OSCE Chairman repeats calls for an investigation into Andijan events following OSCE/ODIHR report

LJUBLJANA, 20 June 2005 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, has reiterated his call for a credible, independent and international investigation into the events in Andijan, Uzbekistan, following a report from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR.

The report, issued on Monday, presents preliminary findings on events in Andijan on 13 May 2005, based on 44 in-depth interviews conducted with residents who fled to nearby Kyrgyzstan in the wake of the turmoil.

The conclusions are limited to an analysis of the information received from refugees in Kyrgyzstan, since the ODIHR has not been able to visit Andijan since 13 May.

"I commend the ODIHR human rights staff for swiftly and systematically gathering and analyzing the information available from eyewitnesses of the events," said Minister Rupel.

"However, as long as there is no international investigation, with access to Andijan, we do not have the full picture of what took place 13 May. I have made this clear to the Uzbek authorities and have shared the report with them."

In the report, the OSCE/ODIHR expresses concern that trials of the business leaders that preceded and triggered the 13 May events violated several fair trial standards.

The report concludes that force was used repeatedly against unarmed civilians throughout the day, that it was indiscriminate and disproportionate, and that many unarmed civilians were wounded or killed. There are no indications that any kind of warning was given before the Uzbek security forces fired into the crowd. Testimonies further indicate that summary executions may have occurred during and in the wake of the protests.

The ODIHR does not condone the taking of hostages by protesters or the use of hostages as human shields. However, actions of the security forces towards the protesters led to an escalation of the situation to the extent that the protesters appear to have had few options in seeking to protect themselves. Attempts to leave the scene were reportedly blocked and attempts to surrender were ignored.

It is impossible to determine any precise figures of casualties from the information gathered by the ODIHR human rights team. An estimate based on the information given by the refugees would indicate that 300-500 people may have been killed on 13 May.

The report concludes that the events of 13 May are to be seen in the context of the role of the authorities in maintaining public order. It warns that while states have legitimate security concerns in the current fight against terrorism, caution must be applied to avoid excessively broad and indiscriminate use of the terms "terrorism" and "extremism". Otherwise this would present negative consequences for legitimate political opposition, ethnic and religious minorities, and the effective enjoyment of human rights such as freedom of expression and association.

The OSCE Chairman emphasized the plight of the refugees in Suzak Camp in Kyrgyzstan, who are still traumatized and fearful for their relatives and friends.

"The personal security and integrity of the returnees will have to be guaranteed before any decision about their return or extradition into Uzbekistan is made," Minister Rupel said.