30 July 2003

CPJ DELEGATION URGES PROBE INTO MURDERED JOURNALISTS


The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a delegation to Tajikistan last week and expressed concerns over the unsolved murders of journalists and the government's "culture of secrecy." After meeting with government officials, journalists and diplomats, the delegation urged the government of Tajikistan to investigate and prosecute those responsible for murdering dozens of journalists during the 1992-1997 civil war.

Journalists told CPJ that the impunity surrounding the murders continues to haunt the press, fostering a culture of fear and self-censorship. In response to the concerns, the government has agreed to review CPJ's list of more than 20 journalists murdered during the war and to respond in writing within 30 days.

CPJ also called on authorities to improve press conditions by providing journalists with greater access to government information. "President Rakhmonov and other senior government officials are rarely available to meet with journalists, and access to many government agencies remains extremely limited. [This] lack of transparency is destructive to openness and business investment," CPJ says.

CPJ is preparing a detailed report on its findings in Tajikistan, which will be published later.

For more information on Tajikistan, visit:

- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2003/Tajik24july03na.html

- IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/183/



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Also from the Communiqué, 30 July 2003

INTERNATIONAL: FOUR JOURNALISTS KILLED IN A WEEK 29 July 2003 BANGLADESH: ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS ALARM IFEX MEMBERS 30 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: RSF SUSPENDED FROM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 30 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: IAPA INVITES BUSH TO OCTOBER CONFERENCE 30 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: SEAPA CHRONICLES MEDIA SELF-REGULATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 30 July 2003 SRI LANKA: Report Surveys Media in War-Torn Sri Lanka 30 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL / GENDER: OSCE Conference Tackles Media and Gender 30 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AWARDS HELLMAN/HAMMETT GRANTS 30 July 2003

Tajikistan

Tajik opposition journalist stabbed in Moscow 13 January 2012 Journalist spared punishment in partial court victory 9 December 2011 BBC correspondent's conviction upheld on appeal despite pardon 5 December 2011 Journalists convicted, released from prison 14 October 2011 Journalist faces 16 years in jail if convicted on defamation charges 30 September 2011 See all alerts: Tajikistan


Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia

UKRAINE: Court decision threatens future of country's largest newspaper 10 February 2012 RUSSIA: Journalist detained for questioning after publishing open letter to Putin 9 February 2012 RUSSIA: Government shuts HIV-prevention group's website 8 February 2012 AZERBAIJAN: Justice ministry harassment targets IRFS activities, says group's director 8 February 2012 KAZAKHSTAN / GERMANY: Make rights key to good relations, says Human Rights Watch 6 February 2012


 
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