Kyrgyzstan's interim government issued a
decree today turning the state-run National Television and Radio Company (KTR)
into a public television station overseen by an independent board, RFE/RL's
Kyrgyz Service reports.
Omurbek Tekebaev, a deputy chairman of the interim government, told RFE/RL that
turning the station into a public television network is important to show
people that the interim government wants to be transparent in its activities.
The decree calls for the establishment of a control board for the station that
will be made up of members from nongovernmental organizations and independent
journalists. The board will select the managers of the station and regulate its
programming.
Creating a public television station was among the first promises the interim
government made after it assumed power after clashes between antigovernment
protesters and security forces in Bishkek toppled former President Kurmanbek
Bakiev on April 7.
Opposition leaders had called on Bakiev to transform state TV into a public
television station after he came to power in 2005, but he resisted those
requests.
Acting KTR Director Kubat Otorbaev was chief of the Bishkek bureau of
RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service before the April 7 events.
RFE/RL's O wire compiled this report.
decree today turning the state-run National Television and Radio Company (KTR)
into a public television station overseen by an independent board, RFE/RL's
Kyrgyz Service reports.
Omurbek Tekebaev, a deputy chairman of the interim government, told RFE/RL that
turning the station into a public television network is important to show
people that the interim government wants to be transparent in its activities.
The decree calls for the establishment of a control board for the station that
will be made up of members from nongovernmental organizations and independent
journalists. The board will select the managers of the station and regulate its
programming.
Creating a public television station was among the first promises the interim
government made after it assumed power after clashes between antigovernment
protesters and security forces in Bishkek toppled former President Kurmanbek
Bakiev on April 7.
Opposition leaders had called on Bakiev to transform state TV into a public
television station after he came to power in 2005, but he resisted those
requests.
Acting KTR Director Kubat Otorbaev was chief of the Bishkek bureau of
RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service before the April 7 events.
RFE/RL's O wire compiled this report.