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July 31, 2005
Islam Karimov, Prepare For Your Downfall
Now that Uzbekistan has told the United States to leave Karshi-Kanabad (K2) Airbase within six months, look for the Bush Administration to emphasize Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov's brutal human rights record. Expect to see stories planted in the U.S. press about him.
I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. decides to press for an Investigation of the Andijan Massacre," that Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and Freedom House called for in a June 6, 2005 Joint letter to President Bush.
Also, don't be surprised if widespread demonstrations suddenly breakout similar to those that took place in Ukraine in 2004 and 2005. They will make the May 13, 2005 protests that broke out in Andijan over the Karimov Government's imprisonment of 23 Muslims pale in comparison. The Muslims, who had been protesting for four months, were accused, as are most Muslims who stand up against governments all over the world, of being "Islamist extremists " At Andijan, Mr. Karimov's soldiers fired on the protestors, killing at least nine. On July 12, 2005, the death toll was raised to 187.
As Human Rights Watch noted in a report titled Uzbekistan: Andijan Crisis Aftermath, "Uzbekistan has been an important ally for the United States in its global campaign against terrorism. The United States has a military base in southern Uzbekistan to support its operations in Afghanistan and has provided aid and training to the Uzbek military, as well as counterterrorism assistance. The State Department has acknowledged Uzbekistan's poor human rights record and pressed the Uzbek government to institute specific democratic and human rights reforms. But the U.S. government has not spoken with a single voice on this issue."
It will now that it must leave its base at Karshi-Kanabad
Posted by Munir Umrani at July 31, 2005 05:50 PM
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