ASTANA: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should use her impending visits to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to promote concrete human rights improvements, Human Rights Watch said today. In Kyrgyzstan she should call for a thorough and impartial investigation into the violence in April and June 2010, fair trials for defendants in cases resulting from the violence, and improved security around the court hearings, Human Rights Watch said. In Uzbekistan she should call on the government to free wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders and journalists and to end repression of civil society, Human Rights Watch said. “Clinton should be clear with Kyrgyzstan's new leadership that the only way it can achieve real justice for this year's violent events is by protecting human rights,” said Rachel Denber, acting Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “With a new government in place, there is no excuse to postpone this any longer.” Clinton is scheduled to meet with President Roza Otunbaeva of Kyrgyzstan on December 2 and is later expected to meet with President Islam Karimov while in Uzbekistan. Clinton's visit to Kyrgyzstan coincides with the confirmation of a coalition government after months of instability and violence. Unrest surrounding the ouster of the former Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in early April led to 85 deaths, hundreds of injured, and continuing violence. Between June 10 and 14, ethnic violence shook southern Kyrgyzstan, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, destroying more than 2,600 homes, and resulting in the temporary mass exodus to Uzbekistan of nearly 100,000 ethnic Uzbeks from the country's southern provinces. The government's investigation into the violence has been marred by serious violations. Arbitrary arrests and extortion have been widespread, and there is credible evidence that many detainees have been subjected to ill-treatment, including torture. The authorities have systematically denied defendants due process rights, such as the right to a lawyer of their choice. In a letter to the new Kyrgyz government, Human Rights Watch described problems plaguing numerous trials related to the June violence. Aggrieved relatives of ethnic Kyrgyz victims have attacked ethnic Uzbek defendants and their relatives and lawyers, and journalists before, during, and after trial hearings. Security for defense lawyers has been so poor that they threatened to boycott the trials. Although the situation improved after an international outcry in October, more violent attacks and threats took place in November. The Human Rights Watch letter outlined specific steps the government should take to address these issues. “Clinton should urge the new government to fully respect human rights while restoring law and order,” Denber said. “Security incidents in Osh and Bishkek earlier this week are a worrying sign that Kyrgyzstan's leadership is still facing tremendous challenges.” On November 29, a gunfight broke out between security forces and alleged militants in the center of Osh, as a result of which five people were killed and several security officers were injured. On November 30, a bomb exploded in Bishkek outside the site of a trial of former government officials accused of the April killings. As a result, the trial was postponed. HRW
