(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 2002 IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Fire Attack on Newspaper and Accuses Kazakhstan Of “War on Free Media” The International Federation of Journalists today challenged the government of Kazakhstan over a series of attacks on independent media, accusing the authorities of “a war on independent journalism and […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 2002 IFJ media release:
IFJ Condemns Fire Attack on Newspaper and Accuses Kazakhstan Of “War on Free Media”
The International Federation of Journalists today challenged the government of Kazakhstan over a series of attacks on independent media, accusing the authorities of “a war on independent journalism and free media” after petrol bombs were used to set fire to the offices of an opposition newspaper on Wednesday.
“Journalists do not feel safe and media are working in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “The government must take its responsibility for these events, find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
The IFJ says that the attack on the Respublika Business Review, which was destroyed by fire after attackers hurled Molotov cocktails into the offices, is the latest in a series of recent attacks on independent media in Kazakhstan, including an arson attack at a publishing house and destruction of a television station’s equipment. The IFJ says that earlier this week unidentified men broke into the offices of the newspaper, SolDat, beat up two of its workers and threatened further attacks if it continues publication.
Opposition media have been victimised in recent months because they have doggedly followed up persistent reports of corruption in Government, accusing President Nursultan Nazarbayev and people close to him of siphoning off public money into secret Swiss bank accounts for their personal use. The government denies doing anything wrong.
President Nazarbayev earlier this year ordered his government to take a tougher line with the opposition, saying media should be held responsible for their statements.
“The Government of Kazakhstan must dispel the suspicion that the authorities themselves are behind this wave of attacks,” said Aidan White. “They have launched a war on independent journalism and free media and have themselves created an atmosphere of intolerance and intimidation.”
Respublika was suspended in April for two months, after Kazakhstan’s information ministry filed a lawsuit, accusing it of failing to indicate registration data in its issues. Until this week the newspaper had continued to print using copy machines. It has found it almost impossible to find alternative print facilities.
Recently, the Government supported a lavish Eurasia Media Forum in Almaty at which the IFJ raised concerns over press freedom in the region. “The media crisis in Kazakhstan has reached crisis point and the Government must demonstrate that it will protect press freedom – even for its critics,” said the IFJ.
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries.
