Outline of the Osh Conference "Democracy and Religion"

 

By Khamidov Alisher,
coordinator/ Central Asian Media Support Project

Dates of conduction: March 24th-25th, 2000
Location: Osh, Southern Kyrghyzstan
Organizers: Central Asian Media Support Project- CAMsP, Konrad Adenauer Foundation

First day of the conference. March 24th, 2000.

First half of the day was introductions of participants and general greeting words by:

After the coffee break, Shadrova Natalia, deputy chairman of the State Commission on Religions of the Kyrghyz Republic, made her presentation on guarantees of freedom of religion for citizens of Kyrghyzstan by the state. She outlined activities of all organizations and missions of religious orientation registered by her office in the Kyrghyz Republic. She also commented on the Kyrghyz law concerning the legal aspects for activities of religious organizations.

Dr. Ibraeva Gulnara, a sociologist from Bishkek Humanitarian University, spoke about the stages of Islam's development in Central Asia and in Kyrghyzstan. She made very interesting comments about different aspects of Islam's role in the south of Kyrghyzstan.

Dr. Gulnara Ibraeva, also spoke about the impact of religious organizations on the youth, especially in the southern part of Kyrghyzstan.

Very interesting issues were raised by Dr. Anara Tabyshalieva, from the Institute of Regional Studies (Kyrghyzstan). She presented the present ethnic, economic and social situation in Osh, Jalal-Abad. Her presentation was backed up by the research, which was conducted by the IRS in the southern Kyrghyzstan in March 1998. In her materials, she also outlined the situation and major problems facing the newly created Batken oblast. By all accounts, her materials aroused strong interest and, many questions were asked. It gave way for a heated discussion among the conference participants. (Copies of the IRS sociological research titled "Realities of Southern Kyrghyzstan" were distributed among participants.)

Mr. Kakharov Abduvakhab, representative from the Kyrghyz Ministry of National Security, presented the overview of the different forms of extremisms, which exist in the Ferghana Valley. He made an emphasis on the religious extremism, namely, the Batken events of 1999. Mr. Kakharov strongly underlined the fact that Juma Namongoni and his allies are supported by countries outside CIS. Interestingly, in his presentation, Khaharov Abduvakhab gave precise figures and number of people arrested for advocating religious extremism. He also described the activities of the Hizb-ut-Tahrir movement, which was closely associated with the United Tajik Opposition. He noted that, presently, the Kyrghyz officials are concerned with the "Hizb-ut-Tahrir's" religious leaflets and brochures that are distributed in Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces of southern Kyrghyzstan. Several journalists seemed dissatisfied with information Mr. Khaharov presented. Iskander Feruz, independent journalist from Khojand, Tajikistan found that a certain number of issues that were mentioned by Mr. Kakharov were misleading. In particular, Iskander Feruz argued that Mr. Kakharov's insights on cooperation of Hizb-ut-Tahrir with the United Tajik Opposition were yet to be proven.

Mr. Kakharov was very cautious in answering questions after his presentation. He avoided answering to several questions after finding them too sensitive. He also chose not to give a copy of his article for the conference participants.

After the lunch break, conference participants took part in the roundtable discussion with the clergy representatives and government officials. Representatives of Muslims, Christians and different religious denominations came to take part in the debate over ways of achieving religious consent and harmony in the region. Apart from answering questions of conference participants, the clergy members described activities of their organizations, and their primary goals. One of the highlighted issues at the roundtable conference was the involvement of the youth in the activities of religious organizations. Journalists and clergy members also discussed issues of religious extremisms and its causes.

After the coffee break, conference participants gathered to listen to topics presented by journalists from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrghyzstan.

Gulnara Babadjanova's (director of International In-Service Training Centre for Journalists, Uzbekistan) presentation described how media in Uzbekistan covered issues of religion and religious extremism in Uzbekistan. She emphasized the role of the media in objective reporting of religious issues and the media's effect on audiences.

Iskander Feruz, independent journalist from Khojand, Tajikistan presented very interesting insights on the development of religious parties in the Ferghana Valley and the Tashkent oblast of Uzbekistan. His main focus was made on famous religious movement "Hizb-ut-Tahrir." Apart from depicting the structure, organization and goals of this movement, Mr. Iskander Feruz presented its difference and similarities with other religious groups such as "Akramia". Answering the questions of his colleagues, Mr. Feruz noted that according to official Tajik sources, guerrillas who invaded the Batken oblast of Kyrghyzstan last year were reported to be in Afghanistan. He could not comment on the unofficial situation.

Alisher Toksonbaev, a local journalist of the Kyrghyz opposition newspaper "Asaba" and who had firsthand experience in covering the Batken crisis last year, shared his personal insights from trips to Batken oblast during the crisis. His presentation described the poor coverage of the Batken crisis in the local media. While speaking about the Islamic factor in the Kyrghyz media, Mr. Toksonbaev made it clear that it was very important that the Kyrghyz media followed the example of the Uzbek media in shaping public opinion about religious extremists and issues of terrorism in the region. Most importantly, he noted that the Uzbek media has been very efficient in giving directions to the community, in particular to the youth - the most vulnerable segment of the community in terms of religious affiliations.

Makhamadjan Khamidov's (local correspondent of "Vecherni Bishkek") presentation titled " Mass media sector and issues of religious extremism in the south of Kyrghyzstan" depicted the coverage of the issues related to the religious extremism, the Batken crisis, Hizb-ut-Tahrir activities in mainstream capital newspapers such as "Delo N," "Vecherni Bishkek," "Slovo Kirgizstana," and local newspaper such as " Echo Osha," "Osh Janirigi."

Mr. Khamidov made a very interesting comment about the contribution of secret materials and insights by unidentified sources close to the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of International Affairs to the media sector of Kyrghyzstan.

Mr. Khamidov argued that by contributing information and secret materials that disclose the terrorist nature of extremist religious movements to the Kyrghyz media sector, the authorities, namely the Kyrghyz National security, officials seem to have a concrete plan of action. The aim appears to be to "vaccinate" the Kyrghyz community in order to create a certain "immunity" and prevent consequences of terrorism, which occurred in Uzbekistan, for instance the killing of law enforcement officers in Namangan 1998 and terrorist explosions in Tashkent in February 1999. This plan also includes the intensive use of the Kyrghyz media in order to achieve better results in shaping "immunity" in the community.

Mr. Abdurakhimov Khamid from Uzbekistan (the deputy chairman of the Ferghana Province TV and Radio company) outlined the activities and special TV programs of his TV and Radio station that were used in the "struggle" against various extremist movements in Uzbekistan. At the end of his speech, Mr. Abdurakhimov presented a video from a series of TV programs about Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Uzbekistan. The video gave an analysis of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in a very critical way and exposed its terrorist nature. The video presented a perspective from respected and prominent clergy members of Uzbekistan (imams) who heavily chastised the "Hizb-ut-Tahrir" goals and methods.

All above mentioned presentations and articles caused heated discussion among conference participants. In particular, several Kyrghyz journalists argued that, overall, the Uzbek media tends to present the official line, that is, they cover what the authorities instruct them to do. Furthermore, a number of Kyrghyz journalists focused the attention of conference participants to the fact that while condoning problematic aspects of economy and negative aspects associated with the social life, most TV and Radio programs and print materials produced by the Uzbek media report "the stable development of the Uzbek economy and happy future for citizens of Uzbekistan." The response of Uzbek journalists, namely Gulnara Babadjanova (director of International In-Service Training Centre for Journalists) was immediate. Her argument was that it was not logical to judge the Uzbek media after reading a few newspapers and watching several TV programs. She said that the allegations that Uzbek media doesn't cover negative aspects were groundless and not supported by any sociological research. On the contrary, she gave examples of a number of state owned and independent TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers, such as "Tashkentskaya Pravda," which raised problematic issues in all spheres of economy and social life in Uzbekistan.

2nd Day. March 25th, 2000 Among other materials and articles, which were presented at the second day of the conference in Osh were the following:

"Problems and development of journalism in the Pamirs." By Khalandarov Shaidilda, an independent journalist from Murgab raion (administrative unit) of Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan.
Mr. Khalandarov's article described the present situation of the media sector in the mountainous region of Tajikistan. He also outlined major problems and difficulties before ethnic Kyrghyz who live in Murgab.

"Television in the new Batken oblast." By Igor Dodosian, director of newsy open "Altyn Beshik TV." The town of Isfana, Batken oblast.
Mr. Dodosian's presentation was mainly devoted to perspectives of development for private TV and Radio stations in newly Batken oblast. In addition, his article covered technical issues and problems connected with TV and Radio broadcasting in the region. According to him, even though a number of technical difficulties exist for TV/Radio broadcasting due to geographic layout and position, the TV and Radio in Batken region have a tremendous opportunity to develop if provided with resources.

"Major trends in the work of Andijon Oblast TV and Radio Company." By Teshabaev Mukhamadsadyk, editor of the company.
Mr. Teshabaev outlined the organization, present work and future plans of his company in Andijon oblast of Uzbekistan.

"The parliamentary elections in the south of Kyrghyzstan." By Nuriddin Isakov, journalist from private TV station "Erkin Ala-Too."
Mr. Isakov's presentation highlighted major problems, which arose during and after the parliamentary elections in the southern Kyrghyzstan. In particular, he commented on the coverage of public protests and demonstrations in Jalal-Abad oblast of Kyrghyzstan after the authorities suspended the registration of several opposition candidates for the "Jogorku Kenesh" - Kyrghyz parliament.

Kazakhstan: The overview of the situation in the media sector and present political trends in Kazakstan. By Karin Erlan, president of the Central Asian Agency for Political Studies. Mr. Erlan Karin's detailed and interesting overview of the topic caused a number of questions from conference participants. Mr. Karin noted that the fact that Dariga Nazarbaeva, president Nazarbaev's daughter, is controlling the larger part of the media sector in Kazakstan was not a secret to anyone.

"Programs of Foundation for International Tolerance in Batken oblast in the area of conflict prevention." By Nurgazi Isakbaev, coordinator of the program, Foundation for International Tolerance.
Mr. Nurgazi Isakbaev outlined the programs of his organizations in Batken oblast. In particular, water resources management project, water pipe installation and teaching issues of tolerance in high schools. He spoke about the positive effect of partnership of their organization with Tajikistan non-governmental organizations. Mr. Isakbaev noted that their future plans include a close cooperation with the Uzbek and Tajik non-governmental sector in order to prevent ethnic conflicts in the region.

After the presentations, a workshop took place. Workshop: The use of informational mechanisms in forming moral values, religious tolerance and harmony. By Dr. Gulnara Ibraeva, sociologist from Bishkek Humanitarian University and Moldosheva Anara, center for social research.
Dr. Gulnara Ibraeva and Moldosheva Anara presented the workshop in the form of debate, special exercises and games.

The second half of the day was the internet training organized by the Osh Media Resource Center in association with IREX IATP. The program of the training:

Conclusion:
The conference brought together Central Asian journalists, government officials and clergy representatives to debate over contemporary issues. Apart from establishing professional and personal links and providing journalists with various perspectives offered by the government officials, clergy members and their counterparts from neighboring republics, the conference generated a huge material which can be of great interest for politicians, public figures, journalists, sociologists, community members and for many those who share interest in Central Asian affairs. A selected number of articles will be posted in the Central Asian Media Support Project's official web site at: www.camsp.osh.kg.

Last updated:    March 2000

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