Subject: Print and Electronic Media of Osh
From: Alisher Khamidov (alisher@elcat1.osh.su)
Date: Mon Sep 27 1999 - 09:32:14 EDT
Print and electronic media in Osh oblast
Recent events in Batken, Chon-Alai and Kadamjai rayons in the south of
Kyrghyzstan have a certain impact on the journalist community of Osh oblast.
Most of media representatives were unable to travel to the conflicting site
because they were not able to get official authorisation. But journalists,
who have visited the Batken and Chon-Alai region, try to be very cautious in
their coverage of the problem.
So far, no analytical article which looked at the roots of the problem was
published in Osh. There is a lot of reporting about daily events, minor
battles, losses and casualties. There is also a feeling among several
journalists that the government is trying to control the information
regarding the details of the confrontation. Seemingly, there is a fear of
possible persecution.
Everyday, government spends more than 4 million soms to support the troops.
Media representatives realize that this will, undoubtedly, result in more
taxation and economic crisis.
For the Osh community, the conflict is becoming like a usual everyday
routine thing. Every morning, at work places, offices, homes, people talk
about it. So far, there is no anger at government for not being able to
address the situation. But some journalists fear that, in case the
confrontation will last longer, it will be very difficult to predict
community reaction.
Some journalists are irritated that there is a little or no cooperation
between Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The military and social aid
which is coming from these countries to Batken and Chon-Alai is limited to
ammunition or technical equipment. On the other hand, many people here know
that this is a common problem for the whole region. There was some kind of
alleviation for the community when the Russian government as well as
Armenian sent an aircraft with logistical and military equipment.
Russian diaspora anticipates and expects Russia to help Kyrghyzstan to solve
the situation. Uzbeks of Osh look up at the Uzbek government for the same
thing.
For some journalists and members of the community, the conflict seemed to be
not real- to- life, even abstract. Once in a week, the governor or his press
secretary give official briefings where he announces the updated information
about the situation: casualties, losses.
The first shock and realization of the conflict came with the bodies of
killed soldiers which arrived soon after the conflict.
The capital newspapers seem to be more popular for Osh community than local
ones. "Vecherny Bishkek", "Delo ?", "Asaba", "Respublika" gained a lot of
popularity due to their analytical insights and critical approach to the
confrontation.
A Tashkent based Uzbekistan TV-station "Eshlar kanali" made a report on the
situation in the Uzbek villages which are neighboring with Batken and
Chon-Alai. The report denied the fact that among the guerrillas there were
mostly Uzbek citizens. The report firmly stressed that it might be Tajik
Uzbeks or Kyrghyz Uzbeks which dominate the number of terrorists.
Economic situation in the media sector
Independent media outlets in the town of Osh are doing the best they can to
remain profitable. Some of them are trying to increase the number of their
viewers by introducing new ways of reporting. Osh-TV, a local TV-station,
has been doing live talk-show programs with different politicians and public
figures. It efficiently uses Osh Media Resource Center facilities and
services.
One of the big problems of Osh-TV is the expiration of their license which
had been issued by the National Commission on Broadcasting. This license
guaranteed Osh -TV the fifth channel. After the license expires, Osh-TV will
be forced to change 5-th channel to Decimeter DMV channel. Seemingly, Osh-TV
administration is unhappy about it. Also, because there are speculations
that the 5-th channel will be given to a relatively new, state controlled
"OSH-3000" TV-station. Some people think that this TV-station is formed to
OshTV representatives are determined to seek court ruling about this.
Print media in town is mostly state owned. More and more people are
preferring independent capital newspapers to state owned local papers. The
government administration encourages a forced subscription for these state
owned papers among government agencies and administrations in the rayons.
One of the financially successful print media of Osh is "Osh-Park".
Formerly, it was a collection of interesting "boulevard" facts and
advertisement. It is very popular among students, retired people and
housewives. Nevertheless, its new editor, Bakit Ibraimov, is determined to
develop the paper into a very strong news edition.
The media in rayons of Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts is mostly state owned
print media. A forced subscription is practiced in order to improve their
financial returns. Still, they experience difficulties with paper supply and
the use of worn out equipment. During past few years, a number of the media
outlets in Jalal-Abad rayons were closed.
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