UN watchdog says torture "routine" in Uzbekistan
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The United Nations torture watchdog accused police and prison staff in Uzbekistan on Friday of the "routine use of torture" and called for a full investigation of numerous alleged cases of torture and cruelty. Uzbek authorities should adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach to the problem, prosecute perpetrators and compensate victims, the U.N. Committee against Torture said.
The body, composed of 10 independent experts, issued a report after examining the records of six countries including Uzbekistan during a three-week meeting. The others were Benin, Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Portugal.
On Uzbekistan, it expressed concern at "numerous, ongoing and consistent allegations concerning routine use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment committed by law enforcement and investigative personnel".
Torture and cruelty were often used to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings in the resource-rich former Soviet state, it said.
"Our issues of concern were the widespread allegations of torture. The allegations are that they take place largely in the early period when a person is arrested," Felice Gaer, an American expert on the U.N. committee, told a news briefing.
"There has been a failure to conduct prompt investigations into claims and allegations of torture," she added.
KARIMOV ACCUSED, DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Some Western nations have accused Uzbek leader Islam Karimov, seeking re-election in next month's presidential vote in the mostly Muslim country, of allowing human rights violations and systematic torture in jails. He has denied the allegations.
The U.N. body also voiced concern at "numerous allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment by Uzbek military and security forces" who opened fire on a crowd in the town of Andizhan in May 2005.
It called for a full and impartial inquiry by credible independent experts into the event. Uzbek officials have acknowledged 187 people were killed, but other sources put the death toll at "700 or more", according to the committee.
On Thursday, relatives and human rights campaigners said that two prisoners who died in jail in Uzbekistan this month had marks on their bodies consistent with torture. Both men had been in jail on charges of Islamist extremism in Andizhan.
"We also addressed the need to establish in practice independent monitoring of detention places. A system of unannounced visits would help, we know this from our work all over the world," Gaer said.
There was also a need to "establish in practice access to lawyers, doctors and members of family for anyone who is detained," she added, noting this was not routinely offered.
"Remember that torture is impermissible in all circumstances, regardless of the crime committed, regardless of the circumstances," Gaer said. (Editing by Jonathan Lynn and Tim Pearce)
GENEVA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The United Nations torture watchdog accused police and prison staff in Uzbekistan on Friday of the "routine use of torture" and called for a full investigation of numerous alleged cases of torture and cruelty. Uzbek authorities should adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach to the problem, prosecute perpetrators and compensate victims, the U.N. Committee against Torture said.
The body, composed of 10 independent experts, issued a report after examining the records of six countries including Uzbekistan during a three-week meeting. The others were Benin, Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Portugal.
On Uzbekistan, it expressed concern at "numerous, ongoing and consistent allegations concerning routine use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment committed by law enforcement and investigative personnel".
Torture and cruelty were often used to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings in the resource-rich former Soviet state, it said.
"Our issues of concern were the widespread allegations of torture. The allegations are that they take place largely in the early period when a person is arrested," Felice Gaer, an American expert on the U.N. committee, told a news briefing.
"There has been a failure to conduct prompt investigations into claims and allegations of torture," she added.
KARIMOV ACCUSED, DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Some Western nations have accused Uzbek leader Islam Karimov, seeking re-election in next month's presidential vote in the mostly Muslim country, of allowing human rights violations and systematic torture in jails. He has denied the allegations.
The U.N. body also voiced concern at "numerous allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment by Uzbek military and security forces" who opened fire on a crowd in the town of Andizhan in May 2005.
It called for a full and impartial inquiry by credible independent experts into the event. Uzbek officials have acknowledged 187 people were killed, but other sources put the death toll at "700 or more", according to the committee.
On Thursday, relatives and human rights campaigners said that two prisoners who died in jail in Uzbekistan this month had marks on their bodies consistent with torture. Both men had been in jail on charges of Islamist extremism in Andizhan.
"We also addressed the need to establish in practice independent monitoring of detention places. A system of unannounced visits would help, we know this from our work all over the world," Gaer said.
There was also a need to "establish in practice access to lawyers, doctors and members of family for anyone who is detained," she added, noting this was not routinely offered.
"Remember that torture is impermissible in all circumstances, regardless of the crime committed, regardless of the circumstances," Gaer said. (Editing by Jonathan Lynn and Tim Pearce)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Rebels blamed for Philippines blast
