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Key developments since May 2000: Uzbekistan has mined its border areas with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Uzbek forces apparently were continuing to mine the border with Tajikistan in June 2001. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan contend that Uzbekistan has laid mines inside their borders. The new mining has resulted in an increase in mine victims in all three countries.
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Uzbekistan has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. It abstained from voting on the November 2000 UN General Assembly resolution supporting the Mine Ban Treaty. Representatives from Uzbekistan have not attended any international meetings related to mines in 2000 or 2001. Uzbekistan is party to the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its original Protocol II on mines, but has not ratified 1996 Amended Protocol II.
In a 31 July 2001 letter to Landmine Monitor, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the United States stated that Uzbekistan “de facto implements a number of [Mine Ban Treaty] provisions, specifically:
Uzbekistan’s acknowledgment of use of antipersonnel mines contradicts the statement that it does not stockpile landmines. A stockpile of antipersonnel mines, size and composition unknown, was probably inherited upon the dissolution of the USSR. Kyrgyz sources claim that Uzbek forces have used OZM-72 antipersonnel mines on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border.
Uzbekistan justifies use of antipersonnel mines on its borders as an attempt to prevent incursions by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which is dedicated to overthrowing the current government, and to prevent both drug traffickers and weapons traders from entering Uzbek territory.[1] Numerous Uzbek officials, including President Islam Karimov and Major General Makhmud Utaganov, head of the Uzbek state border committee, assert that mines are used only in areas where the civilian population does not reside.[2] President Karimov states, “[W]e are laying mines in those huge mountainous passes that are difficult of access, where we cannot set up an outpost. It is impossible for a person to live in mountains that are 4,000 meters high, where there are no living conditions and so we cannot deploy any detachment or set up a border outpost.”[3]
In his July 2001 letter to Landmine Monitor, Ambassador Khamrakulov states, “The mining of certain areas of the state border by the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan is necessitated by considerations of national security threatened by the incursions of armed international terrorist groups from outside. The landmining is not aimed at civilians, who according to the norms of international law are due to cross borders at specially assigned places. In this regard, at some border areas passage checkpoints have been established to ensure safe border-passage in accordance with international regulations and to avoid peaceful civilians’ being injured.”[449]
Complicating Uzbekistan’s use of mines is the fact that many border areas between Central Asian states remain in dispute. It has been alleged that Uzbekistan is unilaterally delineating borders by using mines. There are some 140 disputed areas on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border, while on Uzbek-Tajik border, the number reaches 700.[4] According to Interfax, Uzbekistan is currently using a border agreement signed at a recent meeting of the Shanghai Five (of which Uzbekistan became a member in June 2001) as a legal justification to continue mining in areas which Uzbekistan claims to be Uzbek. Certain sectors of the border were mined after notification was forwarded to Kyrgyz and Tajik representatives.[5]
General Utuganov claims that Uzbekistan’s mine use is justified under international law, stating, “These measures are being taken in conformity with provisions stipulated by the 1980 [CCW], which Uzbekistan ratified in 1997.”[6] General Utuganov has also said, however, “At the present time, additional measures are being taken to bring the marking of the minefields into accordance with generally accepted international standards.”[7] There has not been any independent confirmation that Uzbek use of mines has been strictly within the requirements of CCW Protocol II.
Uzbekistan has been mining its border with Tajikistan at least since 2000.[8] Tajikistan is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. The first mention in the media of mine casualties on the Uzbek-Tajik border occurred on 31 August 2000 when it was reported that four women were killed and two injured in a mine incident.[9] The first detailed report of the use of antipersonnel mines by Uzbekistan surfaced on 6 September 2000 when it was reported that engineer troops of the Uzbek armed forces mined “an area where one could pass to Iskandar Lake through Bodomiston Pass, 4,570 meters above sea level. Similar work was carried out on a path leading from Boghi Samarqand Hill to Chop Gorge and in Sandal village bordering on Tajikistan’s Panjakent and Ayniy districts.”[10] Minefields were also reported to be on the border in the Fergana valley.[11]
On 22 September 2000, Major General Komolov, Chairman of the Tajikistan Committee for Protecting the State Border, confirmed reports of Uzbek border guards planting antipersonnel mines on the Tajik border. The general stated that mines are laid along the entire length of the Uzbek-Tajik border and more than 10 Tajik citizens have been killed, including several border guards.[12]
On 4 October 2000, Uzbek Defense Minister Kodyr Gulomov said that Uzbekistan has begun mining part of its border with Tajikistan to prevent further incursions by the IMU.[13] Officials from Uzbekistan acknowledged at a November 2000 meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek border commission that their military, to prevent IMU rebels from entering Uzbekistan, plants mines in the border area.[14]
Responding to claims that landmines had been laid without informing adjacent countries, at a press conference on 29 November 2000, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said, “What was done was not unexpected by the Tajik side. Complete information was given to the appropriate authorities there;” he said his government therefore does not accept responsibility for casualties of Tajik citizens.[15] In December 2000, the Secretary of Uzbekistan’s National Security Council, Mir-Akbar Rakmankulov, said, “The Tajik military were provided with full information explaining where the mines had been planted and why these measures were taken.”[16] The Tajik Foreign Ministry has disputed this and has sent notes of protest to Tashkent after mine incidents.[17]
Uzbek Defense Minister Kodyr Gulomov acknowledged the use of antipersonnel mines by Uzbek military forces in a meeting with Human Rights Watch in December 2000. While regretting civilian casualties, he noted that mines are the only option available. Minister Gulomov stated that mines are only used on mountain paths and that the other means for border security are being explored, like electronic signaling. He also accused Tajiks of removing warning signs indicating the location of the minefields.[18]
On 7 May 2001, the secretary of the Tajik Security Council Amirqul Azimov said that “26 citizens of Tajikistan have been killed and 32 others have been injured in mine explosions on the Tajik-Uzbek border. To date, these mines have not blown up one Uzbek militant, while casualties among the civilian Tajik population have increased.”[19] The Tajik deputy foreign minister, Abdunabi Sattorzoda, stated, “Officially, Uzbekistan asserts that it is placing mines in its territory, but so far the border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have not been delineated. Therefore it is impossible to definitely say in whose territory the mines are being placed.”[20] At a press conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s Defense Minister Gulomov, stated: “All mines laid have been marked with special plates warning of danger.” [21]
New areas of the Uzbek-Tajik border were reported mined during the week of 10 May 2001. Uzbek authorities reportedly gave the Tajik government official notification of the mining.[22] Tajik officials claimed that Uzbek border guards planted 40 more mines on the Uzbek-Tajik border on 26 June 2001.[23]
Uzbek border guards reportedly began mining the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border in early November 1999.[24] Minefields are reportedly emplaced along the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border in the Ferghana valley and around the perimeter of Sokh, an Uzbek enclave, in the southern Batken region of Kyrgyzstan.[25] According to information from the Kyrgyz National Information Agency, the mines used by Uzbekistan are primarily OZM-72 bounding fragmentation antipersonnel mines.[26]
Kyrgyz officials said that they were not informed about the mines laid by Uzbekistan, stating that the Uzbek side did not pass to Kyrgyzstan maps of minefields and did not post signs to “ensure visibility and recognizability of the mines by the civilian population.”[27] Tynychbek Kalybekov of the Kyrgyz border guard service said the Kyrgyz military had not received maps indicating the location of minefields.[28] A journalist reported that mines were laid near the Kyrgyz settlement of Boz Adyr, and that initially the area was marked with warning signs, which later disappeared.[29]
Some Kyrgyz officials have said that Uzbek minefields in the Batken region and the Sokh enclave penetrate 100-250 meters deep into Kyrgyz territory and that the minefields are unmarked.[30] The Batken administration in the border area has stated that mines are deployed 50-250 meters deep into Kyrgyz territory.[31] But, the governor of the Ferghana region of Uzbekistan insists that mines are deployed only with Uzbek territory, and 200-250 meters from the border. “The border running between Uzbekistan and the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan is the most difficult one,” said Kyrgyzstan’s main negotiator Salamat Alamanov. “We proposed not only to start negotiations by discussing frontier problems in Batken, but also to set up a special group dealing with only this particular stretch of border.”[32]
The threat and number of casualties due to mines on Uzbekistan’s borders is more substantial because of the combination of increased Uzbek restrictions on travel (visa regimes, traffic blockade) and deteriorating economic conditions in Tajikistan (drought, famine). Tighter Uzbek border controls coupled with increased desire to cross the border illegally for economic reasons, is forcing the historically high Uzbek-Tajik traffic into mine-affected areas.
Although regional and international news sources report that 26-30 people have died because of injuries from Uzbek mines, the exact number is not verifiable. That the number of landmine victims is increasing, however, is quite clear. These include:
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[448] Letter from Ambassador Shavkat Khamrakulov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States of America, to Mary Wareham, Coordinator of Landmine Monitor, 31 July 2001.
[1] President Karimov stated, “We are planting mines precisely in the gorges that traditionally have become drug corridors. This is no secret.” Uzbek Radio First Program, in Uzbek, Tashkent, 1400 GMT, 11 May 2001, reprinted in BBC Monitoring, 15 May 2001. Major General Utaganov said, “According to intelligence data gathered before the mining, the areas involved had been used as corridors for the transit of drugs, weapons, and illegal movements of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.” Paul Goble, “Uzbekistan: Analysis from Washington -- Undermining Confidence By Washington,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 21 June 2001.
[2] “Uzbekistan Mining Borders in Mountains,” Interfax (Tashkent), 19 June 2001.
[3] Uzbek Radio First Program, in Uzbek, Tashkent, 1400 GMT, 11 May 2001, reprinted in BBC Monitoring, 15 May 2001.
[449] Letter from Ambassador Shavkat Khamrakulov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States of America, to Mary Wareham, Coordinator of Landmine Monitor, 31 July 2001.
[4] Zakhir Sabokhi, “Mines are exploding,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 28 March 2001.
[5] “Uzbekistan Mining Borders in Mountains,” Interfax (Tashkent,) 19 June 2001.
[6] Paul Goble, “Uzbekistan: Analysis from Washington -- Undermining Confidence By Washington,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 21 June 2001.
[7] “Uzbekistan Mining Borders in Mountains,” Interfax (Tashkent,) 19 June 2001.
[8] “Uzbekistan Mines Border with Tajikistan,” RFE/RL Newsline, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, 5 October 2000.
[9] “Four killed, two hurt in landmine blast on Tajik-Uzbek border,” Agence France-Presse, 31 August 2000.
[10] “Mountainous Areas in Southern Uzbekistan Being Mined,” Uzland.uz, 6 September 2000.
[11] “Storm over Uzbek Landmines: Protests grow as civilians fall victim to mines planted by Uzbek military along the country’s remote borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,” IWPR Central Asia, 15 December 2000.
[12] “Uzbek Army plants mines on border with Tajikistan,” Moscow RIA (translated text), 22 September 2000.
[13] “Uzbekistan Mines Border with Tajikistan,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 5 October 2000.
[14] Email from R. Dyryldaev, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights in exile, 11 November 2000; Bruce Pannier, “Central Asia: Kyrgyz, Tajiks complain about Uzbek landmines,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 29 November 2000.
[15] Bruce Pannier, “Central Asia: Kyrgyz, Tajiks complain about Uzbek landmines,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 29 November 2000.
[16] “Storm over Uzbek Landmines: Protests grow as civilians fall victim to mines planted by Uzbek military along the country’s remote borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting (Central Asia), 15 December 2000.
[17] “One killed, two injured in landmine blast on Tajik-Uzbek border,” Agence FrancePresse (Dushanbe), 8 January 2001.
[18] Human Rights Watch interview with Kodyr Gulomov, Uzbek Minister of Defense, Tashkent, 20 December 2000.
[19] “Tajikistan: Victims of Uzbek Land Mines Increasing,” Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 8 May 2001, available on-line through The Times of Central Asia at http://www.times.kg/?D=print&aid=1019224.
[20] “Tajikistan: Victims of Uzbek land mines increasing,” Integrated Regional Information Networks, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 8 May 2001.
[21] Ibid.
[22] “Uzbeks notify Tajiks of new border mines,” Integrated Regional Information Networks, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 10 May 2001.
[23] “Tajik man killed in landmine blast on Tajik-Uzbek border,” Agence France Presse (Dushanbe), 27 June 2001.
[24] “Bishkek Fights Against the Extremist,” The Times of Central Asia, 27 May 2001. At nearly the same time it was reported that a mine blast occurred inside Kyrgyzstan in a pasture in Kataga near the border with Uzbekistan in which four sheep were killed. E-mail from Galieva Cholpon of IPPNW to Landmine Monitor, 5 November 2000; translation of a Vecherny Bishkek newspaper article dated 3 November 2000.
[25] “Storm over Uzbek Landmines: Protests grow as civilians fall victim to mines planted by Uzbek military along the country’s remote borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting (Central Asia), 15 December 2000.
[26] A. Knyazev, reporter for Slovo Kyrgyzstana (Word of Kyrgyzstan), “Mine war as one of the realities of Central Asia,” appearing in V Kontse Nedeli, 16 February 2001, p. 11; also available online through the database of the Kyrgyz National Information Agency KABAR at www.kabar.gov.kg/russian/gazet/2001/2/16-4.htm.
[27] Bruce Pannier, “Central Asia: Kyrgyz, Tajiks complain about Uzbek landmines,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 29 November 2000; “Kyrgyzstan: MPs issue international appeal over Uzbek border mines,” ITAR-TASS (Moscow), 14 May 2001.
[28] “Storm over Uzbek Landmines: Protests grow as civilians fall victim to mines planted by Uzbek military along the country’s remote borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting (Central Asia), 15 December 2000.
[29] Interview with Daniel Karimov, journalist, 3 May 2000.
[30] A. Knyazev, reporter for Slovo Kyrgyzstana (Word of Kyrgyzstan), “Mine war as one of the realities of Central Asia,” appearing in V Kontse Nedeli, 16 February 2001, p. 11; also available online through the database of the Kyrgyz National Information Agency KABAR at www.kabar.gov.kg/russian/gazet/2001/2/16-4.htm.
[31] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Uzbek Mine War against Kyrgyzstan,” Navigator (Internet newspaper), 7 December 2000.
[32] “Storm over Uzbek Landmines: Protests grow as civilians fall victim to mines planted by Uzbek military along the country’s remote borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting (Central Asia), 15 December 2000.
[33] All above from Zakhir Sabokhi, “Mines are exploding,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 28 March 2001.
[34] “Beat up your own people so that others will be afraid? Uzbek villagers die in the time of peace because of the landmines,” PRIMA news agency, 2 July 2001.
[35] “Tajikistan: Victims of Uzbek Land Mines Increasing,” Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 8 May 2001.
