“Muhammad Salih wants to usurp power at the movement, as he has done at his Erk party,” Abdujalil Boymatov said.

29.06.12 11:00

The People’s Movement of Uzbekistan that intends to oust the dictatorship of President Islam Karimov will hold a congress at Prague’s Corinthia hotel on 29-30 June.

The second congress of the People’s Movement of Uzbekistan which unites a number of Uzbek opposition groups will start on 29 June with a news conference.

Then its delegates – some 80 people from CIS and European countries, the USA and Canada – will start their congress.

Its agenda includes a report by the movement’s leaders on the work done in the past year, electing new leaders of the movement, discussing amendments to the movement’s programme and electing a shadow cabinet (this will be closed to journalists).

Observers say the main intrigue of the congress is the movement’s real leader Muhammad Salih’s position on these issues. Salih leads the opposition Erk party.

Abdujalil Boymatov, the president of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, suggests Salih will try to retain his leadership in the organisation, for which he initiated amendments to its charter.

The People’s Movement of Uzbekistan, set up in May 2011, aims to unite Uzbek opposition members to fight Islam Karimov’s long dictatorship.

At the first congress, held in Berlin, Salih was elected chairman of the movement. His term was set by the charter for one year until the next congress.

However, not long before the second congress, amendments were made to the charter that the movement would convene congress every three years and, as a result, chairman would be elected for these three years.

“Salih wants to usurp power at the movement, as he has done at his Erk party,” Boymatov said. “But I may be wrong, so tomorrow’s congress will show whether or not I am right.”

Uznews.net

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