[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 164 (Sunday, December 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H12178-H12179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ARREST OF SANJAR UMAROV

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 545) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives on the arrest of Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 545

       Whereas the United States supports the development of 
     democracy, free markets, and civil society in Uzbekistan and 
     in other states in Central Asia;
       Whereas the rule of law, the impartial application of the 
     law, and equal justice for all courts of law are pillars of 
     all democratic societies;
       Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly arrested in Tashkent, 
     Uzbekistan, on October 22, 2005;
       Whereas Sanjar Umarov is a businessman and leader of the 
     Uzbek opposition party, Sunshine Coalition;
       Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly taken into custody on 
     October 22, 2005, during a crackdown on the Sunshine 
     Coalition that included a raid of its offices and seizure of 
     its records;
       Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly charged with grand 
     larceny;
       Whereas press accounts report that representatives of 
     Sanjar Umarov claim that Mr. Umarov was drugged and abused 
     while at his pretrial confinement center in Tashkent, 
     Uzbekistan, but such accounts could not be immediately 
     confirmed, and official information about the health, 
     whereabouts, and treatment while in custody of Mr. Umarov has 
     thus far been unavailable;
       Whereas the United States has expressed its serious concern 
     regarding the overall state of human rights in Uzbekistan and 
     is seeking to clarify the facts of this case;
       Whereas the European Union (EU) and the Organization for 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have expressed 
     concern about the arrest and possible abuse of Sanjar Umarov; 
     and
       Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan is party to various 
     treaty obligations, and in particular those under the 
     International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which 
     obligate governments to provide for due process in criminal 
     cases: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the law enforcement and judicial authorities of 
     Uzbekistan should ensure that Sanjar Umarov is accorded the 
     full measure of his rights under the Uzbekistan Constitution 
     to defend himself against any and all charges that may be 
     brought against him, in a fair and transparent process, so 
     that individual justice may be done;
       (2) the Government of Uzbekistan should observe its various 
     treaty obligations, especially those under the International 
     Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obligate 
     governments to provide for due process in criminal cases; and
       (3) the Government of Uzbekistan should publicly clarify 
     the charges against Sanjar Umarov, his current condition, and 
     his whereabouts.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.

[[Page H12179]]

                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 545 regarding the arrest 
of Uzbek opposition leader Sanjar Umarov.
  Mr. Umarov is a businessman and a leader of the Sunshine Coalition, 
an Uzbek opposition party that was formed in April in the wake of a 
popular uprising in neighboring Kyrgyzstan.
  The group quickly gained recognition after its condemnation of the 
severe military crackdown on demonstrators in the eastern city of 
Andijon earlier this year.
  On October 22, 2005, the Uzbek authorities launched a crackdown 
against the Sunshine Coalition that included a raid of its offices and 
a seizure of its records. Sanjar Umarov was then charged by the Uzbek 
regime. Press reports have alleged that Mr. Umarov was drugged and 
abused while at his pretrial confinement center.
  The State Department has expressed its serious concern regarding this 
case, and last month the Senate passed a companion resolution regarding 
Mr. Umarov's case. The Congress remains deeply troubled about the 
overall state of human rights in Uzbekistan, as that regime has become 
one of the world's most repressive.
  Freedom House and our own State Department rank Uzbekistan among some 
of the world's most notorious human rights violators. As an important 
first step toward addressing these underlying issues, this resolution 
calls on the Uzbek authorities to ensure that Mr. Umarov is accorded 
his full rights under Uzbek law and Uzbekistan's international 
obligations.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  I first would like to commend my good friend and colleague Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen for introducing this important measure relating to human 
rights in Uzbekistan.
  Mr. Speaker, the dissolution of the Soviet Union marked an historic 
triumph for freedom, democracy, and openness throughout the former 
Soviet realm. Millions of oppressed citizens of the former Soviet 
Union, from the Baltics to Georgia and Armenia, finally won the right 
to choose their leaders freely and openly and to speak publicly their 
minds about the future of their nation. This historic movement towards 
freedom and democracy was not uniform, and pockets of despotic 
totalitarianism remain within the realm of the former Soviet Union. The 
Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan is one such authoritarian pocket.
  Since Uzbekistan won its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, 
it has been ruled with an iron fist by Islam Karimov. Karimov came to 
power in 1991 in elections that our State Department characterized as 
``neither free nor fair,'' and I fully agree. His term in office has 
been repeatedly extended through sham referenda and actions taken by 
his rubber stamp parliament.
  During Karimov's brutal tenure, there has been absolutely no progress 
towards democratic reform. The government has severely limited freedom 
of speech and the press, and few reporters there write articles 
critical of the government for fear of being tossed in jail. 
Independent human rights organizations are denied registration by the 
government, and their activities are severely limited.
  It is in this context that Sanjar Umarov, a successful business 
leader in Uzbekistan, decided to form an opposition movement. His 
Sunshine Coalition raised questions about the lack of true democracy 
and freedom in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek government's abysmal 
performance running the nation. Umarov's party offices were raided in 
October. He was charged with grand larceny, following the Russian 
example of concocting alleged business crimes to justify the 
imprisonment of key opposition leaders. There have been reports that 
Mr. Umarov has been tortured while in custody and that his lawyer found 
him naked in his cell, covering his face with his hands, rocking back 
and forth.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House has a simple message: It 
urges the government of Uzbekistan to accord Mr. Sanjar Umarov the 
right to defend himself in court according to the rights provided to 
him by the constitution of Uzbekistan and that the charges against him 
be publicly clarified and his whereabouts announced.
  Mr. Speaker, the government's continued imprisonment of Mr. Umarov is 
yet another black eye for Uzbekistan internationally. I strongly urge 
the Uzbek government to reconsider their unwise action and release Mr. 
Umarov from jail immediately.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to work with 
my good friend from California, Mr. Lantos.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree the resolution, H. Res. 545.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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