Jan 022011
 

Thoughts about opposition council, opposition leader, opposition fund, and shadow government of opposition.
In my two articles written in November and December of 2010 I suggested the idea of electing the leader of opposition for one year. The importance of formation of opposition council in electing the leader of opposition was pointed out. Unfortunately, formation of opposition council did not succeed and thus, electing the leader of opposition is still indistinct.
To form the opposition council I tried to find out the “Erk” party’s leader Muhammad Solih’s opinions about opposition council, opposition leader, and opposition funds. In order to do that I contacted three people: Nasrullo Saidov, Nurillo Maqsudov, and Muhammadsolih Abutov who closely cooperate with him. As Muhammadsolih Abutov says Muhammad Solih responded by saying: “Maybe HRSU ( Human Right Society of Uzbekistan) will join “13th May coalition”. I consider this idea as illogical because democratic principles written in the charter of the “Erk” party, which is the member of the “13th May coalition”, are ignored within it. Muhammad Solih’s twenty-year-rule can serve as a clear evidence of this. Other two members of the “13th May coalition” “Andijan, Justice and Restoration” and “Tayanch” organizations do not even have democratic principles in their charter.
The charter of the “13th May coalition” says that its leader can be elected, but even in this charter it is not written how long one person can be a leader of the organization. I consider it nonsense to join an opposition party or organization that does not have democratic principles in its charter and in practice. Even if they claim that they want to create free and democratic society.
I could not find out the “Birlik Xalq Harakati” (People’s movement “Unity”) party’s leader Abdurahim Po’latov’s opinion. I contacted with three people – Ismoil Dadajonov, Akbarali Oripov, and Po’lat Ohunov in order to find out that. Ismoil Dadajonov said: “I left the “Birlik Xalq Harakati” party because Abdurahim Po’latov did not follow the party’s charter. They did not leave it without response and accused me of being poisoned by the ideas of “Hizb ut-tahrir”.
Akbarali Oripov said: “Birlik” is a noticeable party in Uzbekistan with its ideas and organization. A.Po’latov is the only leader of this party”. For more than a month he did not find out A.Po’latov’s opinion about the issue.
I could not contact with Po’lat Ohunov for he was on Hajj pilgrimage and very busy after it.
A.Po’latov’s assertion that “Birlik Xalq Harakati” party is the strongest and worthiest among all opposition parties of Uzbekistan, and that is why it is moving firmly forward to create a democratic society in Uzbekistan is a Big Lie. He has ruled the “Birlik” party since May 28th, 1989. It will be 22 years in May 28th, 2011 as he is ruling the party. That is why it will be a great lie to call “Birlik” party as a democratic one. It is nonsense to claim that a nondemocratic party will democratize the society of Uzbekistan.
I had many conversations with the “Birdamlik” leader Bahodir Choriev. Conclusion from these talks is that that a free and democratic society can be created in Uzbekistan only if he becomes the president of Uzbekistan. Probably, this is the reason why the people’s movement “Birdamlik” did not participate as an organization in campaigns like “Child and forced labor in Uzbekistan”, “Release of Yusuf Juma”, “Andijan massacre”, “Osh and Jalolobod massacre”, “Stopping the extradition of 29 Uzbek refugees from Almaty to Uzbekistan”. These campaigns were organized be international organizations and human rights organizations of Uzbekistan, and “Birdamlik”, even if they participated, never took active part in them. Regretfully, we still do not know “Birdamlik’s” position about Uzbekistan’s non-joining the Turkic Council, Turkic Parliament Assembly.
According to the above-mentioned, the idea of creating the opposition council and electing the leader of opposition cannot be realized in participation of three leaders: Abdurahim Po’latov, Muhammad Solih, and Bahodir Choriev. So, there is a question: what should be done? I think following things can be done even without the three leaders:
Opposition Council must be formed, and people who have common ideas about creating a free and democratic society in Uzbekistan will become the members of it. However, things will not succeed just after the formation of Opposition Council and the election of opposition leader.
Funds must be raised for the opposition to function. Several millions of Uzbekistan’s 28-million-population are working and living in EU, Russia, Kazakhstan, USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Turkey. They are able to donate 100 USD or 100 Euro to the opposition fund at least once a year. But how many of them will do that, that is the point.
Shadow government of opposition will be formed. It is quite clear that it is impossible to create the shadow government of opposition in cooperation of “Birlik”, “Birdamlik”, or “13th May coalition”.
There are things besides the above mentioned that must be taken into consideration in creating a free and democratic society in Uzbekistan:
Majority of Uzbeks do not know how to fight against corruption, bribery, and theft.
Majority of the population of Uzbekistan do not know their constitutional rights and do not know how to defend them.
In the constitution of Uzbekistan it is written that religion is separate from the state. Many people in Uzbekistan have not understood this principle.
Uzbeks do not know how to join trade unions, opposition parties, and human rights organizations in defending their rights and freedoms. The culture of joining or supporting organizations that defend the rights of journalists, fighting for freedom of speech, for freedom of mass media, and for other freedoms has not developed among them.
The feeling of respect to parents, to the elders, to bureaucrats is very strong among Uzbeks. Respecting bribetaking, corruptionist and thief parents and officials has become a national tragedy of Uzbeks.

January 2, 2011.
Abdujalil Boymatov, President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.

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