1. (SBU) On January 11, the Tajik government ordered Internet
providers to block access to two Internet news sites:
centrasia.ru and ariana.su. The providers immediately
implemented the order. The next day, the sites were back up.
The brief blocks are a sign that government would like to
silence dissent amidst its propaganda campaign to raise money
for its Roghun hydroelectric dam project, but is wary of
triggering international criticism.
2. (SBU) Ariana.su is considered an opposition website and
features views critical of the Tajik government. Centrasia.ru
is arguably the most comprehensive open source for information
on Central Asia and features a wide range of news, analysis, and
opinion on the entire region.
3. (SBU) The content and source of the order to block the sites
are unclear. State Internet company "Tajik Telecom" reported to
the Russian Interfax news agency that they received a letter
from the government listing the websites to be blocked. Reuters
reported that Internet providers received a letter directing
them to block sites that criticize the president or provide
uncensored fora to readers. Officials at the presidential
administration's information-analysis center deny that the
government issued any such order. Internet companies contacted
by Public Affairs staff reported that they received an order to
block the sites "from above", but would not provide further
details. Tajik Telecom reported to BBC that on the evening of
January 11 "regulatory bodies called us and said the decision to
block the websites had been cancelled. We did what the
leadership told us to do."
4. (SBU) Karshibaev, head of the national association of
independent Tajik journalists, "Nansmit", called the website
blockages a violation of human rights and media freedom.
During the website blockage, NANSMIT said it planned to issue a
joint statement with local media NGOs protesting the
government's move. The two blocked websites were among five
sites the government blocked in 2006 before the presidential
election (centrasia.ru, arianastorm.com, ferghana.ru,
tajikistantimes.ru, charogiruz.ru). Of these five, the
government un-blocked the first three after the 2006 elections
when Rahmon was re-elected with minimal opposition. The two
websites that the government never un-blocked,
tajikistantimes.ru and charogiruz.ru, have since ceased
operation.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The brief blocking of centrasia.ru and
ariana.su is another sign that the Tajik government is moving
backwards in its respect for media freedom. Amidst its national
propaganda campaign to browbeat the population to buy Roghun
stock and in advance of parliamentary elections, the government
seeks to maintain a monopoly on public debate. In this case, it
is unclear whether media providers took a government order too
far and were pulled back or the government got cold feet when
the story hit the international press so quickly. Post will
continue to monitor website access and report on any future
blocks. END COMMENT
GROSS
| TAJIK GOVERNMENT BLOCKS WEBSITES, THEN BACKS DOWN | |
2010 January 12, 16:39 (Tuesday) |
10DUSHANBE51_a |
UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
|
-- Not Assigned -- |
3257 |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TEXT ONLINE |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TE - Telegram (cable) |
|
-- N/A or Blank -- -- N/A or Blank -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
|
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000051
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT BLOCKS WEBSITES, THEN BACKS DOWN
1. (SBU) On January 11, the Tajik government ordered Internet
providers to block access to two Internet news sites:
centrasia.ru and ariana.su. The providers immediately
implemented the order. The next day, the sites were back up.
The brief blocks are a sign that government would like to
silence dissent amidst its propaganda campaign to raise money
for its Roghun hydroelectric dam project, but is wary of
triggering international criticism.
2. (SBU) Ariana.su is considered an opposition website and
features views critical of the Tajik government. Centrasia.ru
is arguably the most comprehensive open source for information
on Central Asia and features a wide range of news, analysis, and
opinion on the entire region.
3. (SBU) The content and source of the order to block the sites
are unclear. State Internet company "Tajik Telecom" reported to
the Russian Interfax news agency that they received a letter
from the government listing the websites to be blocked. Reuters
reported that Internet providers received a letter directing
them to block sites that criticize the president or provide
uncensored fora to readers. Officials at the presidential
administration's information-analysis center deny that the
government issued any such order. Internet companies contacted
by Public Affairs staff reported that they received an order to
block the sites "from above", but would not provide further
details. Tajik Telecom reported to BBC that on the evening of
January 11 "regulatory bodies called us and said the decision to
block the websites had been cancelled. We did what the
leadership told us to do."
4. (SBU) Karshibaev, head of the national association of
independent Tajik journalists, "Nansmit", called the website
blockages a violation of human rights and media freedom.
During the website blockage, NANSMIT said it planned to issue a
joint statement with local media NGOs protesting the
government's move. The two blocked websites were among five
sites the government blocked in 2006 before the presidential
election (centrasia.ru, arianastorm.com, ferghana.ru,
tajikistantimes.ru, charogiruz.ru). Of these five, the
government un-blocked the first three after the 2006 elections
when Rahmon was re-elected with minimal opposition. The two
websites that the government never un-blocked,
tajikistantimes.ru and charogiruz.ru, have since ceased
operation.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The brief blocking of centrasia.ru and
ariana.su is another sign that the Tajik government is moving
backwards in its respect for media freedom. Amidst its national
propaganda campaign to browbeat the population to buy Roghun
stock and in advance of parliamentary elections, the government
seeks to maintain a monopoly on public debate. In this case, it
is unclear whether media providers took a government order too
far and were pulled back or the government got cold feet when
the story hit the international press so quickly. Post will
continue to monitor website access and report on any future
blocks. END COMMENT
GROSS
VZCZCXRO5941
RR RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0051 0121639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121639Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1127
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0380
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2461
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