TAJIKISTAN'S NEW MEDIA COALITION NOT ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001362

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, S/P
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S NEW MEDIA COALITION NOT ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT



1. (SBU) Three prominent media associations formed the new
Partnership for Democracy in June, a media coalition group
designed to address misunderstandings among journalistic bodies
and foster improved relations between mass media and the
government. However, despite the group's good intentions, it
appears it is subject to considerable government influence.


2. (SBU) The three organizations in the coalition are the
National Association of Independent Mass Media in Tajikistan
(NANSMIT),the Tajik Association of Independent Electronic Media
(TAIEM),and the Media Alliance of Tajikistan (MAT). The
Chairman of TAIEM, Muso Asozoda is also the Head of
Administration for the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan,
President Rahmonov's political party. Even NANSMIT, the
self-proclaimed darling of the international community, and MAT
are not truly independent organizations. Embassy sources say
that even though these organizations may ideally want to reform
media conditions in the country, all three have connections
within the government and are soft on government criticism, when
they publish opposing views at all.


3. (SBU) According to press reports, the group's three-pronged
strategy includes each organization taking the lead on one of
three goals: reform media legislation, establish a state body
to regulate relations between the media and government, and set
up a body to regulate journalistic ethics and relations within
the media community. However, during EmbOffs' meeting July 18
with NANSMIT Chairman Nuriddin Karshiboev, he stressed strong
government cooperation more so than in public reports. For
instance, he described the organization's first two goals as
reforming media legislation and introducing a new law on mass
media so that media groups can better cooperate with the
government, and establishing a new council to include the
government and mass media which would strengthen cooperation
between the two. Nowhere in Partnership for Democracy's written
goals does it stress the need for a more free and independent
media or legislation reform for transparent government
regulations. The group also plans to offer membership to the
Tajik Union of Journalists, a well-known government-directed
body.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the organization is still in its
early stages and its true intentions cannot yet be judged, all
signs point to Partnership for Democracy as another pre-election
government ploy. This coalition allows the government to more
closely and succinctly work with all mass media organizations in
the country and silence opposition voices. It would be easier
for the government to hide behind a seemingly independent
organization to control media activities than directly pressure
the media with a heavy hand. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND