In May 2005 unrest in Uzbekistan reached a head when Uzbek troops fired into a crowd of protesters in the eastern city of Andijan, killing an estimated 400 to 1000 people on 13 May, in what has been termed the Andijan massacre. Violent disturbances subsequently spread to a number of other cities in the region. 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21: Subodh Mukherjee May 21: Stephen Elliott May 20... This article needs to be wikified. ... Andijan is the capital of the Andijon province, which includes the Ferghana Valley Andijan (Andijon in Uzbek; also Andizhan, Andizan, Андижан) is the fourth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and the capital of the Andijan Province. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ...

Protesting Uzbeks had at first demanded the release of 23 local businessmen charged with being members of a banned Islamic group, Akramiya. However, once this had been met they began to order that the Uzbek government free all those jailed on suspicion of belonging to the organisation. Islamism refers to a set of political ideologies derived from various conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalists, which hold that Islam is not only a religion, but also a political system that governs the legal, economic and social imperatives of the state. ... Akramiya this is a mujahideen group in Uzbekistan. ... The movement toward economic reform in Uzbekistan has not been matched by movement toward political reform. ...

President Islam Karimov "placed blame for the unrest on Islamic extremist groups, a label that he has used to describe political opponents in recent years and that his critics say is used as a pretext for maintaining a repressive state" (New York Times). President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... Islam Karimov Islam Abduganievich Karimov (in modern Uzbek: Islom Karimov) (born January 30, 1938) has been the President of Uzbekistan since 1991. ...

Map of eastern Uzbekistan

Map of eastern Uzbekistan Adapted http://www. ... Map of eastern Uzbekistan Adapted http://www. ...

Before May 10, 2005

Prior to May 2005, protests within the tightly-controlled authoritarian state had become increasingly regular. After years of relative calm, ordinary Uzbeks, frustrated by a number of social and economic problems, began to challenge the government's authority. 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21: Subodh Mukherjee May 21: Stephen Elliott May 20...

The first major demonstration occurred in November 2004. The city of Kokand in eastern Uzbekistan saw unprecedented riots, with protesters throwing stones and torching police cars. Thousands filled the main bazaar, where one eyewitness reported that the city's mayor climbed on a market stall to address the crowd but was drowned out by furious shouting. Conflicting reports spoke of between 2,000 and 20,000 participants. This page is about protests. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: November 2004 in sports November 2004 in science Deaths in November • 30 Pierre Berton • 29 John Drew Barrymore • 26 Bill Alley • 24 Arthur Hailey • 23 Rafael Eitan • 18 Bobby Frank Cherry • 16 John Morgan • 13... Kokand (or Khokand or Kokhand or Quqon or Коканд) is a city 1994 pop 145,000)in Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southwestern edge of the Fergana Valley. ... Categories: Stub | Riots ... A bazaar is a market, often covered, typically found in areas of Muslim culture. ... A mayor (from the Latin maÄ«or, meaning larger,greater) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ...

The protest was sparked by a law that placed new restrictions on trade, making it illegal for traders to use intermediaries or middle-men. If traders buy goods abroad, they must sell them personally without the use of any other retailer. They must also have a special government license. The government said this legislation would keep prices down, but many feared that tens of thousands of businesses would collapse. A fruit stand at a market. ... Illegal, or unlawful, is either prohibitted or not authorized by law. ... Legislation refers 1. ...

In March 2005, 500 angry farmers took over a police station and burned two police cars. They claimed that the authorities unfairly took possession of their profitable farm, leaving them impoverished. ← - 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in March • 31 – Terri Schiavo • 30 – Mitch Hedberg • 29 – Johnnie Cochran • 27 – Wilfred Bigelow • 26 – Paul Hester • 26 – James Callaghan • 21 – Jeff Weise • 21 – Bobby Short • 19 – John De Lorean • 18 – Gary Bertini • 17 – George F...

On May 3, 2005, a small protest took place outside the U.S. embassy in the capital Tashkent. About 60 people forced their way through tight security where they called for justice. Nearly all those involved were women with small children. This was seen as a measure to prevent arrest. The negative publicity such an event would cause, outside the embassy of Uzbekistan's most crucial ally, far outweighed the disobedient behaviour of the protesters. They were demonstrating against similar issues which had led to the March protests. May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... Tashkent Tashkent (Toshkent or Тошкент in Uzbek, Ташке́нт in Russian; its name is Turkoman language for Stone City It is the current capital of Uzbekistan. ... The word Ally, when used alone, has several possible meanings. ...

May 10, Andijan protest

On May 10 reports from the BBC claimed yet another demonstration had occurred, this time in the city of Andijan, in the eastern part of the country, in the Fergana Valley. At least 1,000 people gathered to demand justice for a group of 23 young businessmen accused of "Islamic extremism." The protesters, mainly relatives of the defendants, videotaped the demonstration – which the police did not interrupt. Prosecutors claimed the group they were allegedly involved in, Akramiya, was similar to the banned organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir. However many critics have claimed the trial targets independent businessmen. Scores of demonstrators lined the streets around the courthouse, with women on one side and men on the other. The protesters were reportedly dressed in their best clothes, with the scene peaceful and good-humoured. May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... Andijan is the capital of the Andijon province, which includes the Ferghana Valley Andijan (Andijon in Uzbek; also Andizhan, Andizan, Андижан) is the fourth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and the capital of the Andijan Province. ... The Fergana Valley (also Ferghana Valley) is a region of Central Asia spreading across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. ... Islamic fundamentalism is primarily used in the Western world to describe Islamist groups. ... Akramiya this is a mujahideen group in Uzbekistan. ... Hizb ut-Tahrir (Arabic: ﺣﺰﺏ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺮﻳﺮ; meaning Party of Liberation) is a radical Islamist political party. ...

The incident was not, however, isolated. By the second day, the demonstration swelled to over 4,000 residents of the city. Prosecutors had asked for prison terms ranging from three to seven years for 20 of the accused, offering to free the remaining three. A relative of one defendant told uznews.net, "We are ready to do anything in order to free our innocent brothers."

May 12 and 13

Government loses control

On the night of 12 May, armed men stormed a military garrison and prison in the city seizing weapons and releasing around 4,000 prisoners. Nine people were reported to have died during the uprising. A representative of the rebels later told an opposition website that the attack was carried out by relatives and supporters of those charged with involvement in Akramiya. The following day, 13 May, numerous international news organisations reported that rebels, including the 23 defendants, were holding the regional administration building in Andijan. An opposition group reported that rebels had unsuccessfully tried to seize the National Security Service headquarters in the city. One of the protesters occupying the regional administration building told Radio Free Europe that their only demand was the release of all prisoners accused of involvement in Akramiya. "[The authorities] should release those guys who were imprisoned under slander, including [Akramiya founder] Akram Yuldoshev". The man went on to say that government negotiators, led by Interior Minister Zakir Almatov, refused to meet the demand, instead offering them a chance to exit the country. The press office of President Islam Karimov said that "intensive negotiations" had so far proved fruitless. "The militants, taking cover behind women and children, are refusing any compromise," the statement said. May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... A rebellion is, in the most general sense, a refusal to accept authority. ... Opposition may refer to a number of topics: astronomical opposition political opposition parliamentary opposition Opposition to a patent, see for instance Opposition procedure before the European Patent Office This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Andijan Province (Uzbek: Andijon viloyati / Андижон вилояти) is an administration division, or viloyati of Uzbekistan, located in the eastern part of the Fergana Valley in far eastern Uzbekistan. ... Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a radio and communications organization which is funded by the United States Congress. ... In English and American law, and systems based on them, libel and slander are two forms of defamation (or defamation of character), which is the tort or delict of making a false statement of fact that injures someones reputation. ... Akramiya is an Islamist militant group in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, banned under the current Uzbek government. ... Negotiation is the process whereby interested parties resolve disputes, agree upon courses of action, bargain for individual or collective advantage, and/or attempt to craft outcomes which serve their mutual interests. ... The Interior Minister is a member of a Cabinet in a Government. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... Islam Karimov Islam Abduganievich Karimov (in modern Uzbek: Islom Karimov) (born January 30, 1938) has been the President of Uzbekistan since 1991. ...

Andijan massacre

Later that day Uzbek soldiers, who had sealed off the city, moved in to quash the protests. Eyewitnesses claim they cleared protesters from government offices before opening fire on demonstrators outside. Amid chaotic scenes people in the main square threw themselves to the ground to avoid being shot, as rebels and government forces exchanged fire. Men, women and children were also reported to be attempting to flee the area in panic. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, were massacred when interior ministry troops and soldiers opened fire with AK-47 and armoured personnel carrier-mounted heavy machine guns but, during the subsequent news blackout, the bodies of the dead were effectively concealed. The M113, one of the most common APCs, on duty during the Vietnam War Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ...

Galima Bukharbaeva, an IWPR reporter who was an eyewitness to the massacre spoke of "a mass of dead and wounded". "At first, one group of armoured-personnel carriers approached the [city] square, and then another group appeared," she said. "They opened fire without mercy on everyone indiscriminately, including women and children. The crowd began to run in all directions. We dove into a ditch and lay there for a while. I saw at least five bloody corpses. The rebels who are holding the provincial administration opened fire in response. They intend to stand to the end! When we got out of the ditch, we ran along the streets into the neighbourhood and now we're looking for a place where there's no shooting. But shots can be heard everywhere..."

On the streets of Andijan, some protesters called for the resignation of President Karimov, who was reportedly overseeing troop operations at a command centre close to the city's airport.

Tashkent shooting

On the same day as the unrest, the US embassy reported that a would-be suicide bomber was shot outside the Israeli embassy in Tashkent. The man was apparently carrying wooden objects that appeared to be explosives, according to a police official who wished to remain unnamed. The victim was identified as an unemployed ethnic Russian, who had a history of mental illness and had served time in prison. The man was allegedly wearing a military camouflage vest fitted with mock-ups of explosives. As he approached the embassy, he began shouting. Security guards ordered him to lie down, but when he refused, opened fire, hitting him with at least 10 shots. Police then sealed off the street where the embassy is situated. A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death in addition to the attacks primary purpose (see suicide, suicide weapons). ... Tashkent Tashkent (Toshkent or Тошкент in Uzbek, Ташке́нт in Russian; its name is Turkoman language for Stone City It is the current capital of Uzbekistan. ...

Government and international response

The government-controlled media within the country broadcast only brief statements regarding the crisis. In its news bulletins, Uzbek State TV said "an armed group of criminals" had attacked the security forces in Andijan: "The bandits seized dozens of weapons and moved on to attack a correctional colony, setting some convicts free." Describing the rebels as "extremists", they claimed that nine people had been killed and 34 wounded during the clashes. The local radio station had reportedly been taken off air. Authorities also blocked foreign TV news channels, including CNN and the BBC. Cable News Network (CNN) is a cable television network that was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner & Reese Schonfeld [1] [2] (although the latter currently is not recognized in CNNs official history). ... BBC News and Current Affairs (sometimes abbreviated BBC NCA) is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations news gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ...

Russia expressed concern about events in the Central Asian republic, but the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the unrest was an "internal affair". United States government spokesman Scott McClellan said the authorities should show restraint in Andijan. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A republic is a state or country having a government whose political power depends solely on the consent of the people governed. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the governmental foreign policy of a sovereign nation. ... Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, in Russian Сергей Викторович Лавров, is the minister of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation. ... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. ... Scott McClellan in the press room of the White House Scott McClellan (born 1968) is the current White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush. ...

The White House response was at first noticeably muted. It was a delicate situation for George W. Bush: the Bush administration had received much support from the Uzbek president in the "war against terror" in nearby Afghanistan, but did not want to be seen as supporting a ruthless and highly repressive regime. In the weeks to follow, the U.S. joined a chorus of nations calling for an independent, international investigation of the Andijan events and, along with several European nations, refused to participate in a highly-suspect, Uzbekistan-sponsored "international" investigation that included CIS states, China, Iran, India and Pakistan. Apparently in response to U.S. calls for a truly independent international investigation, the Government of Uzbekistan placed restrictions on the operation of the U.S. base in Karshi-Khanabad. After the U.S. participated in the international effort to relocate over 400 Andijan refugees from neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where they were constantly under threat of illegal extradition to Uzbekistan, to third countries (initially Romania), the Government of Uzbekistan ordered the Karshi-Khanabad base in the country's South to be closed within six months. George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former Governor of the State of Texas. ... War on terrorism ...

Kyrgyzstan, the scene of a recent uprising against the government, closed its border with Uzbekistan, as did Tajikistan. Kazakhstan has also reportedly increased border security. The border with Turkmenistan had been closed already. The Tulip Revolution refers to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev and his government in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan after the parliamentary elections of February 27 and of March 13, 2005. ...

Aftermath

May 14

Despite the violent crushing of the protests, the following day thousands reappeared to demonstrate. Huge crowds shouted "killers, murderers", and again demanded the president step down. One spoke of the previous days' events to the Associated Press: "People were raising their hands up in the air showing they were without arms but soldiers were still shooting at them." Associated Press logo This article concerns the news service. ...

Additionally on May 14, thousands seeking to flee the country stormed government buildings in the eastern frontier village of Korasuv, 50 km east of Andijan. They reportedly torched police offices and cars, before attacking guards on the Kyrgyz border. Authorities in the neighbouring republic are said to have turned 6000 Uzbeks away. Uzbek army helicopters were seen circling overhead. May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... Korasuv (also transliterated Kara-Soo and Kara-Su and Qorawsuw)is a town in Andijan Province in eastern Uzbekistan, about 50 km from the district capital of Andijan. ... Border has several different, but related meanings: // Generic borders A border can consist of a margin around the edge of something, such as a lawn, garden, photograph, or sheet of paper. ... Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force (for example, the Peoples Liberation Army of China consists of ground force, navy and air force branches). ...

There is some information that on May 14 nearly 200 people (possibly armed people, who tried to flee to Kyrgyzstan) were killed in Pahtaabad, 30 km north-west of Andijan. May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ...

May 15

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said on May 15 that "there had been a clear abuse of human rights" in Uzbekistan. Jack Straw The Right Honourable John Whitaker Jack Straw (born August 3, 1946, Buckhurst Hill) is a British Labour Party politician. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ...

Andijan has been blocked off from the outside world. There is disagreement about the number of dead within the city.

The local inhabitants of Korasuv are rebuilding the bridges to Kyrgyzstan after their destruction by Karimov's forces. Korasuv (also transliterated Kara-Soo and Kara-Su and Qorawsuw)is a town in Andijan Province in eastern Uzbekistan, about 50 km from the district capital of Andijan. ...

May 16

On May 16, several foreign news sources estimated the dead in Andijan as numbering between 400 to 600, with civilians accounting for almost all the victims. [1],[2] One report stated that troops had systematically shot the wounded after the first shootings. [3] A press release on the same day on the official government website continued to maintain that "As a result of the clashes, 9 people dies [sic] and 34 were injured". [4] May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ...

On the same day, there were reports that troops had sealed off the town of Korasuv on the Uzbek border with Kyrgyzstan. [5] Korasuv (also transliterated Kara-Soo and Kara-Su and Qorawsuw)is a town in Andijan Province in eastern Uzbekistan, about 50 km from the district capital of Andijan. ...

According to the New York Times, "[T]here were reports of skirmishes in or near Andijon and of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of refugees making their way to Kyrgyzstan. There were indications that the Uzbek government, which normally maintains strict order, did not have full control of a portion of the valley." [6]

May 18

Two days later the situation began to change beyond what had originally been seen as a popular uprising. In Korasuv, a town then under rebel control, the leader, Bakhtiyor Rakhimov stated that he would take control of local government and aimed to create an Islamic state. He said his supporters were prepared to fight for their cause, and that they could no longer tolerate Karimov. The town was recaptured the night of May 18 and Rakhimov was arrested. Korasuv (also transliterated Kara-Soo and Kara-Su and Qorawsuw)is a town in Andijan Province in eastern Uzbekistan, about 50 km from the district capital of Andijan. ... Bakhtiyor Rakhimov with supporters in Korasuv. ... Islam Karimov Islam Abduganievich Karimov (in Uzbek actual Islom Karimov) (born January 30, 1938) is the President of Uzbekistan (since 1991). ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ...

June 7

In a 60-page report [7] based on 50 interviews with victims and witnesses of the Andijan crackdown, Human Rights Watch said the killing of unarmed protesters by the Uzbek government on May 13 was so extensive and unjustified that it amounted to a massacre. The report is the most comprehensive investigation to date of the tragic events in eastern Uzbekistan. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization based in New York City, USA, that conducts advocacy and research on human rights issues. ...

Quotations

• "The people have risen up" – Valijon Atakhonjonov, the brother of a defendant involved with the trial, May 13, 2005.

• "We are believers, nothing more" – Unnamed man describing himself as one of the rebel leaders, denying links to Islamic extremism.

• "In Uzbekistan, nobody fights against women, children or the elderly," – President Karimov denying that he had given any orders for the army to shoot unarmed protesters.

• "He said: 'We don't care if 200, 300 or 400 people die. We have force and we will chuck you out of there anyway,'" – Kabuljon Parpiyev, referring to comments allegedly made by Uzbek Interior Minister Almatov during negotiations.

• "To accept their terms would mean that we are setting a precedent that no other country in the world would accept" – Karimov referring to alleged demands by rebels that all followers be released from jails in the Fergana Valley.

• Aksam Turgunov, a member of Erk, a small opposition party, vented his disgust at Mr. Karimov. "He lied brazenly to his people. He will go down in history as a bloodthirsty tyrant. It's clear now, he shot at civilians. So the police are out to defend his actions. They are looking for criminals, but the worst criminal sits undisturbed." [8]

• "We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran" - Bakhtior Rakhimov, rebel leader, outlining his prospective policy for governing Uzbekistan.

Andijan Massacre Link click here- article in the Muslimuzbekistan May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fergana Valley (also Ferghana Valley) is a region of Central Asia spreading across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. ...

See also

Wikinews has news related to this article:

Category:Uzbekistan

• History of Uzbekistan
• Politics of Uzbekistan
• Islam in Uzbekistan
• Colour revolution
• Freenet (Central Asia) – USAID supported internet in Uzbekistan

Wikinews logo. ... Located in the heart of Central Asia between the Amu Darya (Oxus) and Syr Darya (Jaxartes) Rivers, Uzbekistan has a long and interesting heritage. ... The movement toward economic reform in Uzbekistan has not been matched by movement toward political reform. ... Gur-e Amir in Samarkand was built by the order of Timur, a ferocious Central Asian warlord, who, proclaiming his royal descent from Genghis Khan, in the 14th century conquered much of the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia, and India. ... Color revolutions or Flower revolutions are the names given collectively to a series of related movements that have developed in post-communist societies in Eastern Europe and are possibly spreading elsewhere. ... Several internet networks in Central Asia, specifically, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are financed by USAID and other USA governmental authorities and are called Freenet. ... The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the US government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. ...

External links and references

• After Non – Franchised Andijan Uprising, East Closes Ranks Written by K. Gajendra Singh, India's former ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan in 1992 -1996.
• Muslimuzbekistan Information Center
• Hizb ut-Tahrir: 'This is how the butcher of Andijan executed his crime'
• Aftermath article in The Kansas City Star
• The Registan – on-the-ground news and analysis
• Ferghana – Opposition Website
• Uzbekistan government
• Media Coverage of Protests: IFEX
• Independent news story: Hundreds of civilians killed after protests turn to massacre
• The Scotsman news story: 'They shot us like rabbits'
• The Guardian news story: Death in Bobur Square