Subject:Uzbekistan
Date:Sun, 10 Mar 2002 15:22:46 -0000
Date:Sun, 10 Mar 2002 15:22:46 -0000
Tyranny in the Name of Freedom
By Simon Churchyard
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With the cementing of a new US-Uzbek alliance as
With the cementing of a new US-Uzbek alliance as
part of the "war against error", America is bolstering
one of the former Soviet Union's least-known, but
most repressive, dictatorships.
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It is ironic that one of the USA's most valuable allies
It is ironic that one of the USA's most valuable allies
in "Operation Enduring Freedom" was Islam Karimov,
who presides over Uzbekistan -- one of Asia's most
entrenched dictatorships.
Karimov allowed US forces to use Uzbek bases
Karimov allowed US forces to use Uzbek bases
against its southern neighbour, Afghanistan.
Washington rewarded this support with an historic
joint US-Uzbek memorandum, signed on 30
November. Hailed by both sides as announcing a
"qualitatively new relationship," it promises
Uzbekistan significant military and economic backing.
A likely legacy of the war will be the bolstering by the
US of yet another corrupt and repressive regime that
performs useful strategic services.
Uzbekistan gained independence with the collapse
Uzbekistan gained independence with the collapse
of the USSR in 1991. It is the only nation in the
world surrounded entirely by landlocked countries,
and boasts some of the most spectacular cities on
the ancient Silk Road trade routes. But the glossy
images on official tourist brochures are a far cry
from reality for all except a small elite. Where
caravans once took spices and silks across Asia
to Europe, many of the desperately poor unemployed
now sift through dangerous waste heaps for scrap
metal or plunder telephone lines and power cables,
smuggling them to Chinese dealers while causing
domestic havoc.
According to the United Nations, a third of
According to the United Nations, a third of
Uzbekistan's 24 million inhabitants live below
the poverty line, abandoned now that the
comprehensive Soviet-era health and welfare
protection has disintegrated.
In the face of this poverty and social decay, the
In the face of this poverty and social decay, the
autocratic government of former-Communist ruler
Islam Karimov maintains power through a dense
network of security agents and informers. Dissent
network of security agents and informers. Dissent
is not tolerated, and most opponents have been
jailed or driven into exile. This security complex
is bankrolled by the country's main cash export,
is bankrolled by the country's main cash export,
cotton. Harvested with the coerced labour of
students and school children, this "white gold" is
procured by the government at knock-down prices a
procured by the government at knock-down prices a
nd sold on internationally at a hefty profit.
VALUABLE ALLIES
It is not merely the military use of its airbases
VALUABLE ALLIES
It is not merely the military use of its airbases
that has made Uzbekistan so useful to the US.
That Nato forces have used a former Soviet state
for the first time has directly challenged Russia's
for the first time has directly challenged Russia's
long-held assumption that Central Asia was in its
sphere of influence. The establishment of a military
presence in the strategic heart of Asia may prove
presence in the strategic heart of Asia may prove
invaluable to the US in the future.
The new deal also had the major propaganda value
The new deal also had the major propaganda value
of re-opening the "Friendship Bridge" on Uzbekistan's
southern border. The USA had suffered condemnation
when its bombing campaign halted humanitarian aid to
drought-hit Afghans along routes through Taliban
drought-hit Afghans along routes through Taliban
territory, and for dropping an inadequate number of food
packages alongside similar-looking cluster bombs.
With winter snows fast threatening to block roads
With winter snows fast threatening to block roads
throughout Afghanistan, the ability to show that
food and medicines were being delivered in convoys
from Uzbekistan -- through Afghan territory controlled
from Uzbekistan -- through Afghan territory controlled
by the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance -- helped offset
criticism of US conduct of the war by aid organisations.
Furthermore, the ability to claim Muslim members of
the spurious "international coalition against terror" was
also a valuable propaganda coup.
Economically, the new deal memorandum stipulates
Economically, the new deal memorandum stipulates
that Uzbekistan will speed up privatisation schemes
and open its rich natural and mineral resources to
direct foreign exploitation. Boasting vast oil and gas
direct foreign exploitation. Boasting vast oil and gas
reserves, Central Asia and the Caucasus are prime
targets for US petrochemicals companies. In both the
short and long term, the advantages to the US of this
new military alliance with Uzbekistan are clear.
BACKING BRUTALITY
And Uzbekistan stands to gain enormously from
BACKING BRUTALITY
And Uzbekistan stands to gain enormously from
the new alliance. Financially, it will mean a massive
US$100 million of humanitarian and military "aid" to
Uzbekistan, plus an initial US$50 million credit facility.
Uzbekistan, plus an initial US$50 million credit facility.
Quite apart from the propaganda value of the moral
endorsement of the world's greatest democracy, this
will allow President Karimov to tighten his grip on
power by providing a financial lifeline at a time when
power by providing a financial lifeline at a time when
state revenues were falling along with the price of cotton,
and the International Monetary Fund had withdrawn its
support.
The new relationship will also blunt US criticism of
The new relationship will also blunt US criticism of
the lack of democratic reforms. The Karimov regime
has attempted to silence all democratic opposition,
and operates strict media censorship.
In January 2000 presidential elections, Karimov won
91.9 per cent of the vote. The USA strongly criticised
the poll, declaring it "neither free nor fair".
Konstantin Syroyezhkin, a commentator from
Konstantin Syroyezhkin, a commentator from
neighbouring Kazakhstan, worries the new deal will
effectively mean that "the US itself will no longer be
raising the issue of democracy and human rights."
raising the issue of democracy and human rights."
Indeed, on the eve of US Secretary of State General
Colin Powell's visit to Uzbekistan in early December,
Karimov's parliament approved a referendum to extend
the president's term of office without election,
side-stepping the constitutional two-term limit. Once
again, democracy is the first causality of a US policy
that resembles the backing given to anti-democratic
states such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following their
states such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following their
support of the 1991 US-led Gulf War.
The new partnership will allow Karimov to continue
The new partnership will allow Karimov to continue
repressing religious practice. In recent years the
government has closed an estimated 900 mosques
and jailed 7,000 Muslims to stifle faith-based opposition.
and jailed 7,000 Muslims to stifle faith-based opposition.
Studying the Qu'ran is an "anti-state activity", sporting
a beard or possessing unsanctioned religious literature
can lead to 20 years in prison. In spite of these clearly
documented abuses, in October 2001 US President
George W Bush refused to list Uzbekistan as a "country
of concern on religious freedom", a move that Human
Rights Watch's Rachel Denber argues was "clearly
for political reasons".
The USA can't plead ignorance of Uzbek human rights
for political reasons".
The USA can't plead ignorance of Uzbek human rights
abuses. The Human Rights Watch World Report 2001
stated that "torture and ill-treatment in prisons was
rampant". It catalogues abuses by security services
and police against pious Muslims, Christians, women,
and the political opposition along with their families.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the
extra-judicial killings of prisoners.
Having incurred such a huge debt towards Uzbekistan,
extra-judicial killings of prisoners.
Having incurred such a huge debt towards Uzbekistan,
the USA will be obliged to play down these issues, at
least in the near future. Ruslan Sharipov of the Human
Rights Society of Uzbekistan has expressed alarm at
the new alliance: "There are already some 10,000
political and religious prisoners, and there is great
censorship. I am afraid that the US will take thepressure
off Uzbekistan's human rights now, and that things could
get a lot worse."
Karimov is already using his co-operation with the US
Karimov is already using his co-operation with the US
as a cover for reigning in opposition groups,
strengthening the power of the security services, and
setting aside constitutional provisions for democracy.
MORE BIN LADENS?
However, it is not merely that the US has tempered
MORE BIN LADENS?
However, it is not merely that the US has tempered
criticisms of these developments for military and
political expediency -- it is speaking in warm terms
of the new ally. Colin Powell said he: "applauded
Uzbekistan and the President personally for the
political courage shown by him, his government and
his people to assist us in this campaign, and we will
respect that courage by continuing to remain engaged
with them long after this crisis is over."
Such personal endorsement of Karimov is reminiscent
of the US backing of brutal leaders such as Saddam
Hussain, General Pinochet, and PresidentSuharto.
The "qualitatively new relationship" between the
The "qualitatively new relationship" between the
USA and Uzbekistan should come as no surprise
to observers of US foreign policy: one more case
of a rhetoric of concern for universal human rights
and democracy pragmatically subordinated to
more immediate national strategic interests.
However, the consequences could be far more
However, the consequences could be far more
serious than simply stunting Uzbek political
development. Eliot Engel, in a submission to the
US congress following the new alliance, warned
that: "Islamic extremist groups will never run out
of recruits as long as the Soviet era dictators in
Central Asia continue their repressive and corrupt
Central Asia continue their repressive and corrupt
ways." A corrupt US-backed regime in Uzbekistan
could become a powerful rallying target for
charismatic fanatical leaders to harness popular
Muslim rage, leading to more terrorist attacks.
That was, after all, the story of the first Osama bin
Laden.
Simon Churchyard is an independent writer and
Simon Churchyard is an independent writer and
researcher on Central Asian politics
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