Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE704
2006-04-14 06:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIK JOURNALISTS UNION SUSPENSION NOT A CRACK DOWN ON MEDIA
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000704
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK JOURNALISTS UNION SUSPENSION NOT A CRACK DOWN ON MEDIA
FREEDOM
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000704
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK JOURNALISTS UNION SUSPENSION NOT A CRACK DOWN ON MEDIA
FREEDOM
1. On April 11 the Ministry of Justice announced a Dushanbe
district court suspended the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan
for three months. The suspension is not seen as a threat to
media freedom, but rather a move by the government to oust the
Union's current chairman, Hayot Davlatov.
2. The Union of Journalists, formed in 1959, is a
pro-government Soviet relic. Davlatov, widely considered to be
an "old and corrupt drunk," has been chairman of the Union for
more than fifteen years. Embassy sources relay stories of how
he skims money from international grants and even steals from
the Union's cafeteria money. Davlatov has been inactive and
ineffective as a Union leader and the government recognizes he
is of no value to them. Embassy sources say that a possible
candidate to replace him is Kamol Abdurahimov, editor of
"Jumhuryat," the highest circulation national Tajik newspaper.
[NOTE: It has high circulation because it's the newspaper of
the Presidency, and government employees all over the country
are required to read it. END NOTE.]
3. Although the change in leadership has been expected for
years, the last straw, claimed the Ministry of Justice, is that
Davlatov has not submitted the required annual report on the
Union's activities. In February, the Ministry of Justice's
Khatlon branch officially threatened to close down the Union of
Journalists in the Khatlon region if it did not make
organizational changes to its board of directors and founding
documents delineating the board's authority.
4. COMMENT: Post does not view this as a crackdown on media
freedom because the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan has been
a government puppet organization, rather than seriously
advocating for the rights of journalists. It is likely that the
move is indeed aimed at removing Davlatov due to his inability
to lead the organization and properly follow government orders.
It may also be the result of a personal dispute between the
Khatlon Ministry of Justice and Union branch. However, the
Ministry of Justice's stated reasons of failure to produce an
annual report and improper organizational structure are similar
to the technical reasons it gives to other public associations
and NGOs it wants to shut down. It is likely the Union will
resume its activities after three months with a new chairman and
a new name. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK JOURNALISTS UNION SUSPENSION NOT A CRACK DOWN ON MEDIA
FREEDOM
1. On April 11 the Ministry of Justice announced a Dushanbe
district court suspended the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan
for three months. The suspension is not seen as a threat to
media freedom, but rather a move by the government to oust the
Union's current chairman, Hayot Davlatov.
2. The Union of Journalists, formed in 1959, is a
pro-government Soviet relic. Davlatov, widely considered to be
an "old and corrupt drunk," has been chairman of the Union for
more than fifteen years. Embassy sources relay stories of how
he skims money from international grants and even steals from
the Union's cafeteria money. Davlatov has been inactive and
ineffective as a Union leader and the government recognizes he
is of no value to them. Embassy sources say that a possible
candidate to replace him is Kamol Abdurahimov, editor of
"Jumhuryat," the highest circulation national Tajik newspaper.
[NOTE: It has high circulation because it's the newspaper of
the Presidency, and government employees all over the country
are required to read it. END NOTE.]
3. Although the change in leadership has been expected for
years, the last straw, claimed the Ministry of Justice, is that
Davlatov has not submitted the required annual report on the
Union's activities. In February, the Ministry of Justice's
Khatlon branch officially threatened to close down the Union of
Journalists in the Khatlon region if it did not make
organizational changes to its board of directors and founding
documents delineating the board's authority.
4. COMMENT: Post does not view this as a crackdown on media
freedom because the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan has been
a government puppet organization, rather than seriously
advocating for the rights of journalists. It is likely that the
move is indeed aimed at removing Davlatov due to his inability
to lead the organization and properly follow government orders.
It may also be the result of a personal dispute between the
Khatlon Ministry of Justice and Union branch. However, the
Ministry of Justice's stated reasons of failure to produce an
annual report and improper organizational structure are similar
to the technical reasons it gives to other public associations
and NGOs it wants to shut down. It is likely the Union will
resume its activities after three months with a new chairman and
a new name. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND