CAMPERSPEAK: Free Software brings freedom in choosing tools to access software, and more...Saifullo Hikmatov (Tj)

Wikipedia refers to Tajikistan as "a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia." We also learn that the country's main Tajik ethnic group shares culture and history with the Iranian peoples and speak the Persian language (officially referred to as Tajiki in Tajikistan). Once part of the Samanid Empire, Tajikistan became was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union in the 20th century.

From there, comes from the Public Fund Civil Internet Policy Initiative in Tajikistan. This group focuses on ICTs (information and communication technologies) as an enabler of socio-economic development in Tajikistan.

Extracts from an interview with FN: See full version

FN: Please tell us a little more about the Public Fund Civil Internet Policy Initiative in Tajikistan?

The Public Fund CIPI (http://www.cipi.tj) is part of the wider GIPI (Global Internet Policy Initiative) family. It started its activity as ICT4D advocate in Tajikistan in October 2001.

FN: How exactly does it work to promote ICTs as an enabler of socio-economic development?

By promoting viable policy and legislation, as well as practical projects in ICT, that seriously consider local needs.

Some of our projects include the "Internet Capacity Building", "E-community", and "Free/Open standards and technologies in education and healthcare management".

All CIPI projects have been based on FOSS (Free/Libre and Open Source Software) applications.

FN: What role could (or does) Free Software play in information activism?

First of all, it offers freedom in choosing tools to access information. This means freedom in applying tools to create local source of information. Most importantly, it protects those resources without restrictions to make use of them [available] globally.

FN: Is Joomla filling a need in places like Tajikistan? (Joomla is the popular free open source content management system for publishing content on the World Wide Web and intranets.)

A great demand, potentially, exists for tools like Joomla in my country. It might facilitate the decrease of Internet access cost by leading to a spurt in the development of local content.

FN: What do you see as the three biggest challenges that block a more effective form of info-activism?

Firstly, weak development of local content. Secondly, consumption-oriented approach of the most active community in the local society -- i.e. academia -- towards ICT applications. Thirdly, the lack of a viable policy that encourages local communities to take up responsibility for building their own future.

FN: Is language, and the differences in language, also a stumbling block when it comes to info-activism in Tajikistan?

Yes, it is.

Moreover existing difference -- between official language and dialects -- though not crucial, creates additional obstacles in accessing and creating information.

FN: What is the NGO scene like in your country, and how many give an importance to info-activism?

There are about 1700 NGOs registered with the Ministry of Justice. And over 20% of them are active in promoting their missions. As for info-activism, most of the active NGOs that work in the urban areas consider it seriously as a tool for achieving their goals, unlike their rural colleagues.

FN: What is the job you did in the alternative world (NGOs, free software, etc) which you feel most proud about today?

I've been involved as an IT trainer, mainly in CIPI summer schools. Jointly with our team, we have trained so far over 900 persons (school and university teachers, journalists, NGO leaders, students, medical workers) in using FOSS tools. Such as working in Joomla, Gimp, Audacity, Greenstone, OpenOffice.org.

FN: Describe yourself in 30 words.

I am sorry, but I asked my colleagues to help me with this question. So here is me, as described by dear colleagues of mine: communicative, smart, honest, self-motivated, humble, creative, and responsible person with a good sense of humour.

From myself I can add that I like very much music and can play a few musical instruments :-) And some my own web-sites include (English grammar for students) http://www.student.narod.tj, (Web-designing) http://sword.my1.ru

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