International Freedom of Expression Exchange: The global network for free expression
30 March 2005
FREE SPEECH AT THE HEART OF POPULAR REVOLT
The popular movement in Kyrgyzstan that toppled President Askar Akayev last week was an expression of anger not only about the vote-rigging, corruption and nepotism committed by the government but also about the suppression of free speech in the Central Asian country, report IFEX members.
Demonstrators were vocal in their objections to government harassment of the media, says Human Rights Watch. The Kyrgyz service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Radio Azattyk), was cut off to most of the country just days before the 27 February 2005 election. The government also used its virtual monopoly on the mass media to discredit opposition candidates and unfairly influence the outcome of elections (see
IFEX Communiqué story).
Freedom House reports that five days before the election, authorities shut off power to a printing press run by Media Support Center Foundation, a non-governmental organization. The press, which provides professional printing services to over sixty local and regional newspapers, was shut down shortly after Akayev reacted publicly to media reports alleging that he and his family were tainted by corruption.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), state-owned media were virtually silent on the anti-Akayev demonstrations that followed the election. Senior government officials prevented journalists at the Kyrgyz National Television & Radio Corporation (KTR) from reporting on rallies protesting the conduct of the vote, and while demonstrators stormed government buildings on 24 March, state television showed nature programmes.
During the demonstrations, several journalists were injured, including the head of Kyrgyzstan's independent Journalists Trade Union, reports Adil Soz. Azamat Kalman suffered two broken legs on 23 March after he was pushed off a ledge during clashes between pro- and anti-Akayev supporters.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for a period of calm so that journalists can report on the country's political transition without fear of being attacked. "We urge all journalists to take great care and we urge media employers to ensure their staff are fully trained and insured before being sent on mission," the organisation says.
Visit these links:
- Index on Censorship: http://tinyurl.com/3sock
- Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/europe/kyrgyzstan/0305/
- Freedom House:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/
- CPJ:
http://www.cpj.org/news/2005/Kyrgyz25mar05na.html
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=3038&Language=EN
- An Eyewitness Account of the Protests: http://tinyurl.com/6sor2
- Institute for War and Peace Reporting: http://tinyurl.com/5lksd
- Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution: http://tinyurl.com/7wo5n
- Central Asia Watchdog: http://www.centralasiawatchdog.com/
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