Human Rigths Watch calls upon the OECD, due to decide on how to intervene later today, and explains that in the area of Osh, capillary, harassment and violence against ethnic Uzbeks continue. Witnesses accuse police.

Bishkek (AsiaNews / HRW) - Human Rigths Watch, the well known pro-human rights group, warns that ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan is ongoing, in a less evident but widespread manner. It urges the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to immediately send a police force.

The OCSE Permanent Council is meeting today to decide how to intervene, also in response to a request for assistance from the Interim Government. HRW calls for the immediate dispatch of a police force large enough to control the whole are that was the scene of recent violence in Kyrgyzstan and warns that sending unarmed observers, as the OECD has done so far, risks being "too little too late”.

Rachel Denber, deputy director at Human Rights Watch for Europe and Central Asia, explains that "even if it is good news that the referendum [of Sunday, June 27] was conducted without violence, they must not pretend that the situation in Kyrgyzstan is resolved." On the contrary they should immediately send an international police force "to protect civilians and stabilize the situation."

HRW officials present in Osh have collected evidence of continuing episodes of organized violence: ethnic Kyrgyz stop ethnic Uzbeks in the street to threaten them and beat them "warning" not to be seen, even in their own city. The members of Human Rights Watch have raised "serious and credible evidence" of abuse perpetrated by police and army during security operations, even in recent days. Only yesterday ethnic Uzbeks were detained for no apparent reason before being released after several hours without explanation. Three have testified that ethnic Uzbeks were arrested and beaten for no reason, showing conspicuous hematoma.

People of Shai-Tepe, a suburb of Osh Uzbek, report there was a raid by armed persons and some with faces covered on the morning of June 23, who have beaten the men without explanation. Other witnesses speak of would-be policemen raiding houses to check passports and who appropriated money and other valuables.

Rachel Denber says that "if the security forces during their operations have violated human rights, the truth must be restored. The authorities must ensure that those involved in these operations do not violate the law and respect the rights of residents.  Human rights groups must be allowed to monitor these operations".

• KYRGYZSTAN
• OECD
• ethnic
• violence
• police
• arrest
• HRW
• uzbeks