by Khazratkul Khudaiberdiev, Ekspress khronika, 19 July 1996
Acknowledging full responsibility for my words, I declare that President Bill Clinton of the USA, by receiving the dictator of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, at the White House and praising his politics, thereby betrayed the ideals of common human values, justice, humanism, and human rights.
It is a great pity that the leaders of democratic states have gradually become increasingly callous, heartless, and indifferent to the sufferings of other nations.
Until 25 June 1996 I considered Bill Clinton a democrat. Today I am convinced that I was mistaken. It turns out that it makes no difference that he belongs to a nation that has respected and recognized democratic values, or that in his time he was a member of a democratic party, and that now he represents the interests of a democratic state. A person is known by deeds.
Clinton not only received the dictator, but he even praised him. For what? The praise of the president sounds like a mockery against the more than 2000 starving children whose fathers are in prison and labor camps of the Karimov regime or have been fired. It is a mockery against the old folk whose children are in prisons of the MVD and SNB for criticism of the regime. It is a mockery against the relatives and friends of leaders of the opposition who have "disappeared" by order of Karimov. I spoke about this in an interview with a Swedish newspaper at the time Karimov's visit to America was being planned. (I sent a copy of the newspaper article and a translation of the interview into English to the USA state department.) In this interview I warned about the possibility of a diplomatic mistake in analysing the matter of a White House reception of Karimov.
A letter of leaders and activists of the democratic opposition of Uzbekistan was sent to the American president. These people and their fate in forced emigration constitute another proof of the cruel regime of Karimov. In this letter we disclosed the true state of affairs regarding human rights in Uzbekistan. The letter was send to the state department on 28 June. But all efforts were in vain.
The president preferred to listed to the appeals of representatives of the economic lobby whose interests are limited to profits. Immediately after the meeting with Clinton, Karimov signed a contract for 400 million dollars with a gas company.
In 1992 Russian authorities, supporting the regime in Tajikistan, facilitated the opening of a civil war there, which is still raging. Now the government of the USA, in the person of the president of the country, has taken the relay baton of support of a communist regime, this time in Uzbekistan.
Citizens of Uzbekistan who are suffering from the Karimov regime:
1. Killed: Kdamariddin Ortikov
2. Sanzharbek Borazhabov
Students living in the student village in Tashkent. Killed in a barrage by soldiers of the interior troops (commanded by Major Safin) on 16 January 1992 at the time of a demonstration against the increase of food prices by 50 times. (At that time 120 students were wounded. On 18-20 January 1992 more than 5000 students were exiled from the city without the right of studying in Tashkent.)
3. Mirzhalol Mirzakhmedov, explosion in his house, June 1992.
4. Mirza Urunov, embolism (artifical injection of air into an artery)
5. Elomon Shukurov--killed in a Tashkent prison. The circumstances and cause of death are unexplained.
All three were activists of the oppositional parties Birlik and Erk
II. Arrested, location unknown:
1. Abulla Utaev--an Emir of the Islamic Party of Regeneration. Arrested by agents of the SNB (KGB) in December 1992 next to his house, in the presence of witnesses
2. Abduvali Kori Mirzoev--the best known religious leader in Central Asia, a scholar, Imam of the Andujan mosque. He was subjected to frequent arrests and interrogations. On 28 August 1995 he was arrested by agents of SNB at the Tashkent airport while boarding a plane to Moscow (flight #662). He was going to an Islamic conference.
3. Ramazon Matkarimov--aid to A. Mirzoev, arrested along with him.
III. Prisoners of conscience:
1. Mikhmadali Makhmudov--writer, former president of the Fund of Uzbekistan Culture.
2. Abdugani Achilov--Makhmudov's vicepresident.
Group of distributors of the newspaper Erk
3. Murad Juraev
4. Erkin Ashurov
5. Shavkat Khalbaev
6. Shavkat Mamatov
7. Khoshim Suvanov
8. Nigmat Akhmedov
9. Abdurashid Kutbiddinov--Birlik activist
Religious leaders
10. Khakimzhon Satimov
11. Fazliddin Hazhmiddinov
12. Obidkhon Askarov\13. Karim Islamov
14. Khuskutdin Kutbiddinov
15. Akhmad Abdurasulov
16. Abdulla Baratov
17. Madamin Mirzaiakubov
18. Abdurauf Gafurov
19. Umarkhon Buzrukkhanov
20. Mukhammadnabi Mirkomilov
Workers of the Muslim Ecclesiastical Administration
21. Mukhammadlatif Jumanov
22. Abdusattof Muslimov
23. Zievutdin Jakhangirov
Member of the Erk party, distributors of the Erk newspapper
24. Matiakub Kushchanov
25. Khamidulla Yunusov
26. Khamidulla Boltaboev
27. Safar Aminov
28. Akhajon Nabiev
Religious activists, priests, and believers
29. Mukhammad Rajab--pseudonym, real name Toshtemir Nurmatov
30. Sadik Atajanov
31. Akhmajon Yigitaliev
32. Akhmajon Atakhanov
33. Majmud Kenjaev
34. Odiljon Salomov
35. Abdulkhofiz Choriev
36. Bakhromjon Vakhobov
37. Mulla Shokhimardon
38. Mulla Jalomiddin
39. Gulomkodir Mamutov
40. Abduvali Egamberdiev
41. Kamoljon Kori
42. Kodirjon Kori
Religious activists:
43. Karimjon Aisarkhunov
44. Kamoljon Akhmedov
45. Abdulla Makhmudov
46. Gulmjon Sarimsakov
47. Akbar Makhkamov
48. Tuichiev Melikuzi
Instructors at the Samarkand university, members of the Erk party, distributors of Erk newspaper
49. Kholiknazar Ganiev
50. Bakhtier Nabiugli
51. Nasim Boboev--Kandidat (=PhD) of economics, inspector of tax administration of Samarkand, member of Erk party, distributor of Erk newspaper