Uzbek journalist gets International Press Freedom Award

UzLand.Info November 24 The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists presented its 2005 International Press Freedom Awards on Tuesday to three journalists and a media lawyer—from Brazil, China, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe, who have endured beatings, threats, intimidation, and jail because of their work. The 15th annual awards presentation honored Galima Bukharbayeva as well. Former Uzbekistan correspondent for the Institute for War & Peace Reporting who risked her life covering the killing of hundreds of protesters by government troops in the city of Andijan in May, Bukharbayeva, now lives in exile in the United States and faces criminal prosecution for her reporting on the Andijan crisis, police torture, and the repression of Islamic activists. Bukharbayeva dedicated her award to the many hundreds of innocent victims in Andijan "whose lost lives oblige us to continue to report the truth... "As an exile, I live with the hope that all of us who had to flee Uzbekistan will be able to go back home. I hope we will be able to grieve openly for those who died. But my greatest hope is that the lessons of Andijan will not be forgotten, and that Andijan will never be repeated," she said. "These individuals inspire us all," said Paul Steiger, CPJ board chairman and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. "In the face of grave dangers, they have shown extraordinary bravery, tenacity, and dedication in defending the free flow of vital information." CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said: "All of the awardees have risked their lives and their freedom to report the truth about politicians, policies, businesses, and crime. For their work, these journalists have been attacked in various ways by powerful people determined to hide their actions."