The United Nations on Wednesday urged the government of Kyrgyzstan to halt all forced returns of Uzbeks seeking asylum. In a joint statement, U.N. human rights chief Louise Arbour and newly installed refugee chief Antonio Guterres called on Kyrgyzstan to fulfill its responsibility under international refugee and human rights law to ensure the protection of asylum seekers, AP reported. About 500 Uzbek residents crossed the Kyrgyz border on May 14 after Uzbek government troops fired on protesters in the eastern town of Andijan. Uzbekistan has demanded that all the asylum-seekers be returned home. Earlier Wednesday, Uzbekistan asked Kyrgyz authorities to send back 133 Uzbek asylum-seekers suspected of involvement in the May uprising and the U.N. refugee agency said Kyrgyzstan had detained 29 Uzbeks already. Kyrgyzstan already has returned four Uzbeks, triggering international criticism. No international monitors have been able to access the four since their repatriation to Uzbekistan, the U.N. said.
