EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: EUR 60/01/92

Distr: UA/SC

UA 413/92 Possible Extrajudicial Executions /

Fear of Extrajudicial Executions23 December 1992

TADZHIKISTAN: Suspected members of the opposition

from the Pamir and Garm regions

Amnesty International is concerned by reports that tens of unarmed civilians suspected of supporting the opposition have been extrajudicially executed in the Tadzhik capital of Dushanbe in recent weeks by forces loyal to the pro-communist government. Amnesty International fears that more people may be targeted and killed in this way.

A civil war has been raging in Tadzhikistan since May 1992. Government forces entered Dushanbe at the beginning of this month, after fierce fighting. Since then a number of deliberate and arbitrary killings have been reported among people from the Pamir and Garm regions of the country, areas believed by government supporters to be centres of opposition forces.

In one such incident outside the cinema "Tadzhikistan" on 15 December 1992, armed people in the uniform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are said to have stopped buses and separated out Tadzhik citizens whose place of birth was listed in their passports as being in the Pamir or Garm regions. Twenty people so identified were ordered to move to military vehicles and, when they refused, were reportedly shot dead on the spot. The previous day two people were said to have been shot dead in Circus Square after a similar passport check. In an undated incident, unofficial sources also report that Musa Isa, who came from the Pamir region and was leader of an opposition movement, has been killed. He was said to have been taken off a trolleybus by men in an armoured personnel carrier and placed under arrest, but his body was found on the street the next day.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A civil war has been raging in Tadzhikistan since May 1992, when rival demonstrations by supporters and opponents of President Rakhmon Nabiyev, a former leader of Tadzhikistan's Communist Party, erupted into armed conflict in Dushanbe. This forced the President to include representatives of the opposition Democratic Party and Islamic Renaissance Party in a coalition government. Thereafter, the centre of conflict shifted to the south of the country, where armed groups were divided along both political and clan lines. Fighting escalated after President Nabiyev was forced by his opponents to resign in September, and in late October forces loyal to the ousted President briefly occupied central Dushanbe before being expelled by forces loyal to the government of acting President Akbarsho Iskandarov. In an attempt to stop the civil war that government resigned in November and a special session of Tadzhikistan's parliament, still communist dominated, was convened in the northern city of Khodzhent. This dismissed Iskandarov and installed Imamali Rakhmonov as chairman of parliament and head of state. Forces apparently supporting the Islamic elements in the outgoing government refused to relinquish control of Dushanbe, which was being besieged by forces from the south of the country loyal to the new government created by the Khodzhent meeting. After fierce street battles the city fell on 10 December 1992.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English, Russian or in your own language:

Page 2 of UA 413/92

- expressing concern at the reported extrajudicial executions of unarmed civilians on the basis of their place of birth;

- urging a full and impartial investigation into all such incidents, the findings of which should be made public and the perpetrators brought to justice within the norms of international law;

- urging the government to take all necessary measures to ensure that forces under its control are aware of, and conform to, international standards on the use of force.

APPEALS TO:

1) Chairman of the Supreme Council Imamali Rakhmanov

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Verkhovny sovet Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Predsedatelyu Rakhmanovu I.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, Predsedatelyu VS Rakhmanovu I.

Faxes: + 3772 22 69 71

Salutation: Dear Chairman

2) Procurator General of Tadzhikistan Solidzhon Dzhurayev

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Prokuratura Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Generalnomu Prokuroru Dzhurayevu S.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, Gen. Prokuroru Dzhurayevu S.

Salutation: Dear Procurator

3) Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Guldastasho Imronshoyev

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

MVD Respubliki Tadzhikistan

I.O. Ministra Imronshoyevu G.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, MVD, Ministru Imronshoyevu

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Minister of Defence Maj.-Gen. Farouk Rakhmanov

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Ministerstvo Oborony

Ministru Rakhmanovu F.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Khudoberdi Kaliknazarov

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

MID Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Ministru Kaliknazarovu Kh.

Faxes: + 3772 23 29 64

Chairman of Parliamentary Commission for Legislation,

Law and Human Rights Abdullo Khabibov

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Kommisiya po zakonodatelstvu, pravu

i poryadku i po pravam cheloveka pri

Verkhovnom Sovete Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Predsedatelyu Khabibovu A.

and to diplomatic representatives of Tadzhikistan accredited to your country (these are usually to be found at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, the former Soviet Embassy).

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 February 1993.