The Birdamlik opposition movement is summarising the action called Mass Joy which involved only a few people, but it still deserved applause for not being bloodthirsty.
Birdamlik leader Bakhodir Choriyev has for many years been trying to train people to be citizens.
He promotes peaceful, non-violent methods of fighting against the Uzbek dictatorship, saying that only a conscious and united society can get rid of Karimov’s regime and start building a better country.
Launched by Choriyev in 2007, this year’s White Clothes action was held by his comrades-in-arms ahead of Uzbekistan’s Independence Day marked on 1 September.
All Uzbek citizens were urged to put on white clothes as a sign of solidarity and unity and to take part in a photo competition by having their photo taken wearing
one should achieve its goals in peaceful and civilised ways»
Malohat Eshankulova
white-coloured clothes and sending it to Birdamlik’s Tashkent office.
“I cannot say that the action can be graded as `excellent’, but rather `good’,” the head of Birdamlik in Uzbekistan, Malohat Eshankulova, has said.
On 10 September, activists of the movement stopped receiving pictures and the jury will choose winners tomorrow.
In line with the competition conditions, prize-winners will receive cash award. The authors of the best pictures will receive 50% of the cash and the rest of it will be shared between the second and third places.
“Award funds for winners were sent by entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, Russia, Canada and other countries,” Eshankulova said.
She said over $2,000 had been raised, which is quite a considerable amount in Uzbekistan.
“Last year and this year, hundreds of thousands of Russian opposition supporters took to the streets of Moscow and St Petersburg with white ribbons. We have a desire to extend the process,” Bahodyr Choriyev explained the reason for the Mass Joy action.
Promoting only non-violent methods of fighting for a change of power in Uzbekistan distinguishes Birdamlik from other Uzbek opposition groups, specifically from the People’s Movement of Uzbekistan the leader of which, Muhammad Salih, has repeatedly justified an armed revolution in the country.
“We look at the killing of US diplomats in Libya with horror,” Eshankulova said commenting on the death of a US ambassador and other embassy employees during a protest against a film which mocked the Prophet Muhammad.
“All this is not good, not humane, one should achieve its goals in peaceful and civilised ways,” she continued.
Birdamlik intends to continue peaceful rallies in Uzbekistan. The plan is to hold rallies entitled “White scarf”, “White dress” and “White ribbon”.
Uznews.net