From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Aug 15 2000 - 11:27:41 EDT
Uzbek Islamic opposition warns government against harsh steps, places
demands
Excerpts from report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 14th August
At a time when armed clashes are taking place between the Uzbek government
troops and armed members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in
Surkhandarya Region, there are reports that armed clashes have taken place
between about a group of 40 armed men and Kyrgyz servicemen on the
Tajik-Uzbek-Kyrgyz borders on Friday [11th August]. Reports say that as a
result of these clashes between Islamic groups, which oppose the Uzbek
government, and Kyrgyz government troops, over 20 Kyrgyz servicemen have
been killed and twice as many men have been wounded. The latest reports say
that the number of armed groups have increased further and there are
various reports that new forces might possibly join them.
[passage omitted: armed militants want to cross into Uzbekistan through
Kyrgyzstan]
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which has taken responsibility for the
armed clashes taking place in [Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan] the area, has
said that this was a new phase of the jihad [holy war] declared against the
government of Uzbekistan and has sent an open letter to Uzbek government.
The open letter of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, copies of which have
been sent to various media outlets, says, in particular, the following: We
demand that hundreds of thousands of innocent believers, including women,
who are being tortured in prisons, people who have been falsely charged and
put in prisons and sentenced to death, should be immediately freed, mosques
and sacred places which have been shut should be given back to the people,
female believers should be allowed to wear veil and men to grow beards, as
prescribed by our Prophet, and the ongoing repressions against the Muslims
should be immediately stopped. We warn that various slanders and
fabrications addressed to our Muslims and our Islamic movement should be
stopped. Otherwise we will take revenge and create difficulties for the
police force, prosecutors office, the National Security Service, as they
deserve.
Our fight will continue until blasphemy, violence, aggression, cheating,
bribery have been wipped out the Holy Koran has been establishment, which
consists of pure Islamic justice, morals, law, peace and honesty.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Uzbek 1500 gmt 14
Aug 00
BBC Mon CAU 140800/** ajba/am
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