US lawmakers urge Central Asia to adopt democracy to stem fundamentalism
The debate revealed serious concern

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (AFP) - The US House of Representatives urged Central Asian states Wednesday to allow free multi-party elections, with lawmakers warning that attempts to curb democracy fueled fundamentalist Islamic unrest in the volatile region.

The resolution, passed by the House 362-3, also calls on the US president and other officials to use every opportunity to raise with Central Asian leaders US concern about "serious violations of human rights" and the need to promote democracy and the rule of law.

"Throughout the region, authoritarian leaders have contrived to remain in office by whatever means necessary and give every sign of intending to remain in office as long as they live," said Christopher Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, who sponsored the resolution.

The five Central Asian states -- Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

By doing so, they committed themselves "to build, consolidate, and strengthen democracy as the only system of government," according to the resolution.

But in reality, all Central Asian presidents "have refused to allow genuine electoral challenges, postponed or canceled elections, excluded serious rivals from participating in elections, or otherwise contrived to control the outcome of elections," the document states.

All opposition parties have been suppressed in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, according to Congressional officials.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has dissolved parliament twice since achieving independence while in Kyrgyzstan, three opposition parties were prevented from fielding party lists of candidates in parliamentary elections earlier this year.

The debate over the resolution has revealed serious concern among members of the House that the heavy-handed policies of Central Asian leaders could fuel discontent and create a large pool of potential recruits for radical Islamist groups already operating in the region located next to Caspian oil fields.

"The stability of Central Asia is key to the stability of this region which borders on Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Pakistan," warned Representative Barbara Lee, a California Democrat.