Great tidbit on Registan, found through yesterday’s Global Voices roundup – the fines for viewing political sites in Uzbek internet cafes are twice as high as the fines for viewing porn. At 1100 som to the dollar, playboy.com will cost you almost $5, but viewing ferghana.ru will set you back almost $10. (Intentionally damaging a computer costs twice that – 20,000 som. No word on whether viewing political sites will damage your computer.)
Ferghana’s English language news service also points out that Karimov has now ordered cable stations throughout Uzbekistan to switch to broadcasting state propoganda or be shut down. Specifically, the stations are being told to broadcast a portfolio of programs from Uzbekiston Kabel Sistemalari, a company owned 80% by Karimov’s daughter. Who knows – perhaps she’s got some interesting candid shots of the dictator she’s like to get on the air.
The US government has, helpfully, issued a travel warning urging Americans not to visit our ally in the war on terror just now… Both the US and Israelis are removing some embassy staff from Uzbekistan, apparently in response to terror threats.
US troops, though, are still based in Uzbekistan and not likely to go anywhere soon, even though some right-wing Bush allies have become critical of our relationship with Karimov.
Special bonus story – BBC, also via Registan – Pro-government demonstration in Jizzakh features the banner: “Human rights activists are enemies of the motherland”. Something for us all to keep in mind as we blog human rights stories.