UN urges further investigations on 2010 ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan

UN urges further investigations on 2010 ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan

2011-05-05 03:59:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Wednesday urged Kyrgyzstan's government to carry out further investigations on the 2010 inter-ethnic violence.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also welcomed the newly released report of the Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission (KIC) that investigated the violent events that claimed the lives of an estimated 470 people in June 2010.

"This report should give considerable impetus to Kyrgyzstan's efforts to combat impunity and address issues of accountability after the inter-ethnic strife in the southern part of the country last summer," said Pillay.

The KIC's report also included recommendations such as additional investigations and prosecution of those responsible of the ethnic violence. The report of the commission, led by former Finnish parliamentarian Kimmo Kiljunen, was published on Tuesday.

"There can be no lasting reconciliation without justice, and I believe this report sets out a viable pathway to achieving both," added the UN human rights chief.

Furthermore, Pillay congratulated Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva for initiating the independent inquiry and giving it unrestricted access. This was the first one of its kind in the Central Asian country.

"It is important that the government, at both national and local levels, carries out the essential follow-up in the same spirit, which, given the nature of the work to be done – namely establishing individual criminal responsibility – will require courage and determination."

According to the KIC report, approximately 1,900 people were injured, more than 400,000 displaced, and an unknown number of women subjected to sexual violence. Most of the victims were ethnic Uzbeks, but ethnic Kyrgyz were also killed in the violence.

Pillay remarked that the UN is ready to assist Kyrgyzstan after President Otunbaeva announced the future establishment of a special commission to implement and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the KIC report and other reports on the violence.

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