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| Islamic Repression - Uzbekistan |
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Oct 2001
For many, Uzbekistan is an example of how a war on
terrorism can be turned into something much more
sinister. President Karimov claims to be waging a
war on Islamic terrorism; we investigate the claim
that he is more often waging a war on his own
people.
But for many, Uzbekistan is an example of how a
war on terrorism can be turned into something much
more sinister. President Karimov claims to be
waging a war on Islamic terrorism; we investigate
the claim that he is more often waging a war on
his own people, many of whom simply wish to
worship outside state controls. Many of his 25
million people see him as the nation's saviour,
crushing Islamic fundamentalism by closing down
Mosques and jailing Muslims for engaging in normal
religious practices. But some see a darker side to
the campaign: "I think it is important to
understand that what Uzbekistan has been engaged
in for the past for years has not been a war on
terrorism, but rather a very brutal campaign
against its own people," comments Acacia Shields,
Human Rights campaigner. With no avenue for
protests or redress, the crackdowns have fuelled
resentment against Karimov's regime. Critics now
ask whether the repression has crushed
revolutionary Islam, or created it.
Tags : Uzbekistan Islamic Repression Karimov War Terrorism Journeyman Pictures |
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Affichage : 14053
Durée : 1145 s |
| The Shrinking Aral Sea - Uzbekistan |
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July 2001
For 50 years Soviet leaders diverted the rivers
which feed the sea to irrigate cotton. And when it
became clear that the land wasn't suited for the
thirsty crop the planners simply increased the use
of hazardous chemicals. "It is the world's largest
man- made environmental disaster", says Ian Small
for Medecins Sans Frontiers in Uzbekistan. The
charity usually operates in war zones, but for the
first time it has now set up a project devoted
solely to an environmental catastrophe. The war
here is against tuberculosis, kidney disease and
cancers - plaguing the people of the region. Some
are caused by toxins, some by the high levels of
salt in the water. "Almost nothing grows and it's
hard for people -- salt concentrates in their
joints and they can't walk for a long time...",
says Aigali Tankimalov who sailed the Aral Sea for
29 years. Now the wreck of the vessel he commanded
in the navy sits opposite his front door -- and
the nearest water is 100 kilometres away. The last
of the 20 or so species of fish that lived in the
Aral Sea died out in the 1980s, the victims of an
environmental catastrophe. Yet despite the
dramatic evidence of environmental destruction,
Uzbekistan's new leaders continue to grow cotton
and scientist fear the damage is irreparable.
Tags : Uzbekistan Aral Sea cotton industry Aigali Tankimalov Journeyman Pictures |
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Affichage : 5561
Durée : 803 s |
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