Mayhem follows Uzbek massacre

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1614062,00.html

By Jeremy Page in Moscow
Thousands flee as death toll hits 600 and militants take on troops



ARMED men fought government forces near the city of Andijan in eastern Uzbekistan yesterday as witnesses reported that up to 600 people were killed when troops had opened fire on demonstrators.

Rebels killed several troops in the border town of Tefektosh as thousands of refugees tried to flee over the closed frontier to Kyrgyzstan to escape the worst violence in Uzbekistan since its independence in 1991.

In Korasuv, a town 50km (30 miles) east of Andijan, government offices and police cars were set alight. Protesters forced the mayor to reopen two river bridges that link the Uzbek and Kyrgyz sectors. The crossings had been closed by the authorities two years ago.

In Andijan, residents gathered at School No 15 to identify hundreds of victims of Friday’s shootings in the city, while others cleared the streets of blood and body parts.

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From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday May 15 22:12 GMT (3:12 pm PDT)

Locals expel Uzbek town leaders

Local residents have seized control of Korasuv, a border town in eastern Uzbekistan, driving out representatives of the central government.

Angry crowds set government buildings alight and attacked the mayor.

The uprising follows the bloody suppression of a demonstration in the nearby city of Andijan on Friday.

The BBC's Ian MacWilliam says this is exactly the kind of local rebellion the Uzbek government hoped to prevent by a show of force in Andijan.

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The White House is sending mixed signals. In addition to Mr. McClellan's callous remarks, aid to Uzbekistan has been cut over human rights concerns.

From Human Rights Watch
Posted March 10, 2005

Uzbekistan: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights

Objective

The Commission on Human Rights should adopt a resolution condemning the Uzbek government’s appalling human rights record. The resolution should call on the Uzbek leadership to undertake a number of urgent steps including: expediting the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture; ceasing any further arrest and harassment of human rights defenders; registering independent human rights non-governmental organizations and opposition political parties; and ceasing informal censorship of the media.

Background

In the past few years, the Uzbek government has come under increased pressure from the international community to improve its human rights record. The government has made some reforms in legislation, but these have not been implemented in practice. It has also increased its engagement with select local and international actors on specific human rights issues, but these gestures have not translated into more systemic change and have been undermined by other setbacks to human rights, particularly the deepening of restrictions on civil society.

Read more.

We are in bed with the bastards of the world, by supporting Karimov's repression and NOT condemning his government's murderous actions last week!

Once again, those following US media are falling victim to our government's obfuscation of the actual situation and events in Central Asia. Karimov, the USA, and other leaders in the region can't afford to have this appear to be anything BUT a Taliban-like, al-Qaida-linked, "terrorist" movement!


http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1484865,00.html#article_continue

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The former UK ambassador to Tashkent, Craig Murray, said: "I know these people and have met them. They do not have a particularly strong Islamic bent and are more interested in greater economic freedom. They are Turkey, not the Taliban."

After Tienanmen sanctions against China were imposed and they are still in place up to today. Where are these sanctions or a call for them now? Double-standards et al....

This has been so volatile.