Witness testimony strongly suggests that Uzbekistan's military and security forces committed serious human-rights violations when they fired on protesters in the eastern town of Andizhan, the UN said yesterday.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, reiterated a call for an independent investigation into May's events in Andizhan, where hundreds were killed when government troops opened fire on unarmed civilians, according to witnesses and human rights groups.
"Grave human rights violations, mostly of the right to life, were committed by Uzbek military and security forces," the office of the High Commissioner said in a 25-page report.
Uzbek forces did not try to use non-violent methods before they resorted to firearms, and failed to give a clear warning of their intent to fire, according to the report.
"It is not excluded ... that the incidents amounted to a mass killing," the report said.
A comprehensive international investigation, including forensic and ballistic experts as well as crime-scene investigators, needs to be set up "promptly" to determine if serious rights violations were committed and who was responsible, the report said.
Investigators "should be ... guaranteed freedom of movement, free access to all relevant places and to all relevant documents," the report said.
The report also said there was "urgent need" for neighboring countries to halt deportations of Uzbek asylum seekers back to their home, saying they "would face the risk of torture if returned" to Uzbekistan.
Because of conflicting death tolls -- with the government claiming fewer than 200 were killed, and rights groups saying up to 750 died -- the inquiry also should establish what happened to the bodies, the report said.
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