... OH, IT'S HUMAN RIGHTS!

Do you know where Uzbekistan is located? In the backyard of Russia, as people say, and not a lot more is known about the country. And it is a safe bet the dictatorial regime wants to keep it this way, because it keeps questions about democracy, human rights and corruption away.

The ministers for the exterior of the EU are willing to show signs of relaxation to the regime of president Islam Karimov. Last October an embargo for weapon sales as well as immigration rules for important members of the regime were put in place. The latter sanctions were adjourned for half a year. And now they have been adjourned again. Nevertheless the situation regarding human rights is still as worse as ever. Inside of prison captives are being tortured, human rights advocates remain imprisoned. There have never been any prosecution of the massacre of Andijan in May 2005 and whoever wants to put human rights onto the agenda better thing about prison or exile.

The European Union should insist: respecting human rights is a pivotal measure and cosmetic appliances won't help were real reforms are needed. It took the massacre of Andijan to make the international community take a closer look at Uzbekistan. Tenthousand people gathered back then, not to overthrow the government but to make it start acting in necessary reforms about income, work and democracy. At least 750 people were killed when security officials started to fire on demonstrators.

Afterwards the European Union discussed the situation with the government of Uzbekistan, demanding changes. The EU defined two key criteria that should show the readiness of the government for real change: an intensive investigation of the massacre and to free all imprisoned human rights activists. Neither has happened.

Currently there are four reasons why human rights don't stand a chance in Uzbekistan: first a new strategic approach that is focused on being present in the area of central asia, were a lot of gas, oil and uranium is still available. Second, the paralell geopolitical interests of Russia, China, EU and USA in the region. Third, the war against terrorism. And finally, the war against drugs. These colliding interests put political and economic issues at the top of the agenda of politically leading powers, far above human rights.

The government of president Karimov is playing the contenders against each other. By introducing a few minor reforms the pressure on the country was reduced. Today Uzbekistan has no free press, no independent justice system and the only developing organisations allowed in the country are those supporting the president. Next to Turkmenistan the state terror in Uzbekistan is the highest in the region. Basic human rights such as freedom of speech, freedom to gather and form movements are forbidden. The freedom of chosing your place to live is also refused.

The government of Uzbekistan claims everything is turning to the better. The proofs are: the liberation of a few human rights activists, arrests without reason have been banned, death penalty has been abolished and the international red cross may visit prisons.

But how is live for human rights activists in Uzbekistan today? Who is unable to recieve a governmental licence for his organisation but carries on with his work nevertheless, will be abused, imprisoned and tortured, and sometimes put in psychiatric institutions. And if all of that won't help, the officials will use other methods to increase the pressure - for instance by involving the kids of the activists. As in the case of Ahmadshan Madmurow, an activist who recieved the price of the irish Front Line human rights organisation in May 2006. His children and nephews were imprisoned and tortured to silence Madmurow.

Another case: Mutabar Tadschibajewa ist the president of the human rights union Fiery Hearts in the region of Ferghana. In the year 2005 she was arrested as she started to fly to a meeting of the Irish Front Line organisation in Dublin. In March 2006 she was sentenced to eight years in prison. She was kept in a solitary cell, often in the psychiatric ward of the prison, treated with psychopharmaka. In his cell somebody hung up a noose and it was suggested to her to commit suicide. Her health is deteriorating seriously, she has been diagnosed with cancer and she is in dire need of treatment.

Jamshid Karimow, the nephew of the president, is an independent journalist and defendor of human rights as well as a harsh critic of the regime of his uncle. He too has been imprisoned in a psychiatric ward.

From an objective point of view, nobody should be able to assume, the government of Uzbekistan has serious plans to safeguard human rights. The opression is higher now than during the times of the Soviet Union. Uzbekistan should become more open and liberated. Human Rights are a non-discussive basic necessity for the whole world. Only after they have been established should we talk about economic and polticial issues.