(JuHI/IFEX) – The following is a JuHI statement seeking international support for Internet freedom in Turkmenistan. It is followed by a press release which includes a description of the current situation and an appeal for assistance (see annex below): Dear Sir/Madam, The Journalists’ Trade Union (JuHI) in Azerbaijan is deeply concerned by the revocation of […]
(JuHI/IFEX) – The following is a JuHI statement seeking international support for Internet freedom in Turkmenistan. It is followed by a press release which includes a description of the current situation and an appeal for assistance (see annex below):
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Journalists’ Trade Union (JuHI) in Azerbaijan is deeply concerned by the revocation of the licences of independent Internet service providers (ISPs) by the Turkmen government. We support these ISPs’ efforts to continue their work. We are protesting this decision and calling on the international community to help our friends in Turkmenistan to work in an appropriate environment. As a member of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) community, JuHI is asking all international freedom of expression groups to support independent ISPs in Turkmenistan, especially Ariana Ltd.
JuHI believes that the decision by the Turkmen government to revoke the licences of Ariana and other ISPs is in violation of basic human rights and contradicts the international norms to which Turkmenistan is accountable. We call upon all progressively thinking people of the globe to raise their voice in support of the existence of independent ISPs in Turkmenistan.
Regards,
Azer H.HASRET, Founder and Chairman
Journalists’ Trade Union (JuHI)
ANNEX
The following press release is posted on the website of the Law and Environment Eurasia Partnership: www.ecostan.org
PRESS RELEASE, June 5, 2000
SAVE INTERNET IN TURKMENISTAN
Socio-Ecological Union, Catena Ecological Club, and Law and Environment Eurasia Partnership
In late May the Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication unexpectedly revoked the licenses of all private Internet providers.
The official reason given for the revocation of licenses was that providers had falsified information in mandatory reports to the ministry about the technical and structural details of their services. In reality, the ministry did not conduct any sort of verification or investigation of these reports, and the revocation is merely an arbitrary action by a state agency intended to destroy overly successful competitors to the lagging state Internet provider.
Moreover, the Ministry of Communication appears to have no regard for the personal and business losses incurred by the now-closed private Internet providers and their clients, which include foreign embassies, the Central Bank, information agencies, NGOs, and trade representatives.
The majority of Internet providers obediently suspended service to their clients and are now calculating their losses. However, the largest provider, Ariana, Ltd., is still struggling for justice. Ariana decided not only not to abandon its clients, but also announced free Internet service until a final decision on its license is made. Yet, Ariana cannot continue indefinitely to pursue such a policy, and if a resolution is not engineered by June 9 it will begin to close the accounts of its users.
Ariana is more than the largest and most dynamic Internet company in Turkmenistan. It arose out of a 1995 project to provide e-mail to Turkmenistan NGOs; the project was a joint effort of the local Catena Ecological Club and the American NGO Sacred Earth Network, funded by USAID. Thanks to this project, any environmental group with access to a telephone received free e-mail. What’s more, Ariana remained true to the spirit of its founding. While now a commercial company, Ariana retains a deep commitment to social justice and building civil society in Turkmenistan; it still provides free e-mail and Internet access to NGOs.
Likewise, on the commercial side, Ariana’s clients eagerly extol the company’s user-friendliness and technical sophistication, qualities that set it apart from the state Internet provider, Turkmen Telecom.
We are continuing our fight to save Ariana and other private Internet providers, but we need support from outside Turkmenistan. Please find a few minutes to send a letter or fax of support to Ariana or a letter of protest to the Ministry of Communication or the President of Turkmenistan. These can be sent to Ariana at vagif@cat.glasnet.ru or faxed to Ariana at (99312) 456512.
We retain hope that reason will prevail, but we also know that in this case we have no guarantees. It is possible to save a shell of Ariana dedicated to continuing the non-commercial NGO support mission of the original 1995 project. To do that, we need funds to cover the fees of the satellite company DataSat, roughly $10,000 to cover June fees and $3000 per month to cover the lower amount of traffic beyond June. Ariana staff would continue to act as volunteers, and all funds would go merely to cover fees of third parties.
Since few or no foundations can react on such short notice, we are appealing primarily to private donors and businesses to save Internet in Turkmenistan!
Help us prevent the appearance of a new Iron Curtain in our country! Other correspondence in Russian can be sent to Andrei Zatoka of Dashkhovuz Ecological Guardians at azat@tashauz.cat.glasnet.ru. In English to Eric Sievers of Law and Environment Eurasia Partnership at esievers@ecostan.org or 617-413-0986.
