Internet in Turkmenistan: A Sign of Hope?
Recent elections in Turkmenistan, where Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov won an overwhelming victory, came as no surprise for those who followed the events in the country after the sudden death of Saparmurat Niyazov. The US State Department called the elections a “modest step forward”. More steps were to come: compulsory education was extended from nine to ten years at schools, from four to five at Universities, and the ban on access to the Internet was reversed. SNGnews.ru cited local media saying that opera is shown on Turkmen television, and specialists of non-Turkmen ethnic origin at different government bodies, sacked by Niyazov, are back to their offices. The Ministry of education re-introduced sports classes at schools and is now preparing programmes for the study of foreign languages.
I am particularly curious about the development of the Internet in the country. Turkmenistan was one of the few countries in the world where people could not get connected at home, nor were there Internet cafes - only few people from the government and international organisations had access. Those who were connected only saw a censored web, and a list of websites was blocked by Turkmentelecom. It could possibly change - public Internet cafes were opened in Ashgabat, which, according to the reports, provide uncensored access to the Internet. There is still a lot to be done and Turkmentelecom still stays the monopolist provider controlled by National Security Committee. Also, it is expensive - not everyone can afford paying four dollars per hour in an Ashgabat Internet cafe. I want to believe though that we will soon have contributors to this blog from within Turkmenistan, who will catch up with neighbouring Central Asian countries in blogging developments.
Colin Guard is Regional Programme Manager for Eurasia of the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) of the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). Mr. Guard was in Tashkent from 2003 to 2005, managing the network of Internet access and training centres in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. IREX helped establish 5 Internet access centres in Turkmenistan (hosted by local partner organizations, which contribute rent-free space, utilities and security): two in Ashgabat, and one in Balkanabat, Dashoguz, Mary, and Turkmenabat.
Mr. Guard is hopeful, though he is not sure what to expect from the signs of changes in the country: “We don’t know what to expect, but we know what we hope: we hope that the President will fulfil his campaign promise by allowing free and unfettered competition among Internet service providers, and letting international organizations set up Internet centres without any restrictions, as is the standard practice in the advanced countries of Europe, North America and Asia. Turkmenistan is behind its neighbours in Internet penetration and has a lot of catching up to do. The Turkmen people are smart and educated and stand ready to make a major contribution to global dialogue, if they are given access to the means to do so.”
IREX Internet centres are the only free sources of Internet access for the general public in Ashgabat, and outside of it - the only sources of Internet access for the general public. According to Mr. Guard, it is not censorship, but the slow speed of the Internet connection that is the biggest problem in Turkmenistan. “Opening up the telecoms market in Turkmenistan to free competition among Internet service providers would rectify this problem”, says Mr. Guard.
As for the prospects for blogging in the next couple of years, Mr. Guard said: “Because development of blogs is a component of the Internet Access and Training Program, we KNOW that blogging will spread over the next year! More generally, blogging can flourish only after citizens are convinced that their right to free speech will be honoured and protected. Citizens of Turkmenistan are waiting to see whether the conditions will change”.
on February 21st, 2007 at 2:49 am
Just some complaints I have: Why Turkmenistan needs labors from Turkey? I understand that Turkmenistan needs say civil engineers but what the hell those unqualified people are doing there whereas many of Turkmens themselves are without any degree! The Turkmens themselves could do the same job and even better because they know their land and not those Turkish men. I know it is out of the theme but I don’t think internet is so important than basic rights such as having jobs.
First I would, persecute all the bribe- takers by hanging them in front of universities, hospitals, schools and etc where they take money from poor people.
Hell with those stinky devils!!!
on February 21st, 2007 at 3:22 am
Why are you in hurry the “sick of Turkmen devils!”. You don’t expect everything to be perfect in a minute like in fairytails, do ya? If everybody does his job, the burden of the world would be lightened/gone~ so, just do what you have to do,in a perfect way, and be an example to others. Hanging people wont solve the problem but would make it worse. The problem must be solved from the root:the people.
on February 21st, 2007 at 6:07 am
How can you be an example to others when your basic rights are stolen? Whom I go to complain about my rights if most of the clerks are bribe takers? Being raised in such conditions you become a slave who even can’t imagine that he or she has basic rights. I saw my sister trying to get into a university and she was asked to give some thousands of dollars then she just left this idea of being educated.
Will the sons and daughters of rich change for good anything in Turkmenistan? They are comfortable where they are.
on February 21st, 2007 at 11:35 am
“I know it is out of the theme but I don’t think internet is so important than basic rights such as having jobs.”
I think having access to information is a very important right and a topic that deserves to be discussed. We are open to new contributors: if anyone wants to write a post on bribery or jobs, or anything else related to Turkmenistan, please feel free to do so. Just contact me via email to leila at neweurasia.net.
on February 21st, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Internet is good for Turkmenistan. It removes all barriers and gives almost complete freedom for business and for knowledge. I believe that every turkemen will have it for pennies at home with 100 MBit broadband connection. And there are a lot of people specially bloggers who earn their living from the internet. (www.problogger.net) Internet is the great opportunity to make every user equal all around the world. You don’t need to be in US or UK for earn thousands. you can be at your home and enjoy that equality.
What you will say if next big web 2.0 is made in Turkmenistan by turkmen people. Next google, youtube or myspace.
Also for those who take bribes they will be soon ashamed of themselves as people will discuss and ban it on the internet.
on February 21st, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I have a mind of slave
Because of my parents’ slave mind
that gave me slavery life
Nothing brilliant comes out of my mind
Wishes, Interests, Hope in my live were banned
Log ago, when I was a child
Who did it?
on February 21st, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Communism!?
on February 21st, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Non Fiction: We used to have soldiers in our home working for food. They were brought to our home to work by their commanders. Mayors would get bribe for giving us labors. Now, sergeants come to people’s houses and sell or exchange soldiers’ food for cigarets, socks, money. How many weak and Russians were killed in these Armies?
Less than a month ago my brother died there. He was 19, studied only 3-4 grades at school. Went to Russia earn money for living at the age of 13-14. Now, when he came back after 5 years away of his motherland without visa and crossed the border illigally he was put in jail for 10 days. Then he sent invitation to his pregnant bride in Uzbekistan. They waited for 3 months for this visa and they didn’t give it to her. “You are no one to him, you are not his wife to go to Turkmenistan” was said in the Embassy to her. But it was told in the invitation that he is inviting her to his country to get married. Now, after waiting for 3 months for her he died. He didn’t see her, they didn’t live together. The baby will be born without a father.
My friend was cought in Turkmenbashi because he was on vacation. The police men were stunned when they heard that he, turkmen was on vacation. They put him to jail because he is baptized turkmen in Russian Orthodox Church. In the jail there was a concrete floor where people were freezing. After a while a big man came and pulled them out of the cage in order to get them work in his home. My friend refused to go so he was taken by the mayor who had a long talk and ………
There was time when people couldn’t get passports for the reason that the covering of the Turkmen passports were printed in Britain and Britain run out of printers! I waited my passport for 7 months and when I got tired of this bullshit I urged the passport giver to give it to me imediatly. He said that he will put me into jail if I stand for my rights.
Children coming to our houses asking for empty plastic bottles are common scene
I was asked to live my secondary school because my mother promised a present to the principal of my school and didn’t give it to her.
Let that dead machines pick up cotton. 8th and 9th graders pick up cotton for September,October and November and breathe the dust.
Yes, that is it. If Turkmens have access to the internet then they will read this and continue my story.
on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:01 am
to Turkmen–in my opinion the only real slaves are those who don’t know they ARE slaves. If you still know what wishes, interests and hope are, and if you can imagine a better future, then you aren’t really a complete slave.
I can’t imagine how difficult things must be in Turkmenistan but I do believe things are beginning to change–this report on internet access etc. is very encouraging!
on February 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 am
It is good to talk with people in Turkmenistan. We think that you should have jobs and rights, too, and certainly the money that goes to pay bribes would be much better used for food, education, etc. Corruption is like cancer to a country. It makes it sick. Turkmenistan should be for its people not for corrupt officials and others. So be strong and firm in your beliefs, and we will all work together for things to improve!!! You have many friends who care about you.
on February 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 am
To Mara
I agree that biggest slaves are those who don’t know about it. Limited access to Internet is NOT a sign of slavery. On the contrary, those who talk too much about Internet seem to replace the REAL notion of freedom with ARTIFICIAL one. Freedom starts with knowing your own culture (which has been the case in Turkmenistan) which leads to the desire to know other cultures (Internet is ONE of the ways).
on February 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 pm
To both Turkmens
I agree, internet itself does not equal freedom. However, I can’t see the development of internet access as anything but a positive step forward. Free access to information is a dictatorship’s worst enemy! Best of luck, good people of Turkmenistan!!
on February 24th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
“Special art schools for gifted children will open in Ahal and Balkan provinces of Turkmenistan on April 1. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov signed a decree to this effect today.”
When I was 20 years old I learned that I have a talent for drawing. I think these schools have to be for all children and everywhere in Turkmenistan. Gifted children are not born they are made!
Still thanks for this too.