The Bukhara Students are forced to…

Uzbekistan: The Bukhara Students are forced to work at cotton fields

On September 27, 2009 over a thousand students of the Bukhara State University were sent to cotton fields. Ferghana.Ru found the document, proving the fact of blackmail and threat that force students to work at cotton fields.

«According to the presidential decree on August 20, 2008 «On organization and implementation of cotton harvesting campaign» and appropriate decrees of local authorities, the student participation in cotton harvesting considered as «field internship». The students, missing the field work without reasons, are dropped from university. In this concern, I kindly ask you to urgently show up for field work. Other, we inform that you might be dismissed. Raupov S.S., the Dean of Humanities, Bukhara State University.»

The students, missing the cotton campaign, received such notifications with seal and signature of dean. Those, missing the field work due to poor health conditions, were carefully examined by doctors.

Nonetheless, that does not mean that only sick students missed the cotton campaign. Some were able to buy off for 200 US dollars while others preferred to send mardikor (hired workers), paying them 100-200 thousand sums (about $70-140 according to official rate).

The students, missing the cotton works due to reasonable excuses, had to daily show up in the schools, where they are «trusted» to dig the ground in the campus area or clean the rooms.

Often times there are mortal cases in the battle for Uzbek cotton. Few days ago the student of Technological Institute of Bukhara was killed by classmates. Young men from rich families, having the opportunity not to stay overnight at the fields, but to drive to work, beat him to death. The murdered student had wife and little child. The details of the murder are currently being investigated.