[Ben] UZ - A view from Tashkent

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A friend has sent this report in. It shows how nervous the administration is becoming in the wake of the Andijon event. A startling story from Tashkent.

"I know that all of you are kin to know what the situation in Uzbekistan these days. I thought I would send you a brief email to let you know that I am doing fine, the city of Tashkent is seeming (pay attention) calm. I won't go through details of events in Andiron (about 4-5 hrs drive from Tashkent), as believe me you have better access to news than we do. BBC, CNN, DW-TV, Russian TV (at news time) are blocked, unless one has satellite TV.

More or less straightforward websites, like “Ferghana.ru” are blocked as well. It is possible to visit them only using anonymous connecting links (which is what we do). The Uzbekistani main TV channel keeps transmitting president Karimov's 2.5-hours speech ("press-conference") where the governmental version of what happened is retold by Karimov. The situation is under control – that’s what we are told. How does that go along with blocking of international news channels, no explanation.... so far developments on the bordering regions of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are interesting, as refugees are flowing to Kyrgyzstan which has allowed visa-less border crossing.

Better let me share a personal experience in the city centre in the middle of the day. I went to a monument to watch people laying flowers and holding a minute of silence for those who perished in Andijon lately, but was taken away but plain-clothed security people on a bus and driven away from location. Involvement of my colleagues from work saved us from being driven very far. We were released 3-4 blocks away from meeting place, after about 30-40 minutes of detention in a bus.

I have received a notification that at 3 pm today at the monument in city centre people would gather unofficially, put flowers and hold a minute of silence for those who died in Andijon on bloody 13 May. A friend of mine from Swiss development agency and myself decided to go there. Not as representative of these organisations but rather as fellow countrymen, human beings who'd like to share their grief.

Earlier on, our office vehicle with some colleagues of mine went to the monument square, put flowers and returned. When I was getting to the square I saw our car leaving. My friend and I did not reach the square (we were on the opposite side of the road) when two men approached us and without explaining who they were and why we were being caught, dragged us backwards, to a bus that was standing in tree shadows about 50 meters away. They wouldn't let go off my friend (they grabbed her by hand) and continued to force us to the bus.

We kept demanding their name, the purpose of this behaviour and etc. but no answers were given in this regard. The only thing we heard was: you should not be heard. They forced us on the bus, locked the doors and started interrogating: who we are, full names, organizations, date of birth, etc. My friend gave her full name and organization. I named my organization (which had no effect whatsoever). Then we said we would not provide any further information unless people disclosed their names, and showed ID. This had no effect. They asked for our documents, we said we didn't have any with us as carrying a passport with oneself is not obligatory.

We started calling our appropriate offices and although were ordered to switch off and hide mobiles continued calling. Meanwhile, I noticed that there were quite a few "policemen" in the car. Of course none were wearing a uniform. Shortly another person joined the bus, turned out it was an interpreter working for BBC. His colleague arrived by the bus window, he was caught but after showing ID they let him go. Soon our office vehicle arrived. My colleagues tried to negotiate with the senior representative but were told that militia has all the rights to hold us, as we looked suspicious. A minute later the bus started moving away from the location.

Apparently the appearance of the office car vehicle fastened the action. I heard the person sitting by the driver to take orders: “Take them somewhere far away from here” – sel-khoz" (I am not sure where it is but probably outside city centre). As we were driving by the monument I could see there were few people there, with cameras. As soon as they saw our bus they took pictures and used videos. But they were quite far, on the other side of a wide road. As we were driving interrogation continued: who are you and why you came here? We refused to talk unless the person disclosed who he was and why we were detained (so to say).

I called my colleague and forwarded him where we were being taken. The person in charge received another phone call. By this time we were about 3-4 blocks away. He asked the driver to stop by a bus stop and let us go without further explanation. The BBC interpreter resisted going out. The bus moved further about 10-15 meters, stopped again and the interpreter was expelled. The BBC car that was following the bus picked him up. I explained the driver our location and my friend and I were picked up in 10 minutes and driven back to work.

How this all makes me feel? Unbelievable, absurd, funny (yes, there were about 30 seconds when I wanted to believe this was all a joke). All the "militia" were young but as my friend said, already brainwashed! How many are there of these? I have heard of many cases of human rights abuse but it never happened to me personally. I never saw it till today. The whole situation just makes me very sorry for this place and its people. And what is even more painful, it makes feel absolutely powerless, even to watch.
Take care and be watchful. I'll keep you posted.