Published: August 22, 2005
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War: Central Asia - Faith Still Spreading - Unity in Hatred
By Willard Payne 
Night Watch: FERGHANA VALLEY - Wandering preachers, pilgrims in turbans with staffs often approach the population of this strategic valley by entering a kishiak (settlement) and find the chaikhana (tea house), take out the Koran and begin discussing theology. That is the established technique of this particular Islamic sect, the Tabliga Jamaat (Society for Proliferation of the Faith), which was established in India in 1927. In the course of their teachings they eventually compare their hatred of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov, with the local population.
According to Ferghana.Ru Information Agency, the government refers to the spreading of the faith as the "aggression". The Ferghana valley connects to the impoverished and desperate population of three Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, two of them have serious working relations with Iran. Earlier this year Tajikistan’s Defense Minister spent a week in Iran and both captitals have pledged not to allow a third country to construct military bases in their countries. Almost the day after Kyrgyzstan removed its Moscow-Washington backed President, Tehran deposited 50 million Euros into Bishkek.
Karimov, maniacally supported by Moscow and Beijing, is the target now, President of the most heavily populated country in Central Asia and the world’s fifth largest producer of gold. The Council of Guardians would be remiss if they passed up this opportunity to use the Islamic sects and popular support of those who are opposed to Karimov. Whether the opposition comes from commercial interests or Islamic fundamentalists and all their variety, their unity revolves around their combined hatred of an oppressive ruler.
Currently the authorities are offering a $10,000 bonus for the killing of Andizhan rebel leader Kabul Parpiyev. He passed through Kyrgyzstan but due to pressure from the Uzbek National Security Service on his family Parpiyev said, in an interview, he has been forced to leave Central Asia.
My guess would be he is now in Iran but the real danger to Tashkent is not the leaders they know but the ones they do not know but Tehran does. The next uprising, perhaps heavily armed and possible assassination attempt on Karimov, depends on Tehran’s time-table.
Night Watch Information Service
http://www.crossfirewar.com
Based in Flossmoor,IL 60422.
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