| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Uzbek refugees flown to Romania |
| 2005-07-30 |
| Some 440 Uzbek refugees who fled to Kyrgyzstan during a recent political uprising have been flown to Romania. Among them are 14 people whom Uzbekistan claims led the revolt and wants returned. The refugees fled eastern Uzbekistan following an uprising in the town of Andijan, which was quashed by Uzbek troops in May. It is believed most of them will be resettled in Canada, Germany, Australia and Scandinavian countries. "The Boeing owned by Thai airlines flew at dawn Friday out of Bishkek to Romania with 440 refugees on board," said UN spokesman Olga Grebennikova. Romania has agreed to provide temporary shelter after being approached by the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The UNHCR hoped to secure the release of another 15 men who are still being detained by Kyrgyz authorities at the request of Uzbekistan, which accuses them of various crimes. These include killing law enforcement officials, fomenting mass disturbances and being members of an extremist group. The international community started lobbying Kyrgyzstan after it sent back four Uzbeks and announced it would deport the other detainees. Human rights organisations as well as the US and the UNHCR warned they were likely to be subjected to torture in their country of origin. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed to Kyrgyzstan's government "to strictly abide by its international obligations in the treatment of asylum-seekers". Carlos Zaccagnini, head of the UNHCR in Kyrgyzstan, said the agency would "continue to work with the [Kyrgyz] government to ensure the freeing of those who are still locked up". Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Felix Kuklov on Thursday said any decision on the 15 detained Uzbeks would be taken in accordance with the UN's refugee convention. He said their UN refugee status took precedence over bilateral accords with neighbouring Uzbekistan. The Uzbek government claims 173 people were killed in the May protest, most of them Islamic militants. It blames the uprising on Islamic extremists and criminals. But eyewitnesses say up to 500 people were killed in Andijan, among them women and children. Almost 500 people fled over the border to Kyrgyzstan, where they have been placed in a refugee camp. 67 Events are still evolving in Uzbekistan. I wonder if they really are kicking out the US airbase (and may we roll up the runways after ourselves if they do) or if it's a bargaining chip to elicit stronger support of the current regime? |
| Posted by:too true |
| #1 Fox reported they were to be relocated to the US, Canada, and other countries after six months in Romania. At least one of the London bombers was an asylum seeker and Rita Cosby did a special on the OK City bombing where there was evidence the UN relocated Iraqi Republican guards to OK after the first gulf war. Adapted well, apparently, as there were reports they drank a few beers together at the local pub. Doesn't anyone find Kofi Annan's urging to treat extremists accused of crimes according to strict international standards, with housing and other socialist perks for all, somewhat alarming? I'd even bet Romania is hosting a training camp to aid in the "resettlement" of them into the West. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2005-07-30 11:59 |