Human rights groups urge EU caution on Turkmenistan
-02/06/06
A coalition of human righ
Human rights groups urge EU caution on Turkmenistan
-02/06/06
A coalition of human rights groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), is urging members of the European Parliament to reject a proposed interim agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkmenistan on trade and trade-related matters until significant improvements in human rights are demonstrated.
The request comes in a joint letter circulated to all MEPs by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Federation Internationale Droits de líHomme, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, International Helsinki Federation, Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture and Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.
The Caspary Report recommended the EU adopt an interim trade agreement with Turkmenistan, The members of the European Parliament will be voting on the issue in the forthcoming plenary session in early July 2006.
Since gaining its independence in 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled with an iron fist by President Saparmurad Niyazov, say critics. The government tolerates no dissent, allows no independent media or opposition political parties, and has driven into exile or imprisoned political activists, human rights defenders and independent journalists.
Turkmenistan is also considered one of the worldís most repressive countries in terms of religious freedom. Faith groups, whether officially registered or not, are harassed by security officials and religious practice is tightly controlled by the state, says CSW.
Commenting on the proposed Trade Agreement, CSW advocacy director Tina Lambert, said: ìThe European Union has rejected Trade Agreements with other countries who routinely abuse human rights, the most recent example being Belarus. Signing any trade agreement with Turkmenistan at this time would undermine the EUís previous principled action.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Rajasthan governor refuses to sign anti-conversion bill; Vietnamese Mennonite church faces violent security raid; Church congregation attacked in Indonesia; Christians subject to wave of arrests in Eritrea; Christians welcome new UN rapporteur on North Korea; Christians allege Burmese gas attack; Christian children forced to become Buddhist monks; Christian human rights group praises Egyptian action; Christians protest to remember Burma uprising]
Human rights groups urge EU caution on Turkmenistan
-02/06/06
A coalition of human rights groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), is urging members of the European Parliament to reject a proposed interim agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkmenistan on trade and trade-related matters until significant improvements in human rights are demonstrated.
The request comes in a joint letter circulated to all MEPs by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Federation Internationale Droits de líHomme, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, International Helsinki Federation, Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture and Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.
The Caspary Report recommended the EU adopt an interim trade agreement with Turkmenistan, The members of the European Parliament will be voting on the issue in the forthcoming plenary session in early July 2006.
Since gaining its independence in 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled with an iron fist by President Saparmurad Niyazov, say critics. The government tolerates no dissent, allows no independent media or opposition political parties, and has driven into exile or imprisoned political activists, human rights defenders and independent journalists.
Turkmenistan is also considered one of the worldís most repressive countries in terms of religious freedom. Faith groups, whether officially registered or not, are harassed by security officials and religious practice is tightly controlled by the state, says CSW.
Commenting on the proposed Trade Agreement, CSW advocacy director Tina Lambert, said: ìThe European Union has rejected Trade Agreements with other countries who routinely abuse human rights, the most recent example being Belarus. Signing any trade agreement with Turkmenistan at this time would undermine the EUís previous principled action.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Rajasthan governor refuses to sign anti-conversion bill; Vietnamese Mennonite church faces violent security raid; Church congregation attacked in Indonesia; Christians subject to wave of arrests in Eritrea; Christians welcome new UN rapporteur on North Korea; Christians allege Burmese gas attack; Christian children forced to become Buddhist monks; Christian human rights group praises Egyptian action; Christians protest to remember Burma uprising]