Kyrgyz representatives barred from Pillay's meeting with Uzbek diaspora in Osh
OSH. July 11 (Interfax) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, has met with senior officials of the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, where deadly clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks occurred two years ago.
Our office in Osh has received complaints against law enforcement and judicial authorities, Pillay said.
We would also like to see the human rights issue at the center of long-term governmental programs, she said at the meeting.
I am aware that the Osh city hall has no authority to decide issues concerning the judicial and law enforcement systems, but we also know that the city mayor is an important and key figure and we would like the mayor to state publicly that law enforcement agencies have stopped torturing detained citizens, said the UN high commissioner for human rights.
The meeting was attended by Osh Deputy Mayor Dastanbek Khodjayev, Rustam Mirzamatov and Deputy Speaker of the Osh city kenesh (council) Amanullo Iminov.
The meeting between the UN high commissioner and the Uzbek part of the Osh population was held behind closed doors. Heads of local committees and other enthusiasts of Kyrgyz ethnicity were barred from the meeting. After a minor scuffle the outraged people dispersed, an Interfax correspondent said.