The Leader of Democratic ERK Party Muhammed SALIH

I do not call you to die for the homeland. I call you to live for the homeland. To live for the homeland is not to be afraid of dying for it...

Muhammed SALIH

The international activity

Since February, 1994, the newspaper of party ERK and other political literature began to be transported to Tashkent and to be distributed in cities of Uzbekistan. Students of HIGH SCHOOLS in Istanbul, Bursa and Ankara began to participate actively in editions of opposition under Salih’s leadership . However, in time activities of the leader of “ERK” party gradually began to disturb Turkish authorities.

Young writer, the then student, the eyewitness and the participant of these events in Turkey Bahadir Faizi writes:

"..In a very short time of peripd Salih has turned to be an interstate problem. Muhammed Salih had many friends among politicians and intellectuals of Turkey who helped him in his struggle for democracy. He is known in Turkey not only as the poet but also as the supporter of integration of the Turkic states. Thus he is well respected among both from the rigth and the left wing Turkish patriots. Uzbek authority demanded from Turkey his delivery or exclusion. Salih at the request of Turkish authorities in October, 1994 has left Turkey and went to Germany).

In the beginning of 1995 under the initiative of National Institute of Democracy of the United States of America a seminar on "Authority and Opposition" of Uzbekistan was organised. To this seminar, which was chaired by Nelson Ledsky(USA Ambassador ), Muhammed Salih (ERK) from Frankfurt and A. Pulatov ("Бирлик") from Stanbul and Alisher Mardiev, Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan as the representative of government Karimov were invited . During the seminar, the Uzbek government representative has said nothing about the position of Uzbekistan vis-a-vis the opposition.

The Washington meeting was necessary for the Uzbek authorities to show to the US their willingness to cooperate with the Uzbek opposition. Just after this meeting, however, the Uzbek authorities started to accuse the ERK party for having intentions to revolt with the help of a foreign power, in this case Turkey. The group was caught in November, 1994, but authorities kept silent until the above mentioned seminar in Washington on "Authority and Opposition" in February 1995.

" The group consisted of 11 young men. Three to four among them carried out the circulation of forbidden newspaper "ERK" in Uzbekistan. All of them were caught by police and sent back home.

The Uzbek KGB urged them either to accept that they were trained to revolt in Turkey or they will put in prison. Though a very few of them admitted on Uzbek TV that were trained in Istanbul to revolt, Uzbek government press fiercely started to propagate against "ERK" and its leader.

In 1996, Turkey, Alparslan Tьrkesh, the leader of the Party of National Movement wrote to Islam Kerimov with the hope to reconcile him with M.Salih.

The president of Uzbekistan has replied him:

" Dear mister Alparslan Turkesh,

I have read your letter of August, 4, 1996 with a big attention and respect. I appreciate highly your supports during our independence. As a matter of fact, the fifth anniversary of our independence shows that our way was the true one and it was strongly supported by our people.

We have passed a very difficult period of our indepence in a very short time. Many did not believe us, and made mistakes. If they now have understood their mistakes, nobody will prevent them to devote their life to the future of Uzbekistan.

As to Mr. Muhammad Salih, he too can follow their example. But he should not put forward any conditions or claim any posts or privileges. You, Mr. Tьrkeю, know that in Uzbekistan all should be done according to the Constitution of Uzbekistan.

With big respect

Islam Kerimov

The president of Republic Uzbekistan

Tashkent,

November 18, 1997

In the autumn of 1997 Salih has arrived from Frankfurt along with his family. The Uzbek Embassy informed Ankara about the arrival of "enemy Karimov" in Turkey.

In November 1997 before the arrival of the Uzbek President to Turkey, Ankara decided to make a gesture to Karimov and sent Salih to Bulgaria. Salih stayed in Sofia about one month, and then, again illegally, returned to Istanbul . This made Turkish authorities angry.

In March, 1998 Muhammad Salih was sent to Romania. He there stayed one more month and in the begining of April moved to Kiev. There he met with the head of National movement "Ruh" Vjacheslav Chornovil. Leader of the Ukrainian opposition promised to support the Uzbek democrats.

In May 1998, Salih arrived to Moscow. " Literatue” daily " and magazine " People as They Are " published interviews with him.

In July 1998 the mayor of Basel, Switzerland invited M. Salih for 3 months. Salih wrote there his memoirs "Yolnoma".

In September he came again illegally to Turkey. He could see his family only in the house of their friends.

In November 1998, he went to to Baku and met with the former President of Azerbaijan Elchibei . Therefrom flew to Moscow and met General Alexander Lebed.

In December he, again illegally, returned to Istanbul (Bahadir Faizi " the Sketch of the Uzbek opposition ", page 42-45, Ankara - 2003, Achun Publications)

Muhammad Salih stayed in Turkey one and a half year and published three books about the political life of Uzbekistan. He is familiar with almost all political leaders of Turkey since Turgut Ozal and many of many them are his friends.

Explosions:

In the morning on February 16, 1999, bombs explosed in the center of Tashkent. Uzbek authorities without any delay declared that “this evil deed” was conducted by religious fanatics and Muhammad Salih.

Salih’s answered to these accusations with an article title “ Magic of the lie" : "to assume who stands up for this act of terrorism it is necessary to think the was most favourable ".

All who was under investigation declared that they were tortured. and their testimonies against Salih were taken under torture.

From the very first day of the explosions the Uzbek government could not found any proof for their accusations against M. Salih. The Russian magazine " Protection of the Rights and Freedom of the Person” published the views of known writers, politicians and public figures of Russia supporting Muhammed Salih. “We shall protect the president! ", " Down with the enemies of independence and stability! " All this reminds the most gloomy years of the Soviet totalitarianism - Stalin and брежневские, Andrey Saharova and Alexander Solzhenitsyna's persecution. "( Protection of the rights and freedom of the person ". ( Number 421.05.1999.)

This document was signed Lyudmila Alekseeva, poet Bella Ahmadullina, Elena Bonner, Larisa Bogaraz, Sergey Kovalev, Andrey Bitov, Fazil Iskender, Konstantin Borovoj, Alexander Tkachenko and many deputies of the Russian Duma.

To protect democracy in Uzbekistan, the same document was accepted by the 12 opposition parties of Azerbaijan;among them the Popular Front party leader Abulfaz Elchibei, leader of Musavat, Isa Gambarov and other outstanding figures.

In Ukraine 36 deputies of Rada signed the documnet and called the world community to support democracy in Uzbekistan and Muhammada Salih. Among them there were the leaders of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Jamil and Rufat Chubaroglu.

In March, 1999 the Commissariat on refugees of the United Nations gave Muhammad Salih and his family the status of political refugee. In April Salih arrived Oslo with the family.

During 1999-2000 the Uzbek authorities asked Norway three times to deliver Muhammad Salih, but they were refused.

Muhammad Salih during his active work in Europe and the countries of the former Union, met with the following political figures of the USA:

1. In 1989 in Tashkent with Senator Bill Bredly.

2. In 1991 in Tashkent with Senator De Consini.

3. In March, 1992 in Tashkent with the State Secretary USA James Baker.

4. In July, 1992 with Senator Presler

5. In July, 1993 in Washington with Senator De Consini

6. In 1994 in Washington with the assistant to the State secretary USA Strabb Talbott.

7. In February 1995 in Washington with the former State secretary USA James Baker.