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AL JAZEERA: FOREIGN NEWS OUTLETS RECORDED JAMMING DURING THEIR PROGRAMS IN AZERBAIJAN
17:38 11/07/2013 " SOCIETY
As Azerbaijan's October presidential election approaches, the
authorities seem more determined than ever to restrict citizens'
access to information, Rebecca Vincent is an American-British human
rights activist writes at Al Jazeera news agency.
"Now, it appears that Azerbaijanis are also facing restrictions in
accessing broadcast programmes from outside of the country.
Several foreign outlets have noted deliberate broadcast interferences,
known as jamming, and is a practice that violates both international
telecommunications regulations and human rights law," the author
writes.
According to the article the state has long dominated the broadcast
media in Azerbaijan. Of the country's nine national television
stations, three are directly owned by the state, and the six private
stations are heavily influenced through the state's control over
advertising revenues. The 12 national radio stations also fail to
provide a plurality of programming.
It says that since January 2009, foreign broadcasters have been banned
from accessing national frequencies in Azerbaijan, a move that took
the Azerbaijani services of the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL), and Voice of America off the air, effectively eliminating
the only international sources of broadcast news in the country.
"As a result, many Azerbaijanis are exposed only to the state's version
of events, which prioritises coverage of President Ilham Aliyev,"
the article reads.
The author also notes that the Azerbaijanis watch the television
idolizing the late former President - and father of the current
President - Heydar Aliyev, and heavily skewing or completely omitting
reporting on significant events with political implications, such as
anti-government protests or trials of political prisoners.
According to the article in the absence of independent broadcasting
within the country, satellite broadcasts from outside the country
have become increasingly important, providing citizens with valuable
access to independent information and a rare glimpse of political
views that differ from those of the ruling party.
Since losing the ability to broadcast on national frequencies, RFE/RL
has continued to disseminate Azerbaijani-language content online,
and in a weekly news magazine programme broadcast into the country
via satellite. But now this content is also under threat.
On June 20, 2013, RFE/RL reported several instances of jamming with
its satellite broadcast into Azerbaijan since Aprli 2013, Al Jazeera
reports.
In its press release on the disruption, RFE/RL stated, "the
current interference has many of the characteristics of deliberate
interference. It only occurs during programs in the Azerbaijani
language. The interfering signal carries no content, indicating its
sole purpose is to disrupt other programming."
Rebecca Vincent says that the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU), of which Azerbaijan is a member, prohibits jamming,
as stipulated in Article 45 of the ITU's Constitution and Article
15 of the ITU's Radio Regulations. Jamming is also considered as a
violation of the right to freedom of expression, which Azerbaijan
has committed to respect and protect through its ratification of
major international and regional treaties including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
According to the author of the article in addition to violations
of ITU regulations and international human rights law, disruptions
of satellite broadcasts of independent news coverage in Azerbaijan
negatively impacts the chances of October's presidential election
being conducted in accordance with international democratic standards.
"If citizens have no access to information about the true state
of affairs in their country and are not exposed to a plurality of
political opinions, the electoral process cannot be considered free
and fair," the author says.
She notes that so far, the international community has remained largely
silent on the issue. Though says that the reported disruption to their
broadcasting is a serious negative development that should be urgently
addressed by international organisations and democratic countries with
relations with Azerbaijan, starting by pressing the ITU to investigate
the reported interference and take action to address any violations.
Source: Panorama.am
17:38 11/07/2013 " SOCIETY
As Azerbaijan's October presidential election approaches, the
authorities seem more determined than ever to restrict citizens'
access to information, Rebecca Vincent is an American-British human
rights activist writes at Al Jazeera news agency.
"Now, it appears that Azerbaijanis are also facing restrictions in
accessing broadcast programmes from outside of the country.
Several foreign outlets have noted deliberate broadcast interferences,
known as jamming, and is a practice that violates both international
telecommunications regulations and human rights law," the author
writes.
According to the article the state has long dominated the broadcast
media in Azerbaijan. Of the country's nine national television
stations, three are directly owned by the state, and the six private
stations are heavily influenced through the state's control over
advertising revenues. The 12 national radio stations also fail to
provide a plurality of programming.
It says that since January 2009, foreign broadcasters have been banned
from accessing national frequencies in Azerbaijan, a move that took
the Azerbaijani services of the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL), and Voice of America off the air, effectively eliminating
the only international sources of broadcast news in the country.
"As a result, many Azerbaijanis are exposed only to the state's version
of events, which prioritises coverage of President Ilham Aliyev,"
the article reads.
The author also notes that the Azerbaijanis watch the television
idolizing the late former President - and father of the current
President - Heydar Aliyev, and heavily skewing or completely omitting
reporting on significant events with political implications, such as
anti-government protests or trials of political prisoners.
According to the article in the absence of independent broadcasting
within the country, satellite broadcasts from outside the country
have become increasingly important, providing citizens with valuable
access to independent information and a rare glimpse of political
views that differ from those of the ruling party.
Since losing the ability to broadcast on national frequencies, RFE/RL
has continued to disseminate Azerbaijani-language content online,
and in a weekly news magazine programme broadcast into the country
via satellite. But now this content is also under threat.
On June 20, 2013, RFE/RL reported several instances of jamming with
its satellite broadcast into Azerbaijan since Aprli 2013, Al Jazeera
reports.
In its press release on the disruption, RFE/RL stated, "the
current interference has many of the characteristics of deliberate
interference. It only occurs during programs in the Azerbaijani
language. The interfering signal carries no content, indicating its
sole purpose is to disrupt other programming."
Rebecca Vincent says that the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU), of which Azerbaijan is a member, prohibits jamming,
as stipulated in Article 45 of the ITU's Constitution and Article
15 of the ITU's Radio Regulations. Jamming is also considered as a
violation of the right to freedom of expression, which Azerbaijan
has committed to respect and protect through its ratification of
major international and regional treaties including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
According to the author of the article in addition to violations
of ITU regulations and international human rights law, disruptions
of satellite broadcasts of independent news coverage in Azerbaijan
negatively impacts the chances of October's presidential election
being conducted in accordance with international democratic standards.
"If citizens have no access to information about the true state
of affairs in their country and are not exposed to a plurality of
political opinions, the electoral process cannot be considered free
and fair," the author says.
She notes that so far, the international community has remained largely
silent on the issue. Though says that the reported disruption to their
broadcasting is a serious negative development that should be urgently
addressed by international organisations and democratic countries with
relations with Azerbaijan, starting by pressing the ITU to investigate
the reported interference and take action to address any violations.
Source: Panorama.am