27.03.2006

 Dialogue of Germany with a mode in Uzbekistan became a shame of German democracy.
 
German politicians in Berlin do not like to speak and listen about bloody events in the Uzbek Andijan events on May, 13th, 2005 when the governmental armies have shot many thousands crowd of demonstrators, having killed hundreds, probably, thousand innocent citizens.

This event spoils a picture of cooperation of Germany with Uzbekistan for which they continue to stand up, pursuing the interests, one of which is preservation of military base in Termez in the south of Uzbekistan.

This base necessary for the German Bundeswehr for support of peace-making mission in Afghanistan, has appeared more important, than lives  of the  inhabitants of Andijan, than human rights, than image of democratic Germany.

Remaining the unique Western country supporting military cooperation with Uzbekistan after the Andijan slaughter, allocating the help to the state, including power bodies, Germany justifies it  by necessity to continue dialogue with the government of the president  Islam Karimov.  

German politicians consider, that strict measures in the form of threats and ultimatums can offend the Uzbek governors and then they will for ever be closed from influence of the West.

But German politicians, continuing to make advances to a mode in Tashkent, deceive themselves, that  by the softness and delicacy they can convince a dictatorial mode to respect with democratic values. Actually, the dictatorial mode lowers Germany up to the level, already having forced to shut eyes to massacre of demonstrators in Andijan and on the scale reprisals which have followed after it on all country.

The mode of the president of Islam Karimov has opened fire on demonstrators in Andijan not because did not know, that it is impossible to do that, that it is bad to kill people, and it requires advice and dialogue. The inhabitants of Andijan were killed meaningly to destroy in a rudiment any attempt of resistance to a mode, not only in this city, but also on all country.

Politicians in Germany know,  what has occured in Andijan, anybody from them does not put under doubt and does not challenge the indication of witnesses of slaughter, reportings of journalists, reports  of remedial  organizations, the United Nations, OSCE.

Nevertheless, Germans continue to meet representatives of the Uzbek government, and create that sensation of its legitimacy and a recognition, give the Uzbek governors sensation of own impunity.

Keeping base in Termez, Germany adds one more argument in a policy of the president of Islam Karimov , strengthening him in confidence that  he  can and further  artful manipulate interests of the different countries, and thus unpunishedly to terrorize people of Uzbekistan.

Today's dialogue which German politicians conduct with a mode in Tashkent, is equivalent on the immorality with dialogue with the Chilean dictator of August Pinochet, with the Serbian butcher Slobadan Milosevic, with Iraq bandit Saddam Hussein, with " the father of all people " Joseph Stalin.

Suffocation of political and economic freedom in Uzbekistan  by mode  of Karimov ,  has led to the Andijan events. Then reprisals against city and all country have followed. Thousand people have been arrested, nearby two hundred persons are condemned for participation in the Andijan protest. From the country are turned out  radio “Bi-Bi-Si”, radio “the Free Europe/radio Freedom”, “Internews”, Institute on illumination of war and peace (IWPR), accreditations at several journalists of radio the German wave one of these days have been withdrawn.

Last decree about regulation of work of foreign correspondents, has practically entered an interdiction on a profession of the journalist. The journalism from the date of the birth was a liberal profession, today in Uzbekistan became monopoly of the Uzbek state. Without accreditation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan to people have forbidden to write.

After journalists from the country have turned out the international nongovernmental organizations, the turn has reached Management of the Supreme Commissioner of the United Nations on affairs of refugees.

Tens of the most active legal experts, including – Mutabar Tadjibaeva, the head of " Club of ardent hearts " from Fergana, Andizhan legal expert Saidzhahon Zajnabiddinov, leaders  of oppositional " the Solar coalition " Sanjar Umarov and Nadira Hidoyatova  are condemned for long terms.

On one of these cases of the roughest infringements Germany has not expressed any protest. In what then the secret sense of dialogue consists? What results and when it can bring?

While, we see only one result, that German planes still fly through air station Termez. Probably, that exactly this is  it’s  ultimate goal.

One of passionate adherents of dialogue with the government of Uzbekistan are German members of parliament Hedi Wegener from Social-democratic party and Wolf Bauer from Christian Democratic party. Both of them are included into parliamentary group on cooperation with the Central Asia.

In the end of February they have visited Uzbekistan where have met deputies of parliament of Uzbekistan, Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan Bahodyr Matlyubov . The newspaper of the Ministry of Internal Affairs "On a post" has published on February, 25th the reporting on this meeting, that the parties have expressed satisfaction a level of cooperation between law enforcement bodies of Germany and Uzbekistan, and Х Hedi Wegener complimented penitentiary  system in Uzbekistan.

During this trip to Uzbekistan, German members of parliament have met Tamara Chikunova - the head of the organization " Mothers against a death penalty and tortures ", but have bypassed attention of the people especially requiring support. Have not shown interest to coming to the end litigations concerning leaders of " the Solar coalition ",  the inhabitants of Andijan , Mutabar Tadjibaeva.

Being already in Berlin,  Weneger and Bayer , meeting journalists on March, 15th at the office, have explained the position so: " pressure would not lead to anything good ".

But at the beginning  Wegenner has set to the journalists, whish informed about events on May, 13th from Andijan, a standard question of the Uzbek authorities: " what you did in Andijan , why you  were there? "

In opinion  of Weneger , the  dialogue with the government of Uzbekistan is necessary, and  she does not see other opportunities for influence on a mode in Tashkent.

" I cannot threaten them with a finger, as the teacher. The Uzbek officials can take offence, and then absolutely will stop cooperation ", - has told Weneger.

Wolf Bauer , speaking about cooperation with Uzbekistan, directly has declared, that Germany has interests: " the base in Termez is necessary to us ".

Social democrat Weneger has declared, that  she does not see any contradiction that Germany assists Afghanistan in construction of democracy from the state which shoots people.

She asked a question, that they do not have other variants in the Central Asia, " there all the countries are not-democratic". On objection, that other governments, at least, did not shoot people, Weneger has waved away, speaking, that it is the journalistic approach, and politicians operate in another way.

The conversation with German members of parliament has been interrupted, when the daughter of one of the Uzbek diplomats has come into a room with a tray from coffee from embassy in Berlin, working in office  of Weneger.

On a question, whether can prevent today's dialogue of Germany with the government of Uzbekistan new Andizhan? Weneger angry, having drawn in lips, again has declared, that it is the journalistic approach to a problem.

In the end of conversation, Weneger  has told, that the only thing, that  she wants, is to help people of the Central Asia to live better.

Policy of " soft dialogue ", selected by Germany, inside of Uzbekistan is carried out by German funds, in particular, fund  of Fridrih Ebert and its regional director on the Central Asia Rinhard Crumm.
From the date of the occurrence in Uzbekistan fund of  Ebert avoids criticism of authorities and does not interfere with the facts of rough offences. On grandiose seminars and conferences,  which organized the fund, always invites officials of Uzbekistan who with pleasure accept invitations. Knowing, that they are protected from unpleasant questions and situations.

Owing to it, the fund has a registration, and it remains practically unique western nongovernmental organization which is not having problems with authorities.

About the experience of  participation at conference "the Woman and the Islam ", organized by fund of  Ebert after the Andijan events, has told the journalist from Tunis Sihem Bensedrine.

Conference took place in Samarkand from September, 30th till October, 3rd, 2005. According to Bensedrine ,  he has been shocked by that two thirds of participants of conference were made by officials: from the Device of the president, generals and colonels of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the woman from  state  non-governmental organizations.
"Speeches were shocking, - has written Bensedrine – Crumm has expressed gratitude for participation in conference of officials. And officials, acting, expressed determination further to continue struggle against terrorism, approving, that only it can bring success to the country ".

When Bensedrine wished to ask a question on the Andizhan events, as she said, Rinhard  Crumm has forbidden to  do  so  her, having told, that it can not like other participants of conference.

" I do not understand a role of fund  of Ebert, in the contradiction with the democratic principles it plays politics tricks in Uzbekistan ", - speaks Bensedrine.  

Other participants of conference disagree with opinion  of Bensedrine , but  she persistently approves, that all was as she told.

Sergey Kalamutsjau, the expert from the International League  for Human rights, speaks that the politician of Germany after Andijan concerning Uzbekistan can be compared to a policy of Russia and China who also try to receive a maximum of benefits from the developed situation only.

Germany resisted to introduction of sanctions by the European Union after the Andijan slaughter, and after their putting into operation has given the visa to former Minister of Internal Affairs Zakir Almatov for  his treatment  in Germany.
After submission of application of  “Human Rights Watch” in Office of Public Prosecutor of Germany with the requirement about  raising of criminal case against Almatov  on charges in tortures and massacre in Andijan, German authorities have allowed Almatov to leave the country.

Senior researcher of “Human Rights Watch” Akeisha Shilds , speaks that the facts presented  in the application and proofs of tortures during management  of Almatov  in  the Ministry of Internal Affairs and murders in Andizhan were so obvious and conclusive that independent consideration of the given application should lead to  raising a case  against Almatov and to  his  arrest.

The member of Bundestag Hedi Weneger, considers, that Germany has made the correct decision, having given out the visa to the sick person,  that it corresponds to principles of human morals.

Speaking about human morals, Weneher  has refused to listen to the end of the records of the Andizhan execution made by journalists of the “BBC”  when on May, 13th in Andijan , people begged armies to not shoot, and in the answer received massed fire from armored troop-carriers. " It is not important ", - has told about record of execution  Weneger.

Indifferently having waved away from the direct certificate of the massacre, one of executors was Almatov, Weneger  shows so strange care of  his health, suddenly, having started to speak about humanism and philantrophy.

Elie Wiesel, the Nobel prize winner for the World, the author of books and the founder of a memorial about the Holocaust, survived in a hitlerite concentration camp, once has told, speaking about victims of a genocide: " let's remember: victims suffer not so much from cruelty of the oppressor, how many from silence of witnesses ".

I think, that people of Uzbekistan will remember silence of today's German politicians. And dictatorships, fortunately, are not eternal.

 

Galima Buharbaeva ,  the journalist, Group on Protection of the Freedom of speech " Andijan 2005 ", Berlin, 24.03.2006