Voicing concern about serious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in most states of Central Asia, including substantial noncompliance with their Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on democratization and the holding of free and fair elections.

Summary

Declares that Congress: (1) expresses concern about the tendency of Central Asian leaders to seek to remain in power indefinitely and their willingness to manipulate constitutions, elections, and legislative and judicial systems to do so; and (2) reminds the leaders of Central Asian states that elections cannot be free and fair unless all citizens can take part in the political process on an equal basis, without intimidation or fear of reprisal, and with confidence that their human rights and fundamental freedoms will be fully respected. Urges: (1) Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to come into compliance with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, specifically the holding of free and fair elections that do not exclude genuine challengers, to permit independent and opposition parties and candidates to participate on an equal basis with representation in election commissions at all levels, and to allow domestic non-governmental and political party observers, as well as international observers; (2) Central Asian leaders to establish conditions for independent and opposition media to function without constraint, limitation, or fear of harassment, to repeal criminal laws which impose prison sentences for alleged defamation of the state or public officials, and to provide access to state media on an equal basis during election campaigns to independent and opposition parties and candidates; (3) the leaders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to condemn and take effective steps to cease the systematic use of torture and other inhuman treatment by authorities against political opponents and others and to permit the registration of independent and opposition parties and candidates; and (4) Voice of America and Radio Liberty to expand broadcasting to Central Asia. Encourages the Administration to: (1) raise with the governments of other OSCE participating states the possible implications for OSCE participation of any participating state in the region that engages in clear, gross, and uncorrected violations of its OSCE commitments; and (2) seek formation of an OSCE Human Dimension Mission to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to investigate the human rights situation.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 21 October 1999

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 21 October 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 21 October 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 11 November 1999

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2361-2362)

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

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Versions

• Introduced in House · 21 October 1999 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 October 1999

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 October 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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Sponsors

• Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Forbes, Michael P. [D-NY-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. McKinney, Cynthia A. [D-GA-4] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsfa00 · Standing

Related records

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