By Jahangir Mamatov
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
PROGRAMS OF RFERL UZBEK LANGUAGE
SERVICE- “OZODLIK”
RFERL Uzbek
Service in fact still serves as an assistant to the current regime and to some
extent is a partner to its crimes.
www.birlik.net
www.harakat.net
08.
28. 05
It
appears to be not the first case. During last 14 years the leadership of the
Tashkent Bureau of RFERL Uzbek Service reported to the Uzbek National Security
Service prior to filing a report. As a result, some of correspondents’ reports
were taken out of air.
www.centrasia.ru
8.29.05
It
is not the first case when the RFERL Uzbek Service’s reports undergone the
censorship. Apparently on the issues of Islam and terrorism the radio serves
fully the interests of the Uzbek and US governments.
www.freeuzbekistan.com
9.
02.05
Everybody
is aware of rather “unnatural activities” of the Uzbek Service of RFERL. The
radio station, which does not differ from the Uzbek mass media outlets,
demonstrates its courage and freedom of speech, but only in covering stories
not related to Uzbekistan.
The statements of Uzbek officials are analyzed very superficially, and obvious
shortcomings are not covered and criticized openly. This is why the number of people unhappy with
RFERL Uzbek Service programs is rising. Reputation of the station and the
listeners’ trust to it is decreasing.
www.jahongir.org
9.09.05
Democracy
is spread not via empty words, but through concrete actions. That the US efforts to spread democracy throughout the world
lately involve forces that are not committed to the ideals of democracy and
lack of control decreases these efforts and negatively impacts the US image in the
world. The work of the US International broadcasting to Uzbekistan, such as
RFERL Uzbek Service (“Ozodlik”) and VOA Uzbek Service ( “Amerika Ovozi”)
supervised by BBG, can be a small example of the above-motioned thought.
Today
media freedom and freedom of expression do not exist in Uzbekistan.
Pro-democracy people are harassed or forced to leave the country. The Uzbek
Government severely restricted contacts of democrats in exile with the country.
These people do not have many options to share their thoughts and position with
compatriots. Their Internet sites are blocked in Uzbekistan, their email
communications closely monitored.
The
US Congress and Bush Administration’s position on spreading democracy in the
world matches the aspirations of the Uzbek democrats, living outside Uzbekistan.
To
spread the ideas of democracy, America
on the money of American taxpayers, funds RFERL and VOA, which operate under
the BBG. On the
notion of democracy, after the Andijon events VOA launched again its programs
in Uzbek Language. But similarly to the situation with the Internet cites of
Uzbek democratic opposition, these programs are barely listened in Uzbekistan.
We’ll come back to the reasons of this situation later in this analysis.
But
RFERL Uzbek Service does have its listeners, especially among people, who are
pro-democracy oriented and who are against the dictatorship. Some of these people, who in the past fought
in the ranks of the democratic opposition, via this radio station would like to
get precise information and to communicate with hundreds of Uzbek democrats
living outside the country. Today this is the only option of establishing the
bridge of democracy. RFERL Uzbek Service, which for several years headed
undemocratic path, as of the beginning of 2004 became a genuine podium of Liberty. Unfortunately,
after July of this year, the Service again is turning away from this mission,
and consciously or not, playing into the hands of the Uzbek dictatorship. This
not only contradicts US efforts to disseminate democracy, but also creates
misperceptions about America
among the Uzbek people. A third comment at the top of this article could serve
as an example for this.
We
do not intend to blame everybody, who works in the Uzbek Service of RFERL.
However, the Service during last several years openly collaborated with the
Uzbek Government and in the internal discussions tried to justify this by 2
reasons. First is to save the correspondent bureau in Tashkent, second- close ties between Bush
administration and Karimov’s Government. But this absolutely contradicts RFERL
mission.
However,
one should admit serious changes that took place during second half of 2004 and
first six months of 2005. During this
period the Uzbek Service’s programs became a free forum for all Uzbekistani
democrats. Even those democrats, who intentionally were deprived of possibility
to speak on RFERL Uzbek language programs, got a free podium to express their
opinions. During this time the Uzbek pro-governmental media published numerous
articles, written by the Soviet KGB offspring, Uzbek National Security Service
and attacking the Uzbek Service This resulted in the improvement of the Uzbek
Service’s damaged image among listeners in Uzbekistan. The Government,
concerned of this, launched a smear campaign against the most active
journalists of RFERL Uzbek Service. For instance, one of the best and popular
correspondents, Nosir Zokir was jailed under the fabricated charges.
As
mentioned above, by summer of 2005 the situation in the RFERL Uzbek Service
returned to old status. We don’t know what is behind these developments.
Whether the radio management launched a secret policy or the Uzbek Government
intervened- this is unknown to us. No matter why this happened, the serious
changes in the programming became obvious.
I
would like to give an example based on my personal experience. In late August I
wrote an article on the concerns regarding a personality of President Karimov’s
daughter Gulnora and some discussions in Tashkent
and Moscow as
to who will be successor of President Karimov. I first sent this article to all
staffers of FERL Uzbek Service. Apparently they were not interested in it.
However, this article gained quite an attention: it was translated into Russian
language and published on 27 Internet sites. It laid the ground for wide
discussions. That the Uzbek Service, which usually picks up light stories from
Internet, ignored my article on Gulnora Karimova is suspicious.
I
resent the article to all staffers of the Uzbek Service and to Sojida
Djakfarova, who was moved from the Tajik Service and temporarily appointed as a
head of the Uzbek Service. (This precedent- appointment of someone from Tajik
Service by itself is a humiliation for Uzbeks). I wrote to them that from my
point of view this issue was extremely important for the future of Uzbekistan and
that if somebody from the Service would call me, I am ready to give additional
information. But they even did not respond to my letter. Maybe members of the
Uzbek Service don’t like my personality, the fact that I am straightforward
speaking person. But at stake was the issue related to the future of Uzbekistan and
democrats had to inform Uzbek people about this, since we do not have other
forum. But the Uzbek Service avoided this.
The VOA Uzbek Service did the same.
By
now the Uzbek state media launched a wide-scale propaganda advertising Gulnora
Karimova and issues raised in my article proved to be correct. If so, doesn’t
the Uzbek Service anticipate that by ignoring the article about Gulnora
Karimova it, in fact, helps the dictatorship?
One
more example: On August 26, I received
an email letter from the son of the Uzbek Service’s correspondent Nosir Zokir
informing that the correspondent was arrested. But there was no information
about this on RFERL Uzbek Service program. A day later, August 27 no report either. The Service’s correspondents were busy with
reports on music festival “Sharq Taronalari” (Melodies of the East) and events
that President Karimov held prior to Independence Day. That RFERL Uzbek Service
joined a wide campaign of the Uzbek state media, which was consistently covering
exactly the same topics, was really suspicious. If what happened to Nosir Zokir
would have happened to some other journalist, Zokir would have informed
immediately RFERL listeners in Uzbekistan
and in the world. Was there any more significant story for the Uzbek Service?
Could there be more important story then imprisonment of the Liberty defender? As I mentioned above, I
listened to August 26 program on Internet. Moderators are Azizullah Arral and
Nodira. Top story: report on the Uzbek Parliament’s Upper House- Senate
Session. Speeches of Senate representatives that were broadcasted numerous
times on the Uzbek state radio and TV are repeated on RFERL Uzbek Service
programs too. In repeating they even overdid the local media. Yet there is no
report on jailed RFERL correspondent. I listened to August 27 program too.
Again the same report on the Uzbek Senate session. I sent an email letter to
all staffers of the Uzbek Service, informing them that I would like to make a
statement regarding Zokir’s arrest. Again, no respond whatsoever. Apparently I am
not the only one, who noticed this. In the article titled “Is Radio Liberty
Uzbek Service really serves the cause of Liberty?
» its author,
member of the Council of Uzbekistan Democratic Congress Jaloliddin Khusnuddinov,
wrote the following: “On August 26 Nosir
Zokir directly from the courtroom was sent to prison. But I learned about this
from other sources and only 2 days later news on this appeared on RFERL Uzbek
Service’s web page. Why? One of your well-known journalists is jailed and you
are silent! Whom did you contact so far regarding Nosir Zokir, what answers did
you get? We, listeners, have the right to know about this. Moreover, the Uzbek
Service even did not report on the statement of Uzbekistan Democratic Congress
demanding immediate release of Zokir, which was distributed worldwide in Uzbek,
Russian and English languages. Many web-sites picked up this statement,
reportedly even some members of the US Congress received it. The Uzbek
Service’s position on this is absolutely unclear.”
Indeed,
other people also noticed changes in RFERL Uzbek language programs. For
instance, Surat Ikramov, head of Uzbekistan Independent Initiative Group on
Human Rights, issued a statement, informing that the story on missing prominent
religious figure Abduvali qori was never aired in RFERL Uzbek language program
and this happened due to involvement of the Uzbek National Security Service
(NSS). The Uzbek NSS, which so far never announced any denial, this time published a statement denying its involvement. Yet, the
story was not broadcasted. After this another Uzbek Human rights activist,
Human Rights Society Chairman Tolib Yoqubov issued a statement on behalf of his
organization, informing that he sent a letter to RFERL Uzbek Service,
requesting why his interview on the missing religious figure was not aired, and
that he did not receive a response. Despite that this statement was published
on several Internet sites, there was no response from the Uzbek Service. In a
rather short period of time number of this type of important issues emerged,
and we can not understand why there is such a major shift in the RFERL Uzbek
language programs.
While
writing this letter, I decided to listen to some of the programs randomly, in a
hope that stories promoting democracy are there again. A story aired in the
original program was then repeated at least 10 times during next 2 days and
this was really annoying. Let’s take a September 9 program, on Internet you can
listen at 3.00 and 3.30 pm. Moderator- Azizullah Arral.
First report is on EU representative visit to Uzbekistan,
which included statements of the Uzbek and British officials on the visit. The
Uzbek official statement was aired many times on the Uzbek local media as well.
However, a day prior to this visit, the sites of Uzbek democratic opposition published some
articles questioning the timing and purpose of this visit after the Andijon
massacre, especially given that EU discussed issue of sanctions to Uzbekistan.
But none of these issues were raised in RFERL report, the statement of the
Uzbek official was not balanced with alternative opinion of democratic
opposition.
Second
report is from Kashkadarya region, stating that the region was the first to
launch cotton picking season. However, 2 days earlier the Service reported that
well-known dissident poet and farmer Yusuf Juma already finished cotton picking
season. This means that the cotton picking season was launched much earlier.
But even more important point is that the issue of child labor in cotton
picking was covered superficially in this report, for it included only
interviews with farmers. If they would have asked for comment pro-democracy
observers, they would have informed listeners that children are used as slaves
and that closure of schools during cotton picking season is a violation of the
Uzbek Constitution. But it would
irritate President Karimov.
Third
report is on international stories, followed by the story on Katrina damages.
But the actualities are aired without translation, which makes it even harder
to listen to the program on short waves. This report was followed by the story
on Jazz, connected to New Orleans.
Next report is on the concert of well- known Uzbek pop group Yalla in Tajikistan,
followed by the group’s song. Next is a story on reforms of Kyrgyz
Constitution. Finally, Language and Soul Program, which at the top of the hour
was announced as a new edition. However, old program was repeated. It was also
repeated on Uzbek Service’s web page. Maybe the Uzbek Service is short of
staff? This is understandable. Or maybe there were no important stories in Uzbekistan to
cover? I doubt it. A day earlier, 2 independent journalists in Uzbekistan were
severely attacked, but in the RFERL Uzbek language program there were no
reports on these incidents. Also a day earlier the Uzbek TV broadcasted a
special program, accusing Freedom House organization of allowing the Uzbek
human rights activists, including chairman of Uzbekistan Human Rights Society
Tolib Yoqubov and head of “Ezgulik” human rights organization Vasila Inoyatova,
and alleged members of Akramiya group to gather in its premises for
“preparations for terrorist acts.” Also
within these days the Uzbek Government issued a decree on taking Internet under
full control. But this event too was not reported. Instead, RFERL Uzbek
language program was filled with music and the very same program was repeated 8
times. Moreover, the stories that were aired over and over again, on the
weekend were repeated 2-3 times. Does this pattern really serves the ideas of
democracy or is this done intentionally, to irritate listeners and to make them
stop listening to programs?
These
days the Uzbek Government intensified its attacks on democrats. But apparently
this is of no importance to RFERL Uzbek Service. The Uzbek Government deprives
democrats of expressing their position, and the Uzbek Service ignores important
developments or reports on them superficially with week-long delay. While the
US Congress and Bush Administration declares the notion of spreading democracy
in the world, that RFERL and VOA Uzbek language Services claim they are podium
for democracy and Liberty, but in reality serve dictatorship, is indeed
confusing. I believe this is primarily
an oversight on the part of the BBG. When 2 years ago BBG considered closure of
duplicate Services, the issue of RFERL and VOA Uzbek Services emerged too. Back
then I had a conversation with one Congressman, and although it was against my
personal interests, I proposed to keep RFERL Uzbek Service because it had more
hours and more people could listen to its programs. VOA Uzbek Service had much
less listeners. But BBG launched VOA TV
programs in Uzbek for Uzbekistan,
where even radio waves are jammed. This was a waste of American money. This
seemed like an effort to get money from the Congress under the pretext that
“many people watch these programs”. After the Andijon events VOA Uzbek
Service’s radio programs were reinstalled. This was another effort on the part
of BBG to get money, rather then effort to promote democracy, since VOA and
RFERL Uzbek language programs are aired at almost the same time and more people
listen to RFERL.
It
is easy to criticize, harder to come up with concrete proposals. I would like
to propose the following actions.
1.To merge VOA and RFERL Uzbek
Services and to give additional financial and human resources to RFERL. This
Service should be fundamentally reformed. After Andijon events many able
journalists like Yusuf Rasulov, Tolqin Qoraev, Matluba
Azamatova had to flee Uzbekistan.
The Radio should recruit this type of journalists on the basis of open
competition. This will help to reduce the number of repeated stories in daily
programs and to eliminate bias, taking sides, nepotism, and will open the door
for democracy.
2.In
addition to the correspondent bureau in Tahskent, to consider opening similar bureaus in Chimkent, Kazakhstan; Osh,
Kyrgyzstan; and Hojand, Tajikistan.
3.Nowadays the number of Uzbeks
living in the US
is growing. Only last year some 1,500 people received a permanent resident
status. These people are not indifferent to the fate of Uzbekistan,
ideals of democracy. Therefore we need
to found a public council, which will monitor the work of RFERL Uzbek Service
and will send quarterly reports to Congress on its findings. BBG pays
government’s money to the company it chooses to conduct audience research. But
like in Uzbekistan,
where complaints return to the person, who is at the center of the complaint,
BBG required researches with revealed shortcomings return to the involved
people. The process ends there. If our council produces reports in English and
disseminates them in different states among our Senators and Congressmen, the
impact could be significant. This will help to preserve the podium of
democracy.
Russia’s
first President Boris Yeltsin said that RFERL destroyed Soviet
Union. Today the dictatorship in Uzbekistan is even stronger then
during Soviet times and therefore our need of Radio that Yeltsin valued, is
still in place. How we satisfy this need will depend on our joint actions,
especially of Uzbeks living in the US.
September, 2005
Contact:
- Jahangir Mamatov, Chairman of The CCongress of Democratic Uzbekistan www.jahongir.org,
571-277-0140 (m), 571-203-9225 (h) jahongirm2@yahoo.com