ILO denies systematic use of forced child labor in the cotton harvest in Uzbekistan: a diplomatic ploy to gain concessions from the government or an attempt to deny the commonly known problem?

International Labour Organization (ILO) voiced its opinion in early April 2014 on the monitoring results on child labor in cotton harvest in Uzbekistan “… the ILO did not reveal use of forced child labor on a systematic basis in the cotton harvest in the country.” This conclusion was announced during a special seminar with a high “international” status organized by the Uzbek authorities in Tashkent for this purpose.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are well aware that earlier this week Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, attended the European Dialogue – Uzbekistan dialogue. We write to inform You on the serious, systematic and ongoing human rights violations of the Uzbek people, including the situation of civil society activists, religious prisoners, transparency and openness in the EU-Uzbekistan dialogue, the recent undemocratic initiatives of president Karimov to amend the Uzbek Constitution, and state-orchestrated forced labour of children and adults during annual cotton harvesting season and encourage You to urge the Uzbek government to sincerely address those issues.

Presented to the EU – Uzbekistan meeting, Brussels, 14 March 2014.

The EU is preparing for the next series of discussions of the situation in Uzbekistan. International Association Human Rights“Fiery Hearts Club” takes this opportunity to analyze in this paper the current trends and development in the human rights situation of Uzbekistan, its relations with the European Union as well as draws the bloc’s attention to the major human rights problems and their solutions.

While focusing on the perspectives of human rights situation in Uzbekistan probably it will make a good entry point to mention that today human rights issue is perceived by the Uzbek authorities first of all as a political issue, the flow of which can have significant influence on the Uzbekistani internal and external politics.

Kayum Ortikov, a former security officer of the British Embassy in Tashkent was granted asylum in America, and on 20 February 2014 he left the Ukraine, where he had to reside with his family for more than two years due to persecution in Uzbekistan.

According to Mokhira Ortikova, Kayum Ortikov’s wife, they arrived in the city of Harrisburg on the night of February 20, where a house was provided for their family for residence in the United States (Harrisburg is the capital of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Dauphin – Jarayon’s note).

To Mass media, NGOs and leaders of youth movements of the Kingdom of Sweden.

Dear Colleagues,

Massive pressure of international non-governmental organizations and human rights leaders, covering problems of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has become one of the main reasons for the cancellation of the visit of President Islam Karimov to Prague scheduled for February 21-23.

Not wanting to discredit his Cabinet, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic as well as a number of key ministers, including the Mayor of Prague, refused to meet with the leader of a totalitarian country Islam Karimov under plausible pretexts.

Dear President Miloš Zeman,

We are writing to express our surprise and deep concern that you have invited Uzbekistan’s president, Islam Karimov, on an official visit to Prague on 20-22 February.

As the leader of one of the most repressive governments in the world, President Karimov is not someone we would expect to be invited for such meetings. In fact, he is rightly shunned by most western leaders, particularly after the Andijan massacre of 2005, in which his security forces shot into crowds of mostly peaceful protestors in that city, killing hundreds.

Give you the answer Czech President Milos Zeman’s to open letter international and media organizations, journalists, which was published on our website on Wednesday, February 12.

Dear Sirs,

Thank you for your open letter and I answer by the open letter too.

First of all, you’re wrong in the very first sentence of your open letter. Uzbek President Islam Karimov was invited by my predecessor and is a matter ofdiplomatic courtesy that the new president assumes obligations of its predecessor. I did not see you were protesting against the visit of Vaclav Klaus in Uzbekistan.

Second, President Islam Karimov recently held talks with senior officials of the European Union in Brussels. I did not think you were protesting against the visit.

Third, the United States evaluated Uzbekistan as an ally in the fight against Islamic terrorism. I did not think you protested against this American view protested.

I wish you more awareness and less hypocrisy.

Sincerely,
Miloš Zeman

President Should Insist on Tashkent’s Need to Make Rights Improvements.

FEBRUARY 12, 2014

(Prague) – President Miloš Zeman of theCzech Republic should cancel his invitation for an official visit by Uzbekistan’s authoritarian leader Islam Karimov, 31 organizations said on February 10, 2014, in an open letter to President Zeman. The groups include trade unions, investors, and rights groups from the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, and several other countries.

To President of TOP 09 party Mr.Karel Schwarzenberg, Prague Mayor Mr.Hudeček Tomas.

“… Our party is based on democratic ideals of freedom and humanism, which have managed to survive even the period of totalitarianism in our country… We do not want to be popular at any costs, or at the cost of unrealistic campaign promises…

Profit should not take precedence over the law and morality. Compliance with laws and ethical principles of negotiation should be one of the conditions for profit …” (From TOP 09 party program).