TAJIKISTAN: Pressure on independent media continues

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

DUSHANBE, 16 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - Despite 14 years of independence, the mountainous state of Tajikistan has much work ahead of it before it can claim a free and independent press, observers say. Marred by scandal and legal skirmishes, journalists continue to complain that their ability to work unhindered is threatened.

In the latest incident to rock the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, Muhtor Bokizoda, chairman of the Foundation for the Memory and Protection of Journalists (FMPJ) and editor of the independent opposition newspaper "Nerui Sukhan" (Power of the Word), received a two-year sentence at the end of August for alleged misuse of electricity and tax evasion - a charge he flatly denies.

But outside observers say the charges were merely a ploy to silence the journalist, who, as chairman of the FMPJ, also runs the Kaikhon printing house, one of the few independent publishing concerns in the former Soviet republic.

"This is direct pressure on the independent media," one of his journalists observed, referring to charges made against his boss. It was a deliberate attempt by the authorities to stifle independent media, he complained, adding, clearly the law had taken a back seat under government pressure.

However, Makhmudhon Saraev, head of the media department for the Tajik president, denied such charges, claiming the government was not concerned about what Bokizoda's paper was publishing.

The charges against him were solely tax related, Saraev maintained, noting: "To turn this case, related to the tax issue, into political farce is not serious or professional."

As for the claim by many Tajik journalists that the case was initiated by senior government officials, Saraev replied: "Our journalists forget about their own duties which are regulated by the law on mass media of this country. Before spreading such misinformation, they should check the facts instead of gossiping."

The country's tax authorities regularly inspect other business enterprises and Bokizoda's should be no different. Where there were violations, fines would be applied, he explained, adding those found guilty should not be indignant over it.

"But journalists try in such a way to show their journalistic solidarity and sensationalise it," the government official explained.

Meanwhile, Bokizoda and his lawyer Inoyat Inoyatov have gone on the offensive with a petition to overturn the court's decision. According to the petition, from the very beginning the investigation had been one-sided and far from objective.

Such claims are not without their supporters, however. In a letter addressed to Talbak Nazarov, the Tajik Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miklosh Harasti, the representative for Freedom of the Press for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) voiced his concern over the status of independent media, referring to newspapers such as Ruzi Nav, Nerui Sukhan, Odamu Olam and Adolat.

In 2004, the state-owned Sharki Ozod printing house refused to publish the four newspapers, citing a variety of technical reasons.

Some editors have sought to get round the problem by publishing in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, only to have their copy seized upon its arrival in Dushanbe, they say.

In his letter, Harasti called on Dushanbe "to change the situation radically", reminding the minister concerns about media freedom in the republic had been raised several times before.

The OSCE also raised the issue of the suppression of independent broadcast media through the withholding of operating licences. "These licences were not given," the OSCE representative wrote in his letter - "in spite of numerous requests and obvious necessity for stronger pluralism."

Saraev conceded that there had been problems in the issuing of licences to private broadcasters such as Asia-Plus and TV-Gissar, along with several TV channels in the Sogd region, some 350 km to the north of Dushanbe, whose licences had expired.

"At the same time we stopped the work of the commission itself on issuing licences," he said, adding new regulations on the activity of the TV and radio licensing commission had recently been introduced.

Such regulations would ultimately facilitate the process of obtaining licences for TV broadcasters, he claimed, and at a reduced cost. Earlier, TV channels were obliged to pay upwards of US $3,000 for a five-year broadcast licence, while now the cost was little more than $50, he said.

According to the Media Sustainability Index for 2004 compiled by the US-based education and media NGO IREX, press freedom in Tajikistan declined markedly in 2004 as government pressure increased ahead of parliamentary elections held in early 2005. Lack of legislation regulating the media, social and economic hardship, and a lack of transparency among state institutions and businesses, all contributed to the downturn, the report said.

[ENDS]