Comments on: A handful of Uzbekistan updates http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/ Central Asia News -- All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:29:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Peter Reuft http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58493 Peter Reuft Sun, 28 Aug 2005 19:43:40 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-58493 <strong> adult pay per view site </strong> A handful of Uzbekista... adult pay per view site

A handful of Uzbekista…

]]> By: Nathan http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19450 Nathan Fri, 20 May 2005 15:52:56 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19450 It certainly is unfair. But I'm just a skeptic. It certainly is unfair. But I’m just a skeptic.

]]> By: Matt W. http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19449 Matt W. Fri, 20 May 2005 15:51:07 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19449 Ms. Khidoyatova is from a fairly rich Tashkent family-- both she and her family members have a lot to lose. I agree that the Uzbek opposition in general is uninspiring, and perhaps Ms. Khidoyatova has yet to prove herself, but it's a hard environment and she has been involved and courageous. She's a very smart and well-informed woman, which is more than can be said for many opposition leaders. In my experience, Uzbek nationals don't generally like opposition parties, no matter what-- they think these people are "crazy" or "mentally ill" for standing up for their or others' rights in a fight they probably won't win. And opposition leaders tend to bicker amongst themselves more than anything else (this is what turns me off to most of them here)-- so I try not to take what they have to say about each other at face value. Word was that she had a "list" of the dead which she used to produce her much-cited numbers. I don't know if she made it public or if anyone's seen this list, but if her party really did their homework and came up with something open and verifiable, that would give them some degree of credibility in my eyes. There are "professional opposition leaders" in Uzbekistan who try to live off grants and draw attention to themselves, but I agree with Bertrand that it's unfair to categorize all opposition leaders this way. Ms. Khidoyatova is from a fairly rich Tashkent family– both she and her family members have a lot to lose. I agree that the Uzbek opposition in general is uninspiring, and perhaps Ms. Khidoyatova has yet to prove herself, but it’s a hard environment and she has been involved and courageous. She’s a very smart and well-informed woman, which is more than can be said for many opposition leaders.

In my experience, Uzbek nationals don’t generally like opposition parties, no matter what– they think these people are “crazy” or “mentally ill” for standing up for their or others’ rights in a fight they probably won’t win. And opposition leaders tend to bicker amongst themselves more than anything else (this is what turns me off to most of them here)– so I try not to take what they have to say about each other at face value.

Word was that she had a “list” of the dead which she used to produce her much-cited numbers. I don’t know if she made it public or if anyone’s seen this list, but if her party really did their homework and came up with something open and verifiable, that would give them some degree of credibility in my eyes.

There are “professional opposition leaders” in Uzbekistan who try to live off grants and draw attention to themselves, but I agree with Bertrand that it’s unfair to categorize all opposition leaders this way.

]]> By: Bertrand http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19442 Bertrand Fri, 20 May 2005 11:08:58 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19442 Neither is President Karimov ready to get on board. One of the state televison networks has today started running news reports on what a bad person Ms. Khidoyatova is. Of course that will only serve to further elevate her profile. Neither is President Karimov ready to get on board. One of the state televison networks has today started running news reports on what a bad person Ms. Khidoyatova is. Of course that will only serve to further elevate her profile.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19441 Nathan Fri, 20 May 2005 10:56:15 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19441 You could be right, but I do have my reasons for saying so. One is comments an Uzbek national made about her and the party. Another is my skepticism about opposition politicians in general in the former Soviet Union. And finally, I just find it odd that she's showing up so much. Reminds me of Kazakhstan where the opposition's support may not be huge or enthusiastic, but where it does a great job of convincing the western press and NGOs that it's something more than it really is. I wish her all the best, but I'm not ready to get on board. You could be right, but I do have my reasons for saying so. One is comments an Uzbek national made about her and the party. Another is my skepticism about opposition politicians in general in the former Soviet Union. And finally, I just find it odd that she’s showing up so much. Reminds me of Kazakhstan where the opposition’s support may not be huge or enthusiastic, but where it does a great job of convincing the western press and NGOs that it’s something more than it really is.

I wish her all the best, but I’m not ready to get on board.

]]> By: Bertrand http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19440 Bertrand Fri, 20 May 2005 10:32:33 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19440 Registan.net is a great site and very useful service. Most of the time, I even agree with much of your commentary. I did think your comment about Sunny Uzbekistan was a bit curious. What do you expect the opposition to do in the wake of a government massacre and subsequent coverup? Be quiet? Stay out of the limelight? So what's the point of being opposition? I would urge caution about ascribing motives to people you don't know and without being here. I think it is a bit more curious that some of the other opposition leaders haven't been more vocal. There is no great reward for being known as a leading opposition leader in Uzbekistan. Ms. Khidoyatova is clearly putting herself at some personal risk here. I think if ANY opposition leaders become known as a vanguard of democracy in Uzbekistan that is a good thing. Registan.net is a great site and very useful service. Most of the time, I even agree with much of your commentary.

I did think your comment about Sunny Uzbekistan was a bit curious. What do you expect the opposition to do in the wake of a government massacre and subsequent coverup? Be quiet? Stay out of the limelight? So what’s the point of being opposition?

I would urge caution about ascribing motives to people you don’t know and without being here. I think it is a bit more curious that some of the other opposition leaders haven’t been more vocal.

There is no great reward for being known as a leading opposition leader in Uzbekistan. Ms. Khidoyatova is clearly putting herself at some personal risk here. I think if ANY opposition leaders become known as a vanguard of democracy in Uzbekistan that is a good thing.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19369 Nathan Thu, 19 May 2005 16:54:27 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19369 What I know about the guy is that he was not a first-hand witness. However, I am told that "he is generally well-informed." What I know about the guy is that he was not a first-hand witness. However, I am told that “he is generally well-informed.”

]]> By: Andy http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19368 Andy Thu, 19 May 2005 16:39:58 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19368 Nathan, do you have any opinion as to the accuracy of the witness account you've just posted? I know it more or less tallies with the account I posted a few days back, but this is the only other piece I've seen that also says that all the prison guards were killed. If (and I really have no idea whether this was the case) the guards were actually killed, I wonder whether this had something to do with the severity of the Uzbek government response...? Nathan, do you have any opinion as to the accuracy of the witness account you’ve just posted? I know it more or less tallies with the account I posted a few days back, but this is the only other piece I’ve seen that also says that all the prison guards were killed.

If (and I really have no idea whether this was the case) the guards were actually killed, I wonder whether this had something to do with the severity of the Uzbek government response…?

]]> By: Tatyana http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19367 Tatyana Thu, 19 May 2005 15:41:21 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19367 Nathan, here's a site for condolences - and look what people are writing.... http://www.uzland.info/book.htm Nathan, here’s a site for condolences – and look what people are writing….
http://www.uzland.info/book.htm

]]> By: Hulegu http://www.registan.net/index.php/2005/05/19/updates-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19366 Hulegu Thu, 19 May 2005 15:14:16 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=5331#comment-19366 There was a not particularly complementary piece about Karimov in the Times of London yesterday (18 May). Interestingly, it was written by a Central Asian expert who wished to remain anonymous. I know of at least one academic already who has denied it was them - who could it be? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1616712,00.html There was a not particularly complementary piece about Karimov in the Times of London yesterday (18 May). Interestingly, it was written by a Central Asian expert who wished to remain anonymous. I know of at least one academic already who has denied it was them – who could it be?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1616712,00.html

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