From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Feb 27 2003 - 15:47:31 EST
RFE/RL KYRGYZ NEWS
27 FEBRUARY 2003, THURSDAY
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A Daily Review of News from Kyrgyzstan
1. Kyrgyz Government Discusses Problems Of Fighting Human Trafficking
2. Human Rights Problems In Kazakhstan Are Discussed At the Bishkek
Press Conference
3. Kyrgyz Officials And Muftiyat Are Cooperating In Propaganda Against
Khizbu-t-Takhrir
1. Kyrgyz Government Discusses Problems Of Fighting Human Trafficking
BISHKEK. The National Council under the President for Fighting Human
Trafficking today held a meeting in Bishkek. The Kyrgyz officials say
that about 8
firms were registered to work for hiring people who want go to work
abroad.
However, there are a lot of illegal companies that are tied to human
trafficking,
especially, women trafficking and other illegal activities. According to
two years
old data from an international labor migration organization, about 4,000
women
were taken abroad annually to be sold as sex-slaves. Unfortunately, the
criminal
groups are actively using fake Kyrgyz passports for that purposes.
Today's gathering appealed to the government to strengthen control over
firms
involved in organization of migrations and immigrations, and to harden
the law on
fighting human traffickers.
First deputy prime minister, Kurmanbek Osmonov, was appointed by the
Council
meeting as its new chief. The National Council was set up last year.
2. Human Rights Problems In Kazakhstan Are Discussed At the Bishkek
Press Conference
BISHKEK. The authors of a new book series entitled 'Anthology of
Political
Persecutions In Kazakhstan' today presented their books during a press
conference in Bishkek. Andrei Sviridov, an author and editor, Kazis
Toguzbaev,
executive director of the International Foundation For Protection Of
Political
Prisoners In Kazakhstan, Rozlana Taukina, president of Foundation
'Journalists
In Calamity', and Leonid Rempel, executive director of ANESMICA
(Bishkek)
were the main organizers and participants of the event. The speakers
told
journalists that Sergei Duvanov, a prominent Kazakh journalist and human
rights
campaigner, is being persecuted for his criticism of corruption in
Kazakhstan.
They praised Kyrgyz opposition politician, leader of the 'Erkindik'
(Freedom)
Party Topchubek Turgunaliev, who came to Almaty to participate at the
court
processes against Duvanov, but the court did not allow him and other
human
rights campaigners to enter the court room. Then Turgunaliev made a
speech at
the Almaty party devoted to birthday of jailed Duvanov. Kazakh
opposition
members appealed to the opposition forces and independent mass media of
the
two countries to be united and more cooperative with each other.
Duvanov was sentenced by the Karasai district court of the Almaty region
for 3.5
years jail on January 28. The Almaty regional court is expected to begin
hearing
on his appeal in March.
3. Kyrgyz Officials And Muftiyat Are Cooperating In Propaganda Against
Khizbu-t-Takhrir
BISHKEK. The Kyrgyz government commission on religious affairs will
continue
its cooperation with the Kyrgyz muftiyat (leadership of Kyrgyzstan's
Muslim
community) in propaganda against ideas of such streams as
Khizbu-t-Takhrir, a
representative of the commission told RFE/RL today.
The head of the commission, Omurzak Mamayusupov told RFE/RL yesterday
that the commission and muftiyat held joint meetings recently with
students of
several universities in the South, including Osh State University and
Kyrgyz-
Uzbek State University in Osh. They appealed to students to be far from,
as they
put it, dangerous religious sects like Khizbu-t-Takhrir.
Mufti Murataly Juman-uulu in a separate interview with a correspondent
of
RFE/RL told yesterday that Kyrgyz Muslims don't want a Muslim state
based on
a sharia law. Juman-uulu rejected criticism by Khizbu-t-Takhrir that the
secular
Kyrgyz government is oppressing them.
The Kyrgyz government commission and muftiyat are planning to continue
their
efforts to propagate their ideas against 'untraditional' Muslim streams.
As
Mamayusupov put it, the government will not interfere in the religious
affairs of
Muslims but will be on the muftiyat side when as long as it is against
the illegal
activities of some underground religious groups. State-funded regional
newspapers in every region are regularly publishing articles against
Khizbu-t-
Takhrir.
Some human rights activists are cautious that such joint activity of the
muftiyat
and government commission will lead to a repression of the followers of
non-
Muslim and non-Orthodox Christian religious groups.
(Compiled and translated by Tyntchtykbek Tchoroev
and edited by Bruce Pannier and Charles Carlson in Prague)
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