Russian opposition participated actively in parliamentary elections held on December 4, 2011 and in presidential elections of March 4, 2012. However, we cannot say that Russian opposition achieved considerable results in those elections. They could not put an end to the sole rule of the party “Edinaya Rossiya” (United Russia) in the Russian parliament – Duma. Also, they could not prevent Vladimir Putin from being elected for third term to Russian presidency. Despite this, the Russian opposition could organize protest actions and rallies on December 10 and 24, 2011, and on February 4 and March 10 of 2012 in which the number of participants rated from 25 000 to 120 000. As a result of these protest actions, tandem of Putin and Medvedev had to accept the project of new laws to the Duma about political parties and gubernatorial elections. If those laws are adopted the process of registering political parties becomes much easier and governors would be elected directly by the people without president’s filtration. Besides this, the tandem promised to free political prisoners. Mainly, Russian opposition could prove the world that it has become a political power.
If we speak about the reasons of the Russian opposition’s defeat in parliamentary and presidential elections we should mention that the opposition failed to unite behind a single leader and could not form the opposition’s shadow government. We can take as an example color revolutions that took place in Georgia in 2003, in Ukraine in 2004, in Kyrgyzstan in March 2005 and in April 2010. Georgian opposition had its single leader – Mikhail Saakashvili; Ukranian opposition had Victor Yushchenko; Kyrgyz opposition had Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Rosa Otunbayeva. Those leaders had their own teams to rule the country in case they come to the power.
In my article, published in December 2011, I proposed that Uzbek opposition should form Opposition Council, Opposition’s shadow government, Opposition’s Fund, and elect its leader[1]. I proposed to use internet portal “Zamondosh” as tribune to realize these things[2]. But, these proposals were boycotted by opposition leaders. Following facts show what hardships the people of Uzbekistan have to endure as a result of these boycotts. We all know, when Islam Karimov began ruling Uzbekistan in 1989 People’s Movement Birlik required from the government to solve the problem of the Aral Sea, cotton monoculture, forced labor and child labor. About 23 years have passed since then, and today, ecological situation around Aral is extremely bad. Despite the fact that in the Aral’s Kazakhstan part, the Small Aral, was constructed a dam and as a result of this the water level has risen which contributed to the development of fishery, in Uzbekistan part, the Big Aral, the sea is shrinking[3,4]. People living around Aral are abandoning their places. According to the calculations of scientists the Aral has lost 90% of its volume. The Aral’s drying is continuing despite the foundation of the Aral Sea Rescue Fund by Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan,. According to statistics, Uzbekistan only received about 1 billion US dollars[4]. However, the Uzbek community does not know what this money was spent for.
Students of schools, colleges, and universities are still being involved forcefully in cotton picking. According to The Daily Beast magazine Uzbekistan is the number one in the list of the world’s most corrupted countries[5]. According to Transparency International Uzbekistan is 177 in the list of 182 countries[6]. Despite the fact that Uzbekistan is rich in gas, oil, coal, and uranium, majority of the population suffered from the shortage of gas, electricity, hot water and petrol. Millions of citizens of Uzbekistan have to work in Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries of the world as slaves in difficult conditions because of poverty and unemployment in their own country.
According to human rights defender and ecologist Ahtam Shoymardonov, in order to stop the Aral Sea’s drying Uzbekistan’s economy must be transformed from gray economy to green economy, that is, cultivation of cotton in Uzbekistan must be decreased from 3.5 million tons to 1 million ton. Decrease of cotton cultivation to 1 million ton means not only that the Aral Sea will receive more water, also this decrease will help to develop grain growing, production of fruits and vegetables, and production of livestock products[7]. Besides, it will help to stop forced labor and child labor during cotton picking season[8]. It will also create conditions to expand forests in order to stop soil salinity.
Unfortunately, despite the tense political, social, economical, and ecological situation Islam Karimov has usurped the government since 1989, that is, he transformed Uzbekistan into his own homestead land. Abdurahim Po’latov has usurped The People’s Movement Birlik. He has ruled this movement since May 28, 1989. Muhammad Solih also has usurped the Democratic Party Erk. He has ruled this party since April 30, 1990. Nowadays, Muhammad Solih is trying to usurp The People’s Movement of Uzbekistan[9,10]. Bahodir Choriyev is leading The People’s Movement Birdamlik since 2004. He has not declared yet that he will resign his leadership two years later.
Recently, the leader of the coalition “Serquyosh O’zbekistonim” (My Sunny Uzbekistan) Sanjar Umarov has declared that he had resumed his political career[11]. He said that international pressure must be used to change Islam Karimov’s regime.
Conclusion is, when leaders of Uzbek opposition and activists of Uzbek opposition will form Opposition Council, Opposition’s shadow government, Opposition’s Fund, and elect its leader? How long this situation can continue?
March 31, 2012
Abdujalil Boymatov
President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.
References.
1.Россия мухолифати сиёсий кучга айланди, навбат ўзбек мухолифатига?! 31.12.2012.(http://uz.hrsu.org/archives/3019#more-3019).
2.Ўзбек мухолифати етакчилари Ислом Каримовнинг клонларидир?!
19.02.2012. (http://uz.hrsu.org/archives/3237#more-3237)
3.Аральское море и причины его гибели.20.10.2011.(http://ru.hrsu.org/archives/3214#more-3214).
4.Казахстан восстановит Арал, Узбекистан его убьет. 23.03.2012.(http://ru.hrsu.org/archives/3209#more-3209).
5.The Daily beast. 20 Most Corrupt Countries (http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/02/08/the-20-most-corrupt-countries-from-cambodia-to-afghanistan.html#slide20).
6. Corruption Perceptions Index 2011.(http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2011/results/).
7. Гость Замондош: Ахтам Шаймарданов. 22.03.2012, 28.03.2012.(http://zamondosh.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-post_3120.html#more)
8.Почем белое золото. 23.03.2012.(http://ru.hrsu.org/archives/3212#more-3212).
9. Муҳаммад Солиҳ. 24.03.2012. Раислик бадали.(http://www.uzxalqharakati.com/archives/9402).
10. Муҳаммадсолиҳ Абутов.25.03.2012. Оддий ҳақиқатлар.(http://www.uzxalqharakati.com/archives/9416)
11.Санджар Умаров: “Каримов должен уйти в отставку”. 05.03.2012.(http://www.uznews.net/news_single.php?lng=ru&sub=hot&cid=30&nid=19251).
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.