Shilling for Karimov

The Korea Times carries the Karimov line as told by Kim Yun-seek. For those pundits who continue to say that the United States has or does offer unconditional support to Islam Karimov, here is a clue as to what unconditional support actually looks like. Seriously, it makes the kind of wishy-washy talk found in State Department daily press briefings sound like scathing denunciations.

President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan believes in the evolutionary development of civilization, the introduction of the European model of development in Uzbekistan, and opposes the establishment of Islamic Khalifah and the spread of religious fanaticism

I was in Tashkent May 10-24 to accompany President Roh Moo-hyun during his state visit to Uzbekistan and proceed with my official duties. Therefore, I am familiar with the situation in Uzbekistan and want to express my view on the Andijan events of May 13, 2005.

Two weeks in the company of Uzbek officials is hardly what I would prescribe for someone who wants to get “familiar with the situation.” It is, on the other hand, plenty of time to figure out how to spout the party line for financial gain.

Kim Yun-seek argues that what happened in Andijon was clearly an attempt to establish a caliphate by Hizb ut-Tahrir militants, and goes on to criticize the UK for not restricting the group’s operations inside its borders.

I almost have to wonder whether or not someone in Uzbekistan wrote this article for Kim. It so obviously serves the needs of the Uzbek government that it fails to even slightly be a serious analysis of what took place in Andijon. There is no mention of Akramiya, the closest thing resembling an organized Islamist organization involved in the events. There is no mention of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, one of many groups to be suspected of Islamist violence before considering Hizb ut-Tahrir.

What there is, is this:

It is time to understand that Uzbekistan is probably the last barrier stemming the spread of terrorism and religious fundamentalism.

And this:

The pragmatic and far-sighted politician Karimov did not casually draw our attention to the situation in Central Asia, and to Afghanistan in particular.

And this:

I think that we must support President Karimov, who has rejected these demands as interference into the internal affairs of Uzbekistan.

“The Uzbek people will never depend on anyone” Islam Karimov said. These words contain deep sense and while coming from the heart they express the will and aspirations of all the people of Uzbekistan.

And this:

From my personal experience I can see how Islam Karimov realizes reforms and democratization in the country.

I am deeply impressed with the substantive meetings the presidents of Uzbekistan and Korea had with businessmen during which Karimov has urged us, Korean businessmen, to do business in Uzbekistan where all conditions for successful business were created, and the law on foreign investments has no analogy.

And more, and more, and more.

I particularly think that this is worth highlighting.

Andijan is a toiler city where many industrial enterprises are located, hospitable and hardworking people are lived and worked. However, achievements made for over the years of independence in the field of economy, small business and private entrepreneurship, may develop only in stable and safe environments.

Kim Yun-seek is quite right about this. I don’t, however, think he quite realizes how right he is. For all his talk of Uzbekistan’s “conditions for successful business,” he fails to recognize that the number one threat to economic development in Uzbekistan is, has been, and appears likely to continue to be the Uzbek government.

I generally do share the Uzbek government’s slow transition approach to economic development. However, there certainly is a point at which it is hard to tell whether or not the pace of change is just very (too!) slow or absolute zero.

What I especially hate about this line of argument no matter who tells it is that it implicitly claims that all those who deviate even a little disagree in entirety and actually support an Islamist takeover of Uzbekistan. At least that is about the only way that I can actually understand how Karimov could arrive at the absurd argument he hints at that the United States tried to overthrow him by use of Islamist militants in Andijon. What I have never heard him say, but entirely can imagine him believing is that the United Kingdom is using Hizb ut-Tahrir to undermine him. Because, after all, if only everyone did exactly what Karimov says to do, not a single one of the problems facing his country would exist.

Back to Kim Yun-seek, I should say that I am far from informed when it comes to South Korean politics, but he does appear to be a slippery character. He was stripped of his National Assembly seat for electoral violations (and dragged his trial out so long that he essentially served his term). He was also investigated for joining the GNP in exchange for 200 million won right before the 2002 presidential election. I’m not sure how that case ended up, but I can see why he might view Uzbekistan’s government and economy as clean.