Uzbekistan - revolt boils over

22 prominent Muslim businessmen were put on trial on Feb 11th in Andijan, Uzbekistan, just across the border from OSH in Kyyrgistan, the seat of the uprising earlier and "tulip", blue/red/green/yellow" revolution . They were accused of being associated with the banned Hizbut - ut - Tahrir and Akramia, a sect or group associated with “dissident” Akram Yuldashev.

On March 2nd the hapless and gormless Bill Rammell who was then a Foreign office Minister was refused entry to Uzbekistan – he subsequently retained his seat in the elction by a nerve tingling 92 votes and is now a back bencher. He allegedly wanted to discuss Human Rights with President Karimov, although he steadfastly refused to even reply to letters about the Chagos Islanders removed from their homes on Diego Garcia by a previous Labour Government. The Foreign Office are of course relieved of the services of their Ex Ambassador Carig Murray.

On Wednesday 4th May a demonstration about the trial in Andijan outside the US Embassy in Tashkent, of 11 men, 13, women and 19 children was broken up by armed forces.

During the week 1,000's of silent protestors (see pic AP) have sat silently and peaceably in Andijan. Last night the jail was breached and some 1,000 prisoners escaped. Rioting has ensued with the state military foring on the crowd and blocking all access to the town. The numbers of dead reported, range from 9 to 20 and those injured from 30 upwards. News organisations have been blacked out and firm news is scarce.

In Tashkent in what appears to be an unrelated event a man was shot dead outside the Israeli Embassy.

Violent anti-American protests, the worst since the fall of the Taleban on 13 November 2001 have erupted in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar Province. Tens of thousands of Afghanis poured into the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday shouting Death to the United States! Death to George Bush, Long Live Islam, Long Live the Koran! President Bush was burned in a pretty poor effigy - not Jack S regrettably. Witnesses reported on websites in ME say protestors attacked buildings symbolizing the US presence. The United Nations HQ,several NGOs and the Pakistani Consulate were partially burned to the ground. Police and Afghan Army forces, supported by US troops, fired on the rioters, 4 dead and 70 (ish) demonstrators wounded, including six police.

Forces and funds are at work de-stabilising the region with the aim of dragging in the US military to provide “assistance” to President Karimov – the “body boiler”.

No doubt the US Embassy CIA section in Tashkent is very active and the 185 Peace Corps Volunteers in Uzbekistan are keeping their heads down. As ever the UK Secret Services are clueless, and assetless in this territory.

David Noran UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan was interviwed on BBC "PM" and says we must be cautious, stability is "important", "news is difficult to obtain",... basically we haven't a clue what is going on..or if we do we are not going to tell you. Their website has no news, no contact details for relatives, etc., for God's sake don't ask him about boiling dissidents alive... Contact the Tashkent Embassy website >


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