Straw ‘very concerned’ by Uzbek killings
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today continued his criticism of the Uzbekistan government following the reported killing of hundreds of Uzbek civilians by its troops last week.
He said the troops’ actions in opening fire on civilians in the town of Andijan, which eyewitnesses say has left 500 dead, “plainly cannot be justified”, and pressed for foreign observers to be allowed into the town.
It follows comments he made at the weekend, where he said the UK had told Uzbek authorities that the repression of dissent and discontent was wrong.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Straw said: “We remain very concerned indeed about the accounts we have received of troops opening fire on civilians in Andijan.
“This plainly cannot be justified.”
He said the British ambassador to Uzbekistan, David Moran, had held a meeting with Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, Ilyor Ganiyev.
Mr Moran had pressed for the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for refugees to be allowed in to Andijan. He had also asked for European ambassadors and journalists to be given access.
Mr Moran’s report of the meeting indicated that Mr Ganiyev had said he would be prepared to organise these visits, and the “modalities” were being discussed in more detail, the Foreign Secretary said.
Such action would “greatly assist” in resolving the situation.
On Saturday, Mr Straw said: “The UK has consistently made clear to the authorities in Uzbekistan that the repression of dissent and discontent is wrong and they urgently need to deal with patent failings in respect of human and civil rights.”
He added that the UK was prepared to use the forthcoming UK presidency of the EU to “put across this argument to the Uzbek authorities to address shortcomings in economic and political governance and inadequacies in the development of democratic institutions.”
