Uzbek opposition party urges harsher U.S. policy toward Uzbekistan

The Associated Press November 9 An Uzbek opposition party has urged U.S. President George W. Bush to take a tougher stance on Uzbekistan's poor human rights record and stifling of dissent. "After President Bush's election for a new term, we expect a renewed U.S. policy toward Uzbekistan," the outlawed Erk party said in a statement late Monday. Uzbekistan, which neighbors Afghanistan, became a key U.S. ally after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and hosts hundreds of U.S. troops. U.S. officials have said their increased cooperation with Uzbekistan would involve efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights in the Central Asian nation. "The continued severe violations of human rights and systematic torture of political prisoners in Uzbekistan, has made us feel that (the United States) uses double standards and that has provoked noticeable anti-American sentiments among Uzbeks," the party said. "By allowing an American military base on its soil, Uzbek authorities have taken U.S. democratic principles a hostage," Erk said. President Islam Karimov's government is seen as one of the most repressive in formerly Soviet Central Asia. Karimov, an ex-Communist boss, has ruled the nation of 25 million people since before the 1991 Soviet collapse. Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department cut aid to the Uzbek government because of its failure to make progress on democracy and economic reform.