because of criticism of government officials in their publications.

However, neither of human rights watchdogs, nor media organizations received any complaints from the newspapers concerning the violation of their rights. Some of the foreign media, in particular, the Russian daily Vremya Novostei presented the event “in a political light”.

“Regardless some problems of ethical character and the quality of information in the media, Tajik journalists are tackling very serious social, political and economic problems, very often “trading on forbidden ground” and presenting their civil position”, — said Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT. — “Particular officials are not happy about it, but they must be tolerant to criticism in the media”.

It should be noted that none of the five papers mentioned anything about the pressure against them in their publications on 4 August 2010, i.e. after the allegations about the violations of their printing rights.

The NANSMIT monitoring service keeps tracing the situation in the area of freedom of expression.

NANSMIT-TajFEN

DUSHANBE — Tajikistan’s only private university is suing the country’s education minister for defamation, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Sadriddin Akramov, the head of the Institute of Technical Innovations and Communications (ITIC), told RFE/RL today that it filed a lawsuit against Education Minister Abdujabor Rahmonov on July 31 in a Dushanbe district court.

Akramov said Rahmonov described the ITIC in a letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon as a hotbed of antigovernment propaganda and political opposition.

The ITIC is known as the «American» university because it was founded by a Tajik-born U.S. citizen and is funded by grants from the United States and other Western countries. It has been under pressure from the Education Ministry to change its name since 2003, something it has done a few times.

In September 2009, the Education Ministry demanded its closure for three months for «technical reasons» to enable the ministry to check its documents and activities. But Akramov appealed to the district court last year and chose to keep the university open pending a court ruling.

Rahmonov said at a press conference last month that the Economic Court had upheld all the ministry’s complaints. He said the court ruled that the ITIC should be closed and its students continue their studies at other universities.

Akramov has demanded the Education Ministry compensate the ITIC for moral and material damage incurred as a result of the Economic Court ruling.

Akramov told RFE/RL he is convinced that the real reason the Education Ministry revoked the ITIC’s license is because its teaching staff includes some prominent opposition leaders and outspoken critics of the government.

A U.S. diplomat who has followed the case told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity on August 2 that he, too, thinks that is the reason the ministry has moved to close down the ITIC. He noted that the ministry has not yet provided any other convincing arguments for doing so.

Despite the ongoing dispute, 300 would-be students submitted applications to the ITIC this year.

One prospective student told RFE/RL that she appreciates the «high standard» of internationally focused education that is guaranteed at the institute and that she is sure it will not be permanently closed down.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Sole_Private_University_Files_Lawsuit_Against_Education_Min