Pariah regime (Uzbekistan) doesn't deserve ADB aid (Rummy was at it again)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/geted.pl5?eo20040811a1.htm

>snip
The use of torture is accepted government policy. Among the methods of torture favored by the Uzbek authorities is boiling people alive. Or "spilling tea on them" as officials claimed when a mother complained at the state of the body of her son, who died of burns in prison. She was thrown in prison, too, for having the temerity to complain.
>snip

>snip
More important, appalled by the growing humanitarian and economic crises in the country, the multilateral agencies and many bilateral aid agencies are reducing their commitments to the country. Aid flows are diminishing. Program-lending has almost stopped and those projects that do continue are closely monitored, poverty-focused humanitarian projects. There are, however, claims that even these projects are not monitored closely enough and that they, too, are subject to the avarice of corrupt officials and politicians. Certainly some of that remaining aid is used to support production of luxuries for the rich and not necessities for the poor.

The World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have both substantially reduced their commitments to the country, as has the U.S. State Department, despite continued military support from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld visited Uzbekistan in February and, after thanking Karimov for Uzbekistan's support in the war on terror, said he was looking "forward to strengthening political and economic relationships between the countries." This was a week or so before the State Department announced its decision to stop economic aid, citing human-rights abuses and the failure to develop democratic processes.
>snip

Rummy just adores evil dictators. Must feel like good company to him.

[JNelson6563]

1. Part of Coaliton of the willing

What admirable allies we have these days. Not.

Julie

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

2. Yeah - we are against tyranical rulers who use torture

Uh huh - right? What a bunch of shit. But the American people don't know about this!

:grr:

[Tempest]

3. Another article about Bush supporting Uzbekistan dictator

Tony Blair's new friend
Britain and the US claim a moral mandate - and back a dictator who
boils victims to death

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1072313,00.html

<snip>

There are over 6,000 political and religious prisoners in Uzbekistan.
Every year, some of them are tortured to death. Sometimes the
policemen or intelligence agents simply break their fingers, their
ribs and then their skulls with hammers, or stab them with
screwdrivers, or rip off bits of skin and flesh with pliers, or drive
needles under their fingernails, or leave them standing for a
fortnight, up to their knees in freezing water. Sometimes they are a
little more inventive. The body of one prisoner was delivered to his
relatives last year, with a curious red tidemark around the middle of
his torso. He had been boiled to death.

His crime, like that of many of the country's prisoners, was
practising his religion. Islam Karimov, the president of Uzbekistan,
learned his politics in the Soviet Union. He was appointed under the
old system, and its collapse in 1991 did not interrupt his rule. An
Islamist terrorist network has been operating there, but Karimov makes no distinction between peaceful Muslims and terrorists: anyone who worships privately, who does not praise the president during his prayers or who joins an organisation which has not been approved by the state can be imprisoned. Political dissidents, human rights activists and homosexuals receive the same treatment. Some of them, like in the old Soviet Union, are sent to psychiatric hospitals.

<snip>

So, far from seeking to isolate his regime, the US government has
tripled its aid to Karimov. Last year, he received $500m (£300m), of
which $79m went to the police and intelligence services, who are
responsible for most of the torture. While the US claims that its
engagement with Karimov will encourage him to respect human rights,
like Saddam Hussein he recognises that the protection of the world's
most powerful government permits him to do whatever he wants. Indeed,
the US state department now plays a major role in excusing his crimes.
In May, for example, it announced that Uzbekistan had made
"substantial and continuing progress" in improving its human rights
record. The progress? "Average sentencing" for members of peaceful
religious organisations is now just "7-12 years", while two years ago
they were "usually sentenced to 12-19 years".

<more>

[Judi Lynn]

5. Thank you for posting this important article

Isn't it a damned shame most Americans will never hear about the monster _Bush has adopted in Uzbekistan, for their mutual advantage? There's not ENOUGH written about him, and unfornately news of him won't make it to tv news along with photos of his victems, or it might become a whole new game.













(Not for the denial-prone)
For anyone who's interested who hasn't seen photos of our ally's handiwork, you'll be curious about why our pResident has befriended the man and government responsible for these things:

http://www.thenausea.com/elements/uzbekistan/tortures.html

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. Headline should be - US supports leaders who boil enemies alive

makes Guantanamo seem like kindergarten

We're so honorable