FOcus On - International Press Institute

adio station. KTR is supposed to be
trans forming into a public broadcaster.
This law effectively strengthens the state’s
grip on the broadcast media.
The investigation into the 2007 murder
of journalist Alisher Saipov was suspended
again this year, after authorities
claimed all leads had turned cold. Saipov,
a 26-year-old ethnic-Uzbek, was editor of
the popular weekly newspaper Siosat –
a highly critical periodical that Uzbek
businessmen often smuggled into neighbouring
Uzbekistan, a country devoid of
independent media. Although the Kyrgyz
authorities promised to track down the
killers, political will soon waned. At the
behest of media NGOs across the world,
the investigation was twice re-opened,
but has as yet yielded no results.
Recommendations
Return broadcasting rights to
independent radio broadcasters.
Resume moves towards the privatisation
of KTR, ensuring that loopholes
do not exist allowing for government
control of editorial content.
Reverse the requirement for RFE/RL
to submit its material for priorapproval
from the government.
Ensure that journalists are left free
to report and investigate without
interference from the state security
services.
Kyrgyzstan in brief
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev listens
to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in
Bishkek. (Reuters/RIA Novosti)
Population: 5.4 million
Domestic overview: A landlocked Central Asian country bordering on
China to the East and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the west,
Kyrgyzstan achieved independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991.
The country was controlled by President Askar Akayev until the so-called
“Tulip Revolution” of 2005, the events of which led to Akayev’s resignation
and the election of Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Sadly, politics have remained
tense in this impoverished nation, with frequent demonstrations calling
for Bakiyev’s resignation for failure to fulfil his promises, and the murder
of several parliamentarians in recent years.
Beyond borders: Despite some border disputes with Tajikistan and Uz -
bekistan, Kyrgyzstan maintains close relations with former soviet countries.
Kyrgyzstan is also home to Manas Air Base, a U.S. military installation
important to Coalition activity in Afghanistan. The country’s principal
exports are nonferrous metals, minerals and agricultural goods to Europe
and Asia, and Kyrgyzstan is a member of the OSCE, the CIS, the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, the WTO, and the United Nations.
Laos by Nayana Jayarajan
As in previous years, silence and the
lack of information were the main
indicators of the lack of press freedom in
Laos, officially the Lao People’s Demo -
cra tic Republic. The authoritarian, oneparty
state continues to control all media
in the landlocked country, which has
repeatedly been described as having one
of the lowest levels of press freedom in
the world. The ruling communists maintain
strict editorial control over the press,
and the media continue to restrict themselves
to news that is favourable to the
regime.
The ruling Laos People’s Revolution -
ary Party has maintained sole control
over the media since 1975 and, through
its Ministry of Information and Culture,
owns all newspapers and broadcast me -
dia. The state also maintains a monopoly
on newspaper printing rights. Newspaper
circulation figures remain extremely low,
and state-controlled broadcast stations
face heavy competition from channels
broadcasting from Thailand.
The authoritarian,
one-party state continues
to control all media in
the landlocked country
Laos adopted a new Constitution in
1991, which does guarantee the right to
freedom of speech, press and assembly, as
well as the right to set up associations and
to stage demonstrations that are “not
contrary to the laws”. But these rights are
largely acknowledged to be theoretical
only. The penal code establishes strict
penalties for violations of the state’s directives
on the media. Defamation and libel
are criminal offences punishable by incarceration,
as are “propaganda against
the Lao People’s Democratic Republic”
(Article 65), “unlawful production and
possession of radio communication
equipment” (Article 81), and “denigration
of State officials” (Article 159).
The secretive ruling party continues to
exert strong control over the media, even
though central censorship is no longer
practiced. Foreign journalists seeking to
enter Laos must apply for a special visa
and are accompanied by official escorts
throughout their stay. Editors are government
appointees assigned to ensure that
the media functions as a link between the
party and the people. All editors are
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