On 18th of October this year the leader of the People’s Movement Birdamlik Mr. Bakhodir Choriyev has received a letter from correspondent of British Institute for War and Peace Reporting Mr. Ruslan Karimov (WWW.iwpr.net ) with the request to answer a set of questions. The Leader of the People’s Movement Birdamlik Mr. Bakhodir Choriyev agreed to answer the questions. We suggest those questions and answers to your judgment.
1) Dear Mr. Choriyev, in what connection did the idea of conducting the “Massive complaints” action come to you and why in your opinion it wasn’t successful?
Massive complaint is translated into Uzbek as “Ommaviy shikoyat”, abbreviated OSH . One of the meanings of this short word in Uzbek language is pilau.
Osh, that is pilau is one of the most favorite and wide-spread dishes among Uzbek people. On marriage celebrations and other events pilau is prepared in most cases. Sharing pilau and joint eating of pilau is very wide-spread among Uzbek people. Joint eating of pilau is not just an old Uzbek tradition, but also a way for an exchange of information – an original social network, like Facebook and Twitter.
Usually Uzbeks accept invitations to pilau gladly, because it is a good occasion for the meeting, exchange of opinions about what is going on. We called our action abbreviated «OSH», because it was planned as a push for Uzbek people to joint actions. I think, that insufficient informing of Uzbek people about this action is a fault of a handful of traitors, considering themselves as independent sitting in radio stations like «Ozodlik» (Freedom), «BBC» and «Amerika ovozi» (Voice of America) existing at the expense of taxpayers of democratic countries. I think in the nearest future analysts will give their opinion about the activities of our mercenary countrymen, who are sitting at the microphones in the reputable broadcasting agencies.
2) Why do you think citizens of Uzbekistan did not support the idea? What did you count on, when you were calling people to protests against limitless authorities?
Generally there are three reasons:
А) Serious neglects in organizational work of the People’s Movement Birdamlik.
Б) Insufficient informing of the population about the action.
В) Fear of authorities among people.
I counted on the ability of the people of Uzbekistan to overcome the fear of authorities, like Tunisians, Egyptians and Libyans, and to start to assert their constitutional rights by peaceful, lawful, nonviolent methods.
3) Day before the parliamentary elections you came to Uzbekistan, but you were threatened to leave, do you really think after all that you still can struggle against the current authority by civilized methods and that you will be supported by citizens, when they risk their lives?
I always was and will be the supporter of nonviolent methods of struggle, in spite of everything. The existing regime in Uzbekistan can be destroyed only by good organized nonviolent methods of struggle. I don’t want to shed blood of supporters and enemies. I am sure that people of Uzbekistan will awaken sooner or later and start asserting their rights, against all odds.
4) How did you come to the idea, how it was born?
Many oppositionists do not believe in nonviolent methods of struggle. With this action I wanted to push people into peaceful, nonviolent methods of struggle with regime and wanted to show, that by means of nonviolent methods of struggle you can achieve your goals.
5) What do you think, how objectively do you estimate the situation in Uzbekistan, many of your opponents criticize you for not knowing the current situation in Uzbekistan staying abroad. Are they right or their accusations are unfounded?
Those accusations are unfounded. The time will show that I was right and those critics will understand that they were wrong.
6) Your critics state that by calling people to squares to protests you are working off the money of western sponsors. How founded are those statements, are your critics right?
When I was living in Uzbekistan I organized several marches, and permanently called people to participate in marches. This activity cost me too much. Regular pressures and pursuits, attempts of physical violence have forced me to leave Uzbekistan. Since February 2005 I live in USA as political refugee. Since 2005 till today I have spent more than 106 000 USD of my personal money for the activities of the People’s movement Birdamlik. Every month several thousand dollars are added to the amount. Any person can become familiar with my financial expenses. In addition several activists of the Movement make their free contributions to the activities of the Movement.
I declare clearly and responsibly that the People’s Movement Birdamlik did not get any cent from any donor organization. Our activity during 7 years is based fully on our own financial means.
7) Do you see any development of the “Arabic scenario” in Uzbekistan?
No, the developments like “Arabic spring” are not acceptable for us. But we have learned very much from those events.
8) They say that after not very successful end of the Massive complaint action you do not consider I as failure and want to continue. How do you see their result?
We have temporarily stopped the action. We have to work on our mistakes. In the future we will definitely resume it.
9) How do you estimate the development of political opposition in Uzbekistan today?
The political opposition of Uzbekistan, except People’s Movement Birdamlik, is not very active. All the public statements of the opposition outside of Uzbekistan are worth nothing, if the people of Uzbekistan don’t react.
10) How do you see your future as an opposition leader?
I have good organizational skills, many good ideas and want to make them come true. There are also shortcomings. I try to work on my shortcomings. People’s trust is very important for me. I have tried, am trying and will try to justify their confidence. I am sure that in future the People’s Movement Birdamlik will succeed in changing the existing regime in Uzbekistan.
On 24th of October this year on the website iwpr.net the article « Uzbekistan: the opposition couldn’t reach the protest quorum» was published, where these questions and answers appeared in slightly changed and abridged versions. We suggest this article to your judgment also.
Uzbekistan: the opposition couldn’t reach the protest quorum.
Or
Protest Plans Fail in Uzbekistan
By News Briefing Central Asia– News Briefing Central Asia
24 Oct 11
Opposition protests planned in two towns in Uzbekistan came to nothing when no one turned up.
The Birdamlik opposition movement announced demonstrations in the capital Tashkent and in Shahrisabz in the west of the country between October 11 and 14. The watchword was “Mass Complaint”, and the intention was to ask the judiciary to account for unlawful actions committed by the government.
Local analysts said the failure of the protests reflected the opposition-in-exile’s lack of understanding of the public mood, which is fearful of unrest.
In an interview for NBCentralAsia, Birdamlik’s leader Bahodir Choriev, who is now based in the United States, accepted that the appeal to action had not worked, but rejected claims that the opposition was out of touch. He stressed that his group would support only non-violent methods of resisting the Uzbek government.
NBCentralAsia: What were you anticipating when you urged people to take part in protests?
Bahodir Choriev: I was counting on the people of Uzbekistan to overcome the fear the authorities have instilled in them, just as the Tunisians, Egyptians and Libyans have done, and to stand up for their constitutional rights through legal, non-violent action. But we didn’t manage to achieve that.
NBCentralAsia: You returned to Uzbekistan before the 2009 parliamentary election, but you were forced to leave. (See Uzbek Opposition Party Leader Makes Surprise Return.) Do you still believe it’s possible to oppose the authorities by peaceful means?
Choriev: The current regime in Uzbekistan can only be overthrown by well-organised, non-violent struggle. I do not wish to spill blood of either my supporters or my enemies. Many [other] opposition figures do not believe in non-violent resistance. I, however, wanted to use this action to nudge people towards peaceful protest and show that our aims can be achieved by those means.
NBCentralAsia: Many of your critics say that since you’re abroad, you have ceased to be politically relevant.
Choriev: That allegation is unfounded. Time will show that I was right, and these critics will realise that they were wrong.
NBCentralAsia: They also say you have western sponsors who are funding these appeals for popular protest.
Choriev: I can say in all honesty that the Birdamlik movement has not received a penny from any donor organisation. All of our activities in the last seven years have been funded out of money we have invested in them ourselves.
NBCentralAsia: How do you think events are going to unfold in Uzbekistan?
Choriev: The Arab Spring scenario just won’t work in Uzbekistan. In 2005, President Islam Karimov’s regime showed it was prepared to kill hundreds of people [in Andijan]. That isn’t something we need.
We have learnt a great deal from past events in terms of mobilising our supporters. Now we are working on it and addressing our mistakes, and then we will start organising [protest] actions again.
This article was produced as part of IWPR’s News Briefing Central Asia output, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy.