DUSHANBE, October 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  - Editors of a number of independent media as well as heads of the main media and human rights organizations of Tajikistan have set up The 29/09 Committee that is dedicated to protect professional rights of journalists in Tajikistan.

A statement released by the committee says the group is named The 29/09 Committee because September 29 is a benchmark of current unprecedented pressure from authorities on independent media, when after high-ranking officials’ accusations against the press some local websites were blocked local were blocked and private printing houses came under pressure and were forced to refuse to print a number of independent newspapers.

The 29/09 Committee was established on October 21 and it aims to develop the strategy of actions of Tajikistan’s media community to restore impaired rights to freedom of creative activity, the previous level of freedom as well as coordinate actions and efforts to stabilize the situation around media in the country.

The first meeting of the Committee determined tactics of further actions of the group, developed a short-term strategy and allocated tasks to the group members.  They decided that all actions of members of the Committee must be legal and constructive and aimed at informing the president, who is guarantor of observance of the main provisions of the Constitution of the country, as well as governments of democratic states of infinite lawlessness against independent media.

The 29/09 Committee has launched its blog (http:/29.livejournal.cm/) that will make available all information about the Committee activities, announcements of the forthcoming meetings and actions as well as publish opinions and articles of journalists that are deprived of printing their newspapers, run their sites, etc.