A leading democracy watchdog group is calling on the US Congress to block budget cuts proposed by the Bush administration that would hamper civil society development in Central Asia.
In February, the Bush administration proposed a 2009 budget of $1.71 billion for democratization-related activities worldwide an increase of roughly 20 percent over the fiscal year 2008 figure. Freedom House, in an analysis of the Bush proposal for democratic development, generally welcomed the administration's intent to boost expenditures. But several aspects of the budget allocation were seen as detrimental to promoting responsible government in several trouble spots, including in former Soviet states.
"The government appears to have other regional priorities at this time," Jeffrey Goldstein, Freedom House's Senior Program Manager for Central Asia, said in an interview with EurasiaNet.
Overall, the administration's proposed spending blueprint reduces funding for government entities that facilitate democratization projects, and it potentially cuts funding in two vital spheres human rights and press freedom.
The Freedom House report released in early June, titled A Legacy of Support for Freedom? An Analysis of the Bush Administration FY2009 Budget Request for Democracy and Human Rights, warns that the Bush budget is not sufficiently transparent, thus raising the possibility that funding will not be applied in an efficient way.
Among the recommendations the report makes is a call for greater transparency and increased funding to critical countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan. "Freedom House is concerned about the 9 percent overall cut in funding for civil society coming at a time when the threats to civil society activists are growing. Diminishing funding for civil society at this critical time sends the wrong message" the report states.
The report focuses on budget allocations for "Governing Justly and Democratically" (GJ&D). Until 2007, spending within this sector of the International Affairs Budget was clearly indicated to include categories such as human rights, media, rule of law and civic participation. However, changes to how the Office of Foreign Assistance formats its requests have fudged the picture, the report says. "The FY09 budget submission no longer provides specific detail on the level of support requested for human rights and press freedom. Both areas are traditionally under-funded and Freedom House is concerned that this lack of transparency will make it more difficult for appropriators to effectively allocate funding."
The report adds that "broad headings of
Editor's note:
Deidre Tynan is a freelance journalist specializing in Central Asia.
