LAT: Uzbek Witness Tells of Brutality on Both Sides

[NoPasaran]

ANDIJON, Uzbekistan — They called themselves "the Brotherhood." Devout Muslims and astute businessmen, they grew to include about 200 associates. They ran bakeries, garment and shoe factories, carpentry and leatherwork shops, even a medical center and charitable activities.

They were the business elite of this city of 300,000 in eastern Uzbekistan's poor but densely populated Fergana Valley, known as a hotbed of Islamic fervor.

But the authoritarian government of President Islam Karimov saw them as a threat, and put 23 members on trial last year as alleged religious extremists running a criminal organization. All but one were imprisoned during the proceedings.

As the trial approached its conclusion, a volatile mixture of political and religious repression, poverty and radical Islam exploded in violence and death on May 13, raising concerns about the political stability of a key U.S. ally in Central Asia. The Pentagon said last week, without providing details, that activities at a U.S. base here that support operations in Afghanistan had been scaled back because of concern about the events in Andijon.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uzbek23may23.story