IHF calls for greater international pressure

International pressure was vital to improving the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) told IRIN on Monday. "Turkmenistan is one of the most repressive countries in the world, in a category with North Korea or pre-war Iraq," Dr Aaron Rhodes, executive director of the IHF said from Vienna. "The government has embraced virtually none of the political values to which it has committed itself as a participating state in the OSCE [Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe]. As a result, the people have virtually no chance to exercise their human rights and to develop as individuals, families, through civil society, and as members of a democracy reflecting Turkmenistan's own culture and traditions." And while Turkmenistan's human rights have long been criticised since the country gained its independence in 1991, the situation is said to have markedly worsened following an alleged assassination bid against Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov in November 2002, who has single-handedly ruled the largely desert, but energy-rich nation, for over a decade. Hundreds of opposition activists are said to have been arrested in what has been described as a further crackdown on dissent. But addressing such issues in a country living under such a regime won't be easy. On the occasion of the 60th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, currently underway in Geneva, further pressure on Central Asia's most reclusive state was needed, IHF said. According to a statement by the group, in April 2003, the 59th Session Commission adopted a resolution on Turkmenistan's human rights record. The resolution, among other things, deplored the treatment of individuals accused of participation in the alleged assassination attempt Niyazov, but referred to arbitrary arrests and detentions, the absence of the observation of minimum rules of due process, the use of torture or the threat of torture, and closed court proceedings. It also deplored the reluctance of Ashgabat to cooperate with the OSCE "Moscow Mechanism" that was invoked in order to investigate and collect information on human rights violations in the country. The UN Commission inter alia called upon the government to ensure full respect of all basic human rights; to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations; and to fully cooperate with international organisations on human rights questions. By an overwhelming majority later in December, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reiterating the same concerns and urged Ashgabat to implement fully the measures set out in the Commission on Human Rights resolution and to inform the Commission before its 60th session of the steps being taken in this regard - an action it failed to do. "Regrettably, the Turkmen government has failed to address any of the concerns raised by the UN Commission on Human Rights. What is more, in 2003 and the first months of 2004, Turkmenistan's human rights record has deteriorated markedly," Rhodes said at the time of the statement on Friday and outlined in a new IHF report entitled: Turkmenistan: The Making of a Failed State". While the IHF is grateful for the support of UN members that have joined the resolutions expressing concern about Turkmenistan, it is not the only state that needs to alter its policies on the basis of these documents. Turkmenistan's powerful bilateral trading and security partners need to fulfill their responsibilities to help convince the government to honour human rights principles and agreements. "We hope that Russia might assist in this based on her large economic relationship with Turkmenistan. Other countries, including France and Germany, have financial interests there," Rhodes explained, calling for Washington to do more. "There is no contradiction between cooperation on regional security threats and improving human rights," the IHF official said. [For a full copy of the IHF report see: www.ihf-hr.org]