Özbekistan ERK Demokratik Partisi Genel Başkanı Muhammed SALİH

 

 

RFE/RL Central Asia Report

Vol. 3, No. 36, 24 October 2003

OPPOSITION CONGRESS HELD IN TASHKENT. In another example of a Central Asian state confounding its critics, the Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party, a banned opposition group in Uzbekistan, succeeded in holding its planned congress on 22 October in the Uzbek capital Tashkent with the permission of the government. This breakthrough was all the more extraordinary since, over the last month, Uzbekistan's security forces had been working actively and brutally to prevent the congress from taking place.

Erk originally applied to the city mayor's office for permission to hold a national meeting on 27 September, but the request was ignored for months, then refused two days before the event was scheduled to take place. Meanwhile, officials "harassed and threatened Erk members in a clear attempt to dissuade them from attending the congress," including Erk Secretary-General Atanazar Arifov, according to a 30 September press release by the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 October 2003). Then, at the beginning of October, some 20 activists, mainly from the independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), staged a protest in Tashkent demanding that President Islam Karimov step down. A statement signed by many of the activists said there was "no hope for the restoration of justice and democracy under Karimov's authoritarian rule" (see "Uzbekistan: Defiance of Authorities Grows," rferl.org, 23 October 2003).

Apparently in retaliation, on 13 October the police stopped two Erk members, Oigul Mamatova and Abduhoshim Ghofurov, in their car. Mamatova was head of the Erk party-congress organizing committee, while Ghofurov doubled as HRSU chairman. The police arrested them and confiscated Erk posters, badges, delegate invitations, and some 400 books including works by Muhammad Solih, Erk's exiled leader, the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) reported on 21 October.

Some 30 Erk members tried to march on the police station in Tashkent's Sobir Rahimov district on 14 October but were rounded up by the police, muslimuzbekistan.com reported. Most were let off with a warning, but Ghofurov and one other Erk member were jailed for five days.

Undeterred, about 15 Erk members and supporters picketed the Prosecutor-General's Office on 15 October. This was reportedly the first time Erk members have undertaken such an action, and their first demonstration in 12 years. The picketers demanded that party property be returned, police harassment of party members be ended, and the party be allowed to hold its congress, which had been rescheduled for 22 October (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 October 2003).
This demonstration was also broken up by police, but the participants were reportedly not detained.

Against this background, the authorities' willingness finally to allow the congress to take place on 22 October must have come as a considerable surprise to Erk members. The first party congress to be held in Uzbekistan in 10 years, it was staged in an office of the Washington-based watchdog organization Freedom House with a sign posted outside reading, "We are heading towards a democratic state in which every citizen is guaranteed their freedoms." Erk leader Solih told RFE/RL that the meeting had become possible as the regime "was forced to ease its pressure because the government itself was under pressure from international organizations." A commentary on erkinyurt.org on 23 October attributed it to the political influence of the United States in Uzbekistan, in particular to the presence of Freedom House in Tashkent.

In a written address distributed to delegates, and posted on uzbekistanerk.org, Solih attacked the puppet, opposition political parties created by Karimov to provide democratic window dressing. In 1991 presidential elections, Solih was the only independent candidate ever to challenge Karimov. Now in exile in Norway, Solih was sentenced in absentia in 2000 by Uzbekistan's Supreme Court to 15 years in prison on charges (widely regarded as unsubstantiated and malicious) of terrorism and antistate activities. Nevertheless, Solih wrote in his address that he felt no personal enmity towards Karimov, but condemned him as an "Asiatic leader" presiding over corruption and economic decline. Lamenting the ethnical impoverishment of a younger generation growing up under such conditions, Solih specified educational reform, strengthening the institution of the family, and overcoming poverty ("a source of moral degradation") as three of Erk's most pressing strategic concerns. He denied involvement in the Tashkent bombings of 16 February 1999, and accused the regime of using them as an excuse to crack down on its political enemies.

Erk Secretary-General Arifov confirmed to RFE/RL that the party intended to press the government to reinstate its registration, thus opening the way for it to compete in local council elections, parliamentary elections in 2004, and the presidential race in 2007.

(Compiled by Adam Albion)

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Uzbek force structures and "Birlik"'s
members tried to break 5-th congress of "Erk"

www.ozodovoz.org, 23.10.2003

- October, 22 in Tashkent it was held 5-th congress of democratic party "Erk", despite of provocations of force structures of Uzbekistan and members of national movement "Birlik" which tried to break work of a party forum. The message of the organization "Ozod Ovoz".

Since the morning the events around of congress began to develop under the drama script. For half an hour to the beginning of the congress "Erk" Secretary general Atanazar Arifov has lead a briefing for local and foreign journalists. At it Atanazar Arifov has made the unexpected application, that the National Security Service (NSS) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Uzbekistan together with some members of the national movement "Birlik" prepare the provocation to break the work of the "Erk" congress. Secretary general of "Erk" has warned journalists, that “Birlik”'s members, supported by force bodies, plan to rush force into a hall to occupy a presidium and a tribune, thus to impose fights and other disorders. "If the events will be developed in such spirit, we will be compelled to stop the work of the congress to avoid the provocation and the further intervention of militia with the purpose "to stop disorders", - has told Atanazar Arifov at the briefing.

Firstly it seemed to journalists, that the Secretary general of party "Erk" exaggerates value of the forum of his party. However in half an hour after the briefing journalists and foreign visitors of congress were convinced that Atanazar Arifov was rights in the fears. About 25-30 person led by the member of editorial board “Birlik” magazine "Kharakat" Samad Murod and the member of the Central Council of "Birlik" Daynov Tashanov began to force to rush into a hall of congress. Thus people, leaded by two members of “Birlik”, strike impacts on members of party "Erk", who stand at an entrance in the building where congress was held. And people with radio telephones in hands observing this script loudly shouted: "Beat up the Salih's party members! Beat up the terrorists and extremists!".

Having seen, that force skirmishes can flare up, “Erk”'s members have passed the members of "Birlik" and force bodies employees into the hall of congress. Coming in the hall Samad Murod and Daynov Tashanov have interrupted the statements of “Erk” members, have risen on presidium, to grasp reins of government in their hands. On the stage of the palace where congress was holding, they group have risen also, they began to shout, that members of party "Erk", that they have not started up on the congress.

Actions of “Birlik” members and their groups, consisting, basically, from people of old age, it was met by a rumble and an applause of discontent of the congress' delegates who number was about 135-140 persons. “Birlik” members and their group were compelled to quit the stage and borrow the places in the hall under the impact of huge quantity of the congress' delegates. And only after that congress has continued the work, but not for a long time.

After election of the congress' working bodies, accounting statement of the Secretary general of party "Erk" Atanazar Arifov, speech of Tashpulat Yuldashev devoted to the new project of the program of "Erk", it was expected the statement about the new project of the Charter of party. However this statement was again broken by Samad Murad, Daynov Tashanov and their group. This time Samad Murod has grasped presidium and promised to act about the new project of the program of party. The presidium of the congress has let him to speak as to the visitor of the party forum.

However Samad Murad's speech was devoted not to the project of the new program of party "Erk", but to the criticism of work of the Secretary general of party Atanazar Arifov. After that Samad Murod has ignored the chairman of presidium who has asked him to sit on the place, and the beginnings to call the people from his group on the tribune and the stage. On Samad Murod's call Bahtiyor Isabekov and Inomzhon Tursunov have left on the tribune and began to call the delegates of congress to not recognize Atanazar Arifov as a Secretary general of party "Erk". “Erk” members and congress' delegates, understood, that Samad Murod and his group have deceived them, have left the hall of thecongress, have given it to “Birlik” members Samad Murod, Daynov Tashanov and their group of capture by number about 25-30 persons.

About 135-140 delegates of congress went in a small hall of the palace and there in quiet conditions have continued work of 5-th congress. And further work of congress was held under the planned agenda and the rules. At the congress it was accepted the new program of party "Erk" developed by Tashpulat Yuldashev and Atanazar Arifov with assistance of experts of USA, Russia and Kazakhstan. In the program "Erk" offers to limit powers of the president of Uzbekistan up to a minimum, to make independent all three branches of authority, to liquidate appointment of hokims (local governors) of areas and regions by executive authority, to introduce their selectivity, to create the institute of local (area and regional) parliaments to which hokims should report.

And the most unexpected news was the statement of the new Charter of party which assumes a consultative management of party instead of the former privately-owned management. In other words, now in party "Erk" there is no post of the chairman of party which up to this time was borrowed by Muhammad Salih. Henceforth over party it will supervise the Central Council consisting of 21 persons, members of party. In this body also there are no managing posts, such as the chairman. The Central Council will select only the moderators of sessions. The moderator will be selected ballot from among members of this body each time separately, during realization of sessions. Powers of moderators operate only during sessions of Council.

According to new Charter of "Erk", the party will nominate the candidate on the post of the president of Uzbekistan one year prior to presidential elections. The candidate for this post will be put forward from structure of the Central Council of party. Congress has selected structure of the Central Council of party "Erk". Members of the supreme party body are Muhammad Salih, Atanazar Arifov, Tashpulat Yuldashev and other members of party "Erk".

The member of the Central Council of party "Erk" Atanazar Arifov in interview to the organization "Ozod Ovoz" has told, that the party has gone on a parliament way both inside the party, and inside the republic. "We have found necessary, that it is necessary to limit up to the minimum the powers of the head as parties “Erk”, and the president of the country, thus to refuse the traditional privately-owned board inherited from medieval khans' times. Therefore in the Charter we have refused the post of the chairman of party. So, now Muhammad Salih is one of the members of the Central Council. And in the program of party we have offered to limit powers of the president of Uzbekistan to avoid present authority, dictatorship, despotism", - has told Atanazar Arifov.

Concerning the members of the national movement "Birlik", trying to break 5-th congress, Atanazar Arifov has told, that Samad Murod and Daynov Tashanov are former members of "Erk" becoming members of national movement "Birlik". “And Inomzhon Tursunov and Bahtiyor Isabekov for a long time were excluded from party "Erk" for infringement of the former Charter of party. And I see for the first time other people shouting, that they members "Erk". I do not know them", - have told Atanazar Arifov. As he said, it is sad that former colleagues, came in "Birlik", have gone on this immoral step under orders of special services and militias. "This disgusting stage was necessary only for authorities of the country to show the Uzbek opposition as non-unity, scandalous, engaged only in internal conflicts. It is a pity, that “Birlik” members spend their irrepressible energy against "Erk", other opposition party, but not against an existing dictatorial regime", - has declared Atanazar Arifov.

At the same time Samad Murod and Daynov Tashanov have declared at the assembly, that, passing in "Birlik", they have not left "Erk". "Only we are members of “Erk”, but no they. I created "Erk", but no Muhammad Salih", - spoke at assembly Samad Murod. Having remained one in the big hall rented by party "Erk" for realization of 5-th congress, group of 25-30 person led by two members of “Birlik” have declared their assembly as a congress of "Erk". This "congress" was begun and completed by expressive reading (kyroat) the ajats from the Koran. Koran ajats was read by elderly old men from the Kashkadaria regions. In basic time of "congress" Samad Murod's group criticized Atanazar Arifov and Muhammad Salih. They have named Atanazar Arifov the dictator, and Muhammada Saliha - the person in the blood, involved in terrorism and wahhabizm, unworthy for the post of "Erk" chairman. After that Samad Murod was "elected" as "chairman" of party. He was determined as the most worthy nominee for the post of the chairman of party, the person who is not having the attitudes to terrorism and wahhabizm. Samad Murod was “elected” on this post unanimously.

The group of 25-30 person roughly welcomed victory of Samad Murod at elections. "I am very glad, that Samadzhon, my fellow countryman, men from Kashkadarya, became the leader of party "Erk", - 76-years inhabitant presented as Narbay ata from Kitab area of Kashkadaria region has told in interview to the organization "Ozod Ovoz". As he said, Samad Murod is the founder and the present leader of party "Erk", the most worthy oppositionist on the post of the president of Uzbekistan. On the question of the organization "Ozod Ovoz": "And how long you are member of "Erk", Narbay ata has answered, that he is not a member of this party). And on the question "Then what for you have arrived on this congress?" elderly Narbay ata has answered: "I was invited here by Samadzhon to see Tashkent".

For Immediate Release:

Government Blocks Political Meeting

Uzbekistan: Government Blocks Political Meeting Harassment of Opposition Increasing

(New York, September 30, 2003)—The Uzbek government has effectively blocked the Erk Democratic Party from holding its congress in Tashkent and has increased persecution of the opposition party's members, Human Rights Watch said today.

Government authorities failed to respond to the party's September 4 request to hold its national meeting on September 27. Atanazar Arifov, the General Secretary of Erk, told Human Rights Watch that without government permission, no venue manager was willing to rent premises to Erk for the meeting, at which more than 400 participants were expected.

“Uzbek officials use the rhetoric of rule of law and democracy,” said Rachel Denber, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division. “Yet they refuse to allow an opposition political party to hold a simple meeting.”

In its March 2003 country strategy for Uzbekistan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) called on the Uzbek government to allow for “greater political openness” as one of three political benchmarks on which the bank conditioned its long-term engagement in Uzbekistan. The EBRD held its controversial 2003 annual meeting in Tashkent in May.

“Preventing a political gathering flies in the face of the EBRD benchmarks,” said Denber. “The EBRD and shareholder countries should protest the Uzbek government's actions and urge it to register opposition political parties.”

In the lead-up to the Erk congress, officials harassed and threatened Erk members in a clear attempt to dissuade them from attending the congress.

In one case, an Erk member in Tashkent was badly beaten. On August 18, two masked men broke into the home of Tashpulat Yuldashev, an Erk member responsible for writing the party's platform. They beat Yuldashev, causing a concussion and bruising, including a black eye. Yuldashev told Human Rights Watch that since then he and others closely associated with him have been summoned for police questioning about his political activities on several occasions and that he has been under constant surveillance.

In August, tax police in Bukhara launched an investigation into the business dealings of Nasrullo Saidov, the head of Erk in that city. Launched two weeks before Saidov was to hold a regional Erk conference, the timing of the investigation suggests it was intended to dissuade him from holding the meeting. The conference was cancelled as a result of the investigation and Saidov is now facing criminal charges that have sprung it.

Arifov told Human Rights Watch that the police have telephoned him on several occasions and warned him not to attend the regional Erk conferences that were held in the lead-up to the September congress in Tashkent. Another Erk member, also from Tashkent, told Human Rights Watch that his son was threatened with criminal charges as a warning to his father to stop his political activity.

In an earlier incident, police in Chirchik arrested Hasan Kambarov, another Erk member, on March 23, 2003 and held him incommunicado until May 14. According to Kambarov's relatives, he was tortured in custody through methods that included electric shock and suffocation. Police questioned him about his political activities and asked him to name other Erk members. Police reportedly detained him again on May 22, but they and other authorities denied holding him. Kambarov's relatives received no news of him until July 15, when a man told them that he had spent several days in a Chirchik police cell with Kambarov in July and that Kambarov appeared to have been beaten. However, the authorities continue to deny that he is in their custody.

“Brutal persecution of the political opposition is unfortunately routine here,” said Denber. “Although the government claims to be responding to calls to reduce torture and increase democratic participation, perceived opposition to the government is often met with violence.”

The Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party is a political opposition group now effectively banned in Uzbekistan. In the 1991 presidential elections its leader, Mohammed Solih, who is now in exile in Norway, was the only independent candidate ever to challenge Uzbek President Islam Karimov. In November 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan sentenced Solih in absentia to a 15-year prison term on charges of terrorism and anti-state activities. Human Rights Watch monitored the trial, and found it reminiscent in all respects of Soviet-era show trials. No material evidence of Solih's guilt was presented. Nine of Solih's co-defendants also received lengthy terms in prison, and two other men, sentenced in absentia in the same trial, were sentenced to death. Other individuals associated with Erk remain in prison and should be released, Human Rights Watch said. These include Muhammad Bekjanov, Rashid Bekjanov (both brothers of Mohammed Solih), Kobil Dierov, Mamadali Mahmudov, Ne'mat Sharipov, and Iusuf Ruzimuradov.

For further information please contact:

In New York, Rachel Denber: +1-212-216-1266
In Tashkent, Matilda Bogner: +99893-181-5422
In Brussels, Vanessa Saenen: +322-732-2009
In London, Urmi Shah: +44-20-7713-2788