SDP: Only president’s interference may stop alarming tendency of pressure on media

DUSHANBE, October 28, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Social-Democratic Party (SDP) has prepared a statement over the current situation around independent media in the country, the SDP deputy leader Shokirjon Hakimov told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon.

“The SDP considers that Tajik officials have begun to use repressive measures against media and only president’s interference may stop this alarming tendency,” Hakimov said.

Using authoritative non-democratic methods, Tajik authorities secretly order printing houses not to print some independent newspapers and use other mechanisms in order to restrict people’s access to socially significant information that negatively impacts development of social life in the country.

We consider that the president, as guarantor of the Constitution and observance of human rights in the country, must interfere personally or meet with representatives of media and some leaders of the civil society.  In our opinion, authorities have allowed themselves to be run by heads of the power-wielding structures and some law enforcement agencies and have introduced repressive measures against media.

An attempt of revival of artificial union on all aspects of social life, inherent in Soviet times or so-called one-party totalitarian system, is perceptible in actions of interested persons.  Such actions impede normal development of democracy in the country.