OSCE media watchdog issues report on work of media during Andijan crisis in Uzbekistan
VIENNA, 15 June 2005 - The coverage
of the events and the Government's handling of the press during the Andijan
crisis in Uzbekistan last May are the subject of a report issued today
by Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
It provides information on cases of news blockage and lists cases of harassment of journalists and of Internet and TV media outlets during and after the events in Andijan.
It provides information on cases of news blockage and lists cases of harassment of journalists and of Internet and TV media outlets during and after the events in Andijan.
"The gap between the Government and press reports on the events, and the differing casualty figures, are telling signs of an information blockade; of a lack of mutually-agreed verification procedures; and of a lack of cooperation between the authorities and the press," wrote Haraszti.
"Working with the press in times of crisis is a learning process," Haraszti said, "but it is also an important contribution to the peaceful solution of crises, as it is part of society's right to information".
Contacts
Alex Ivanko
Senior Adviser
Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Kaerntner Ring 5-7, Top 14, 2. DG
1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43 1 514 36 6205
Fax: +43 1 514 36 6260
pm-fom@osce.org