DATE= DECEMBER 29, 1994
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-06197
TITLE= SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TURKMENISTAN
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
DECEMBER 29, 1994.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC OF
TURKMENISTAN IS ABYSMAL. THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN HAS MADE
VIRTUALLY NO PROGRESS IN MOVING FROM A SOVIET-ERA AUTHORITARIAN
STYLE OF GOVERNMENT TO A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.
TURKMEN AUTHORITIES SEVERELY RESTRICT POLITICAL AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES. THEY MAINTAIN STRICT CONTROLS OVER OPPOSITION
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. THEY COMPLETELY CONTROL THE MEDIA,
CENSORING ALL NEWSPAPERS AND RARELY PERMITTING CRITICISM OF
GOVERNMENT POLICY OR OFFICIALS. THE GOVERNMENT USES ITS POWERS
TO ISSUE PASSPORTS AND EXIT VISAS AS A MEANS OF RESTRICTING THE
MOVEMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS. IT BLOCKS ATTEMPTS BY FOREIGN
VISITORS TO TALK WITH ITS DOMESTIC CRITICS.
ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING GROUP HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH-HELSINKI, IN RECENT WEEKS TURKMENISTAN AUTHORITIES HAVE
JAILED SEVEN DISSIDENTS. TWO WERE SEIZED BY TURKMEN SECURITY
AGENTS IN UZBEKISTAN AND TAKEN TO TURKMENISTAN, ALTHOUGH BOTH
WERE RUSSIAN CITIZENS. IN SEPTEMBER, THE TURKMENISTAN GOVERNMENT
TOOK OVER THE WRITERS UNION NEWSPAPER AND CLOSED THE NEWSPAPER
SUBBOTA.
UNTIL TURKMENISTAN OPENS ITSELF UP TO REAL POLITICAL REFORM,
THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS WILL BE THREATENED. THE UNITED STATES
CALLS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN TO RESPECT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS SET OUT IN THE HELSINKI ACCORDS AND GIVE THE PEOPLE THE
RIGHT TO FREELY ELECT THEIR GOVERNMENT.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE,
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C,
20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
28-Dec-94 2:25 PM EST (1925 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
