Reuters
January 28
eaders in ex-Soviet Central Asia may find it easy to accept military cooperation with Western governments, but a referendum vote in Uzbekistan shows that they stop well short of embracing their democratic practices.
U.S. troops and warplanes have been deployed at the Khanabad airbase in Uzbekistan and at Kyrgyzstan's Manas civilian airport, which will also soon take French aircraft.
Troops of the U.S.-led coalition pass through airports in adjacent Tajikistan en route to Afghanistan, while Kazakhstan has given NATO planes flight clearance and offered its bases.
Even Turkmenistan, secretive and virtually sealed off, has allowed relief deliveries via its territory.
But despite security and financial gains reaped from their support for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan the five states of the region have still largely snubbed calls for democracy.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who has run his nation with an iron hand almost without interruption since 1989, dismissed, with a smile, Western criticism of Sunday's referendum.
He seemed to suggest that the region's ocean of authoritarian rule would be untroubled by the waves of democracy.
"I do not want to overestimate my role. But if I had not resorted to authoritarian methods in the last 10 years to achieve certain goals, I am convinced we would still be running on the spot and not have moved anywhere," Karimov said after voting on Sunday.
KARIMOV CALLS THE SHOTS
Uzbek officials said on Monday between 91 and 92 percent of voters had backed a proposal to extend the five-year presidential term to seven years. Karimov's name was not on the ballot paper, but many said they had voted for him.
Karimov left open the question on whether the much-criticised vote would be used to extend his second term, constitutionally his last, or even try to seek a third term.
Karimov, 63, nicknamed Daddy, has brought stability and order to Uzbekistan nation but his methods have led to thousands of opponents being jailed and the free press being banned.
He derides some newly-independent states in other parts of the old Soviet Union which launched painful political reforms.
"Many countries embarked on the path of political reforms after gaining independence, but this has only led to political rat races and petty intrigues. This scuttling of rats has been going on for 10 years, but has the population benefited for it?"
"Where are those 'democracy islands' now? They have either sunk or failed to prove their viability," Karimov said.
A handful of independent analysts, who are afraid to give their names fearing persecution, say the referendum may have been a trial balloon sent up by Karimov to test international reaction and allow the other regional leaders to follow suit.
"This referendum idea must have been discussed with the regional neighbours," one analyst told Reuters. "I would not be surprised if the other presidents were to follow suit. Unlimited power is a very sweet thing to part with."
REGIONAL STRONGMEN
Like Karimov, other regional leaders have ruled since Soviet times and routinely extended their terms through constitutional amendments passed by hastily-called plebiscites or polls criticised by human rights bodies.
A personality cult flourishes in Turkmenistan, whose leader Saparmurat Niyazov enjoys the title of Turkmenbashi, or Head of the Turkmen, and is a five-time state hero of his poor desert nation.
Although made president-for-life by his compliant parliament, Niyazov has promised to step down in 2010 when he sees a proper successor. He will have spent 25 years as president by then.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev's image as the region's most tolerant ruler has been tarnished by his crackdown on political opponents. He must step down in 2005, but also voiced the idea of a successor. His press service later denied this.
Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev tolerates little opposition, but favours mild criticism of lower-ranking officials and backs market reforms. He extended his last term to seven years until 2006 after banning his main opponent in the poll on a technicality.
Tajikistan's Imomali Rakhmonov is serving his last term, due to expire in 2006. He won 96 percent of the vote in a 1999 poll after his only rival quit the race amid pressure by officials.
Karimov's opponents expect the five Central Asian leaders to continue to be wooed by the West even amid fierce criticism by human rights organisations, at least for the period of the war in Afghanistan.