Britain taught Uzbek killers "marksmanship" two months before Andijan massacre
.. | 03.07.2005 10:45 | Anti-militarism | Globalisation | Repression | London | World
British military advisers trained Uzbek troops in "marksmanship" shortly before a massacre in which hundreds of people were killed. The training was part of a larger programme funded by Britain despite concerns expressed by the Foreign Office at the time over the Uzbekistan government's human rights record.
A group of Uzbek military cadets were given a "coaching course" in marksmanship by British soldiers in February and March this year.
In May, Uzbek forces massacred up to 500 men, women and children in the town of Andijan. Uzbek troops used military Land Rovers in the operation.
It is not known whether any Uzbek military students or officers trained by Britain were involved in this or any other operation against civilians.
Details of Britain's military training programme in Uzbekistan have been given by Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, in answers to parliamentary questions from the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Michael Moore.
Over 100 Uzbek military personnel were trained by the British military advisory and training teams between October last year and March, at cost of £175,000. The courses included "field training" and instructor training, as well as coaching in marksmanship. Uzbek soldiers, including senior officers, have also been trained in Britain, in courses ranging from peacekeeping to "war-fighting".
One Uzbek officer attended a course in "managing defence in a democracy".
Land Rovers used by Uzbek troops during the killings in May appear to have been assembled under licence by the Turkish company Otokar.
There had been a joint exercise between the Uzbek and Turkish armies. Land Rovers "might have been put at the disposal of the [Uzbek] military", a spokesman for the British-based company told the Guardian last month.
In its latest human rights annual report, published last September, the Foreign Office said the government "appreciates Uzbekistan's support to the international coalition effort in Afghanistan but this does not mean that we have ignored human rights abuses in this or any other context".
The Ministry of Defence said last night: "Our limited activities in Uzbekistan are designed to sow the seeds of democratic management and accountability of the military."
In May, Uzbek forces massacred up to 500 men, women and children in the town of Andijan. Uzbek troops used military Land Rovers in the operation.
It is not known whether any Uzbek military students or officers trained by Britain were involved in this or any other operation against civilians.
Details of Britain's military training programme in Uzbekistan have been given by Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, in answers to parliamentary questions from the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Michael Moore.
Over 100 Uzbek military personnel were trained by the British military advisory and training teams between October last year and March, at cost of £175,000. The courses included "field training" and instructor training, as well as coaching in marksmanship. Uzbek soldiers, including senior officers, have also been trained in Britain, in courses ranging from peacekeeping to "war-fighting".
One Uzbek officer attended a course in "managing defence in a democracy".
Land Rovers used by Uzbek troops during the killings in May appear to have been assembled under licence by the Turkish company Otokar.
There had been a joint exercise between the Uzbek and Turkish armies. Land Rovers "might have been put at the disposal of the [Uzbek] military", a spokesman for the British-based company told the Guardian last month.
In its latest human rights annual report, published last September, the Foreign Office said the government "appreciates Uzbekistan's support to the international coalition effort in Afghanistan but this does not mean that we have ignored human rights abuses in this or any other context".
The Ministry of Defence said last night: "Our limited activities in Uzbekistan are designed to sow the seeds of democratic management and accountability of the military."
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