DUSHANBE, December 1, 2009, Asia-Plus – The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) intends to organize a roundtable meeting this week to discuss government’s decree obligating journalists to pay for information obtained from officials.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Nansmit head Nouriddin Qarshiboyev said that the meeting members would include representatives from media organizations as well as independent and state-run media. Officials that prepared this decree have also bee invited to attend the meeting, he added. “The meeting aims to discuss expediency of this government’s decree.”
We will recall that the government issued the decree obligating journalists to pay for information obtained from officials on November 19.
According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, under the decree, journalists must pay 25 somoni for each page of printed text provided by an official institution or state agency. As of January 1, the cost will be increased to 35 somoni per page.
Tajik officials say the decree corresponds to the newly adopted law on the mass media. According to presidential administration spokesman Mahmoud Sarayev, the decree does not restrict access to information since it applies only to information requested in advance, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported on November 20. However, he didn”t elaborate on that qualification
In the meantime, the Nansmit head says the decree is in contrary with the country’s Constitution, which guarantees free access to information. “This decree may create new obstacles for media to get information,” Qarshiboyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus. “Now, referring to this decree, officials may restrict or refuse to provide access to information of social significance,” noted the Tajik media watchdog head, “Officials claim that the decree does not apply to media and it allegedly concerns only ordinary citizens; however, media are engaged in informing ordinary citizens and ordinary citizens of our country work with media.”
Some newspaper editors even consider that the decree could bankrupt independent media outlets in Tajikistan.
