Scrap of letter from prisoner in Uzbekistan published by Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.
Nadejda Atayaeva of the has received a scrap of writing from an Uzbek prison -- it looks like the ksivy from the GULAG, those little tiny pieces of paper with miniature writing folded into numerous folds to be smuggled out -- I remember them from the Soviet era.
And Uzbek prisoners still have to smuggle out appeals like this because their prisons are still like the Soviet era.
The harrowing tale describes the life of prisoners in one of the most notorious dungeons of Central Asia, Jaslyk Penal Colony.
The prisoner writes that a new form of torment has been conceived -- having to read President Islam Karimov's books every day for an hour. But not before bed-time as a narcotic -- they're supposed to pay attention.
One unfortunate fellow named Ortikali didn't pay attention and missed the reading hour. So he was dragged from his cell and punished.
The official supervising this "education" -- just so we can get the names straight for who is accountable -- is one Ikrom Kadirbaevich Berdibayev. He ordered that poor Ortikali get the falanga treatment -- beating on his heels:
When Ortikali had suffered 30-40 beatings, the asked him if now he would listen to the book of the president, and he made it clear that he remained firm in his previous sentiment. Then Berdibayev Ikrom Kadirbaevich gave an order to have him beaten on his heels an additional 20-30 times. Altogether, he bore 80 strikes to the heel. His heels are swollen. He [Ortikali] is now in no condition to walk.
After 10 days of his [Ortikali’s] release, he was again taken to the general area of the 7th ward.
Writes Nadejda:
This colony, 64/71, is in a particularly difficult climate. In the summers, the temperatures reach over 50 degrees Celsius, and in the winters drops below minus 20 degrees. There are constant winds, and there is a constant lack of and poor quality of water, which has a high level of salinity. Prisoners return from this colony with many ailments, often with disabilities. The fate of these prisoners is shared and known by the well-known defender of farmer’s rights from the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Azam Farmonov
Given this documentation of torture -- and the scores of other documents from this group and other human rights organizations inside and outside of the country -- it's a wonder we do business with Tashkent. We do, for the sake of "larger issues," namely the Northern Distribution Network, the route to deliver aid to NATO in Afghanistan which I cover here.
It was my understanding that when the US ended its ban on military aid to Uzbekistan with a waiver and Congressional action in the Appropriations Committee on the foreign aid bill, that there would be review of Uzbekistan's human rights practices every six months. Indeed, this is stated now on state.gov:
The FY 2012 budget included language that would allow the Secretary to waive current restrictions on granting U.S. military assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the waiver in early 2012. This would open Uzbekistan to receiving FMF and IMET as well as other grant assistance in 2012. The waiver must be evaluated and renewed every 6 months.
On July 30, when the report on International Religious Freedom was released, it was noted again that while Uzbekistan was designated a "a country of particular concern" for its suppression of religious freedom and practices like torture of believers, it was issued a waiver. It also essentially got a waiver on Trafficking in Persons when the report was issued recently -- Tier 2 status -- merely for having a plan for combating trafficking and making some progress on sex trafficking of women, despite the failure to address institutionalized child labor.
Given that the waiver for military aid was announced in January 2012, the review should have come in the last month or so.
In a press conference August 15 during his recent trip to Central Asia, Assistant Secretary of State for Central And South Asia Robert Blake said:
Blake: First of all, the process of allocating Excess Defense Articles is only just beginning. We are beginning the consultations on that. It won’t be just for Uzbekistan but for all countries partnering on NDN. There will be quite detailed conversations with our military people based in embassies in each of these posts, with host nation counterparts on this thing. With respect to Uzbekistan, I do not think there will be any lethal weapons of any kind that will be offered. I think most of the kind of things that will be on offer will be military vehicles, Humvees, those kind of things. It is in our interests to provide those kinds of equipment. Uzbekistan has been a strong supporter of the NDN. That has in turn raised their profile with international terrorist organizations, who may want to target Uzbekistan in retribution. So, it is very much in our interest to help Uzbekistan defend itself against such attacks.
We are certainly prepared to think about how we can do that. I myself have been engaged over the last year in the U.S. Congress to get a waiver so that we can provide non-lethal military assistance to Uzbekistan, even though they have not met a lot of the human rights conditions that would allow for more regular military assistance. That waiver has been approved. We are providing non-lethal military assistance now and will continue to do so, and the EDA process will be one way that we could help.
So what exactly happened when the six-month review took place? Is there anything written anywhere about this? I see coverage of Blake's trip from Eurasianet.org and speculation about a possible return of the US base, but not information about the review and the re-issue of the waiver.
At a visit to State in June, I asked about this and was told it was likely going to be given and the (obscure) place I could go find this information -- but then I didn't follow up (it's probably in a congressional web page somewhere?)
Now I find the Congressional Research Service says this (emphasis added)
In FY2003 foreign operations appropriations (P.L. 108-7) and thereafter, Congress prohibited foreign assistance to the government of Uzbekistan unless the Secretary of State determined and reported that Uzbekistan was making substantial progress in meeting commitments to respect human rights; establish a multiparty system; and ensure free and fair elections, freedom of expression, and the independence of the media. In FY2008, Congress added a provision blocking Uzbek government officials from entering the United States if they were deemed to have been responsible for events in Andijon or to have violated other human rights. Consolidated Appropriations for FY2012 (P.L. 112-74; signed into law on December 23, 2011) provides for the Secretary of State to waive conditions on assistance to Uzbekistan for a period of not more than six months and every six months thereafter until September 30, 2013, on national security grounds and as necessary to facilitate U.S. access to and from Afghanistan. Such waivers have been issued during 2012.and further:
In 2012, the State Department has issued waivers for assistance to Uzbekistan, while assessing human rights conditions as of “serious concern.” Under the waivers, $1.5 million in Foreign Military Financing was provided to Uzbekistan for FY2012, and $1.5 million is requested for FY2013.
It turns out there's a daily blog of such CRS reports here where you can see this report referenced.
No one seems to have attempted to challenge the waiver; human rights groups didn't seem to make it an issue. Will they in 2013?
