Press freedom high on Clinton’s Tajik and Uzbek agendas
Media and Internet, Politics and Society, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan2 Comments
Editor’s note: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan this past weekend. High on her agenda was the problematic issue of press freedom and human rights in the two countries. neweurasia’s Tomyris, however, wonders what may have been said — or not said — behind closed doors.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, made her way to and through Central Asia this past weekend – stopping in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – on October 22nd and 23rd.
Here’s a summary of Clinton’s agenda: In Tajikistan, she met with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi to discuss bilateral and regional issues. She also met with locals, to – quite democratically – hear the voices of the people. And in Uzbekistan, Clinton met with President Islam Karimov and Foreign Minister Elyor Ganiev. Cars and technology were on her mind in Tashkent – Clinton visited the new General Motors Powertrain plant where she spoke about the Technology Entrepreneurship Program and Techno-Prize Competition.
About Tajikistan, but also alluding to similar issues in Uzbekistan, Interfax-News reported:
“The United States is concerned by the state of the freedom of the press in Tajikistan…”
And thus there was much discussion about the importance of opening up the media landscape in both former Soviet counties.
While in Tajikistan on October 22nd, @RonanFarrow, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues, said on Twitter:
“The boss’s town hall with #women & #youth in #Tajikistan: http://go.usa.gov/X3w | Photo: http://flic.kr/p/ay3RGm via @StateDept #SecClinton”
To see a photo of Clinton meeting with the women of Dushanbe, snapped by Farrow via the US Department of State, Click Here.
At this Town Hall meeting, media was indeed one of the topics of discussion.
In remarks given with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, about the Town Hall gathering, Clinton said:
“Earlier today, I attended a town hall discussion with Tajiks from across the spectrum of activities from human rights activists to religious leaders to members of the media, women leaders, students, and educators. We had a lively discussion. And it is clear that Tajikistan is home to courageous, dedicated, intelligent, talented people who want to help build their nation’s future. And it is always important for government and leaders to provide the space necessary for these activists to have a voice, to develop their talents, promote their ideas, come together on behalf of their country.”
And furthermore, about press freedom in Tajikistan, Clinton said:
“We believe journalists should be free to perform their function without fear of reprisals … I stress the importance of an independent media and the role it plays in moving toward establishing and cementing democratic institutions.”
And about overall freedoms, wherein media was included, the US Secretary of State remarked:
“And it is also important to ensure fundamental freedoms, including religious and media freedoms for all people – men, women, young and old. Obviously, the United States, because of our centuries of success as the longest democracy in the world, is convinced that an open and democratic, tolerant society provides a firm foundation for a secure, stable, and prosperous nation. And we encourage the Tajik Government to take concrete steps toward that kind of society right here in Tajikistan.”
About the US Secretary of State’s visit to both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, here are some excerpts of what a Human Rights Watch press release said regarding the topic of media freedom:
“The recent convictions of two independent journalists on what appear to be politically motivated charges related to their legitimate journalism work tops the list of concerns, Human Rights Watch said.” (Tajikistan: Urunboy Usmonov, BBC and Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, Zuri Zindagi)
“The government also has cracked down more broadly on media freedoms and restricted religious freedoms.” (Tajikistan)
“The Uzbek government continues to hold at least 12 human rights defenders on wrongful charges. They are: Solijon Abdurakhmanov, Azam Formonov, Nosim Isakov, Gaibullo Jalilov, Alisher Karamatov, Jamshid Karimov, Abdurasul Khudainasarov, Ganihon Mamatkhanov, Habibulla Okpulatov, Yuldash Rasulov, Dilmurod Saidov, and Akzam Turgunov. Many other journalists and political activists remain behind bars for no other reason than their legitimate civil society activism.” (Uzbekistan)
And for more from the Uzbek side of the story, where media was also a topic of discussion, Reuters reported:
“U.S. officials said Clinton also raised the issue with Uzbekistan’s Karimov — widely seen as one of the most repressive leaders in the region — as one of a number of human rights concerns that also include press freedom, human trafficking and political reforms.”
Clinton met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on October 22nd, wherein the US Secretary of State brought up various issues regarding freedom from various spectrums – reforms, trafficking, forced labor and such.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on what the Uzbek media was – and was not – reporting on during the visit and during this particular meeting that took place between the two:
“The state’s National Information Agency of Uzbekistan and pro-government website Olam.uz reported on the same meeting, omitting any mention of the rights issues and focusing instead on “the significance of our country in providing security and stability in [the Central Asian] region.””
“The reports do mention “the sides exchanged views on issues of developing dialogue between the two countries’ civil societies,” but make no mention of any specific human rights or democratic reform issues.”
Let’s hope that upon Clinton’s arrival back to the US, the three countries have found substantial time to ponder over the severe media issues that surfaced in their October talks.
There were in fact media outlets, and thus journalists, who did cover Clinton’s visit to both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. But, here’s to wondering about the local journalists who may have been barred from working on those days, and denied both press credentials and the “OK” to publish their stories regarding the world-watched US/Central Asia visit. In addition, here’s to wondering what was said behind closed doors, or better yet not said, in regards to human right abuses toward journalists in both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – that did not make the news.
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by: Elisabetta from: Zurich (comment on RFE/RL)
October 23, 2011 18:20
What Secretary Clinton appears to have missed to raise in her discussions with President Rahmon:
1. There are credible allegations that the BBC journalist, Urunboi Usmonov, was tortured while in custody. Civilized states categorically refrain from and condemn torture at all times. We hope that Tajikistan would apply a similar policy. We also hope that those who allegedly tortured Mr Usmonov will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Please note that we have been providing technical assistance and training to your National Security Committee. We do not necessarily want to undo this cooperation and we expect your government to abide by international human rights norms at all times.
2. There is sufficient evidence that the death of Alovuddin Davlatov (a k a ‘Ali Bedaki’), an alleged rebel leading a number of armed men in eastern Tajikistan, was not the result of a gunfight as the government reported back in January 2011, but that Mr Davlatov was very likely captured, tortured and executed extrajudicially. The US condemns all manner of extrajudicial punishment.
3. It is disturbing that the Tajik government does not allow access to its prisons to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We hope that the rumors that the government intends to finally sign an agreement with the ICRC to be true.
4. It is hoped that Tajikistan will enhance its environmental protection and encourage the flourishing of eco-tourism in the country as this will both protect Tajikistan from natural disasters by preserving the natural environment and vegetations and generate badly needed income for both local communities and the central government.
5. We encourage the women and minorities of Tajikistan to seek public office and for the government to make available increasing number of high- and mid-level positions for the many qualified women and ethnic minorities of your country.
6. Currently in Tajikistan too many political positions are appointed. Based on the American experience, We would like to see democracy being applied in all levels of Tajik politics. Free and open elections, with no interference or fraud on the national level, but also on the district and city levels as well are crucial.
What the Tajik media and civil society missed out in asking Secretary Clinton:
7. Is it correct to assume that your main point of visiting Tajikistan is to secure our country’s cooperation on the Afghanistan conundrum? If your objective in Afghanistan is peace and democracy, please tell us how that is to be achieved via night raids, beatings, torture, drone attacks, tolerating corrupt elections, economic aid to a corrupt bureaucracy and foreign aid with huge leakage?
8. The US had at one point been holding 13 of our citizens in the Guantanamo Bay prison. Twelve were returned, most were interrogated by our KGB, both here and courtesy of US funds in Cuba. Few of the prisoners held there were ever represented by a lawyer. Two of the prisoners sent back are known to have been tortured here to confess to dubious acts and sent to long prison terms. Why would you send people back to a country with a closed prison system and a proven track record of torture?
9. We appreciate the educational opportunities which the US provides our citizens, but we would like to see a) the strengthening of our own schools and universities in Tajikistan, b) the presence of US educational institutions in Tajikistan and c) more graduate level opportunities to the US instead of the many (mostly wasteful) short-term trips for elite and/or unqualified bureaucrats.
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