Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE116246
2009-11-10 23:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTIMIDATION

Tags:  TAGS 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6246 3142332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 102328Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 5236
INFO RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 6263
UNCLAS STATE 116246 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TAGS
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTIMIDATION
OF JOURNALISTS IN KYRGYZSTAN

UNCLAS STATE 116246

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TAGS
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTIMIDATION
OF JOURNALISTS IN KYRGYZSTAN


1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the November 12, 2009, Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.

Begin text:

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman,

The United States notes with grave concern the news from
Kyrgyzstan that threats and violence against journalists
persist.

On November 1st, Kubanychbek Zholdoshev, a reporter for the
government weekly Osh Shamy, was attacked and beaten by three
assailants leaving him with a concussion and broken ribs. In
the days prior to this attack, Zholdoshev reportedly faced
intimidation as well, and was threatened following
publication of a story on the quality of education and
corruption at the university.

The attack on Mr. Zholdoshev represents the seventh assault
on journalists in Kyrgyzstan this year, one of which resulted
in death. We call upon the leaders of Kyrgyzstan's government
to denounce publicly and strongly such attacks upon the
media.

We are reminded of the statement made in this hall only two
weeks ago by the Representative on Media Freedom Miklos
Haraszti, who when speaking about Kyrgyzstan said that a
"crime as usual-approach" will not suffice to fight violence
against journalists. We call upon Kyrgyzstan to recognize
the gravity of the challenge being posed to freedom of the
media and to restore an intimidation-free atmosphere for
public discourse by aggressively pursuing those responsible
for these cowardly acts.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.

END TEXT
CLINTON