Saturday, 10 October 2015
The independent journalist Malohat Eshanqulova’s name has echoed again, when in later September together with the human rights activist Elena Urlaeva, she visited some cotton fields of Khozarasp district of Khorezm oblast of Uzbekistan for reviewing the situation with forced labour use. These brave ladies had been stopped by police several times, and for want of a flash card with photos they were even made to take off all their clothes to nakedness and were made to go through a gynaecological examination. But this did not stop the human rights activists, and in a few days they continued their activity in a different part of the country.
THE GYNAECOLOGICAL “RAPE”
ACCORDING TO Ms Urlaeva and Eshanqulova, there is a total lawlessness in the Khozarasp district. Even school children are driven to the cotton fields, while college students, mobilised to work in the fields, live in totally anti-sanitary conditions and eat half-starving.
Appearance of the human rights activist alarmed the officials of Khozarasp district. Eshanqulova and Urlaeva were stopped; their photo cameras and video equipment were taken away. This is how Malohat describes the events:
«On September 28, at 9PM, at discreetly entered the Khozarasp local district governor’s building, where the authorities were discussing the cotton picking plan progress for the day. Here I recorded the voice of the district governor Uktam Qurbonov when he insulted the managers of organisations that did not fulfil the daily plan by swearing.
I managed to attend the meeting for as little as 6-7minutes. Then somebody called the Governor on the phone and told him about my presence. Mr Qurbonov started looking for me among the attendants in the hall, and I had to leave in hurry. He ordered his people to return me. Three officials of the governor’s office ran after me, but I could successfully ran away to store the recordings.
At night the police cordoned the village where I and Elena Urlaeva were staying for the night. We had to hide ourselves in nearby bed of rushes, where stayed till the morning until we could give the flash cards to some reliable people. Then we went to the field camp where the students were living. We could not have a full sleep: at 8Am we were arrested by police and took us to the Khozarasp District Police Department. Here, on a little sofa, hurriedly called gynaecologists looked for a flash card with the obscenities by the district governor”.
“The gynaecologist of the District Central Polyclinic Mehriniso Shokirova, who tried to find the flash card in our genitalia using her hands and some device” – adds Elena Urlaeva. “This was happening not on a gynaecological chair, but on a little dirty sofa. I suspect that moreover, this humiliating and illegal procedure was recorded on a camcorder. At least, the police filmed our interrogation, which lasted for twelve long hours”.
Out trip to Khorezm oblast demanded huge moral and physical strength. But today Malohat looks fresh and full of energy. This is surprising, because back in August she was very thin, exhausted, could hardly move, and even called her friends to say farewell before her death”.
A year ago “AsiaTerra” wrote about Malohat Eshanqulova: her report was given in the article “Matluba Andurahmanova, raped for nine times”. In summer 2013, Malohat undertook a journalist investigation that denied the official version of the authorities about the guilt of a seventy year old man in allegedly having raped a young girl. And Malohat completed this investigation at her own fear and risk, ignoring any state services, who could only put obstacles to her in this work.
This brilliant investigation shows Malohat both from a journalist and a human point of views. But this does not show why in the summer of 2015 Malohat found herself near to death and Tashkent hospitals refused to admit her in. And how could she manage to resume checking the slave labour in September and ran away from the henchmen of local governor? To answer these questions, we need to go back to the start of our story.
HOW TO BECOME AN OPPOSITIONER
Fame came to Malohat Eshanqulova in August 2010, when, being the senior editor of “Yoshlar (Youth), together with her colleague Saodat Omonova organised a press-conference, where she accused the management of the Uzbekistan State Television and Radio of corruption, extortion and censorship.
The government authorities did not react to these accusations, but bot ladies had enormous pressure at work. As a protest, on December 6th 2010, Eshanqulova and Omonova walked out for a strike picket to the main square of the country – “Mustaqillik” (Independence) in Tashkent. As opposed to the human rights activists, who were having another strike picket at a different corner of the square, the police did not arrest the girls. But in three days’ time both were fired from the State Television and Radio Company.
The ladies started to fight for their rights by approaching different state instances. Having got assured of the uselessness of such attempts, in the summer of 2011 they walked out for another strike picket, this time were arrested and fined for large amounts of money. In response Eshanqulova and Omonova went on to a hunger strike.
This step did not bring to any changes at the State Television and Radio, but changed Malohat Esahqulova’s life – the leader of the “Birdamlik” (Uniting) opposition movement proposed Bahodir Choriev, who earlier migrated to the USA, proposed her become the manager of the organisation in Uzbekistan.
THE LEADER OF THE “WHITE” MOVEMENT
The “Birdamlik” movement practices peaceful methods of fighting with the government by calling for the population of Uzbekistan to walk in white clothing and releasing white balloons to the sky as a protest against the regime. Of course, this did not go as far as to releasing balloons, but on the eve of September 1st and December 8th – Independence Day and Constitution Day – they organised “ten day protests”, during which the participants of these actions wore some items in white colour. And they sent their photos to a contest, where they could get serious money prizes.
Such measures were all invented and funded by Bokhodir Choryiev, and organised y Malohat Eshanqulova, who, in addition, was a member of the jury of the photos contest to then solemnly award the prizes to the winners.
On one hand, the activities of “Birdamlik” were absolutely harmless, and it did not cause any feelings in many people other than irony. On the other hand, Bokhodir Choriyev did not hide the fact that the actions of his movement were intended for promotion of “coloured revolution” ideas, which did not fail to cause close attention of the special services. And journalist Malohat Eshanqulova was the first to fall in the centre of the focus of these services, who, in addition, regularly described “the white” actions at “Birdamlik” site.
Malohat had been arrested several times, subjected to ruining fines. The authorities tried “to press” her through her relatives. For instance, they warned her that if she did not stop, her nephew in Navoiy oblast would have problems. Ehsanqulova did not agree and in 2012, her nephew was captured on accusation of bribery and imprisoned for 8 years.
It is difficult to say whether these events were directly interrelated, but his imprisonment had other sad consequences to Malohat. 18 years ago, Malohat bought an apartment in Tashkent, where she lives with her family. But for the lack of permanent residency registration (she is registered at her remote relatives in Zangiota village near Tashkent), the journalist has to legalise the apartment to her nephew’s name. And now, legalisation of the apartment on her name and obtaining of the Tashkent residence registration has become nearly impossible for her.
On July 3rd 2013, in Qarshi town if Qashqadarya oblast, Malohat was attacked by a local team of “special purpose women”. Eshanqulova arrived to Qashqadarya to take some photos of Choriyev’s relatives, who were going to go out to a strike picket to the oblast prosecution office as a protest against arresting of the head of the family – 70 year old Hasan Choriev. On that day “the special purpose woman” attacked everybody but Eshanqulova and Urlaeva received a special portion of this. Prior to getting to the court house, which fined each of the two for the sum, equivalent of several thousand dollars, both had had to spend several days in the local hospital.
NIGHT TRIP TO THE CEMETERY
The government authorities pressure reached its summit on December 8th 2013, when upon completion of another “white” action of “Birdamlik”, its seventeen participants gathered at the Alay Market of Tashkent. According to Malohat, they only wanted to take a photo of themselves, and then get a lunch at a cafe thus to note the Constitution Day. But the participants were arrested by the police operations point officers that is located at that market. In a few hours’ time, the participants were released save Malohat Eshanqulova, who was kept until late evening.
Malohat recalls now that the police were sufficiently polite with her, even gave her some tea. When it became dark, they offered her a lift home. But they did not take her home, but to a cemetery in outskirts of the city. They left her there promising her to be left at the cemetery for good if Malohat did not stop her activity.
According to the journalist, she did not recognise the location, and it took her a long time to walk in absolute darkness to find her way until she saw accommodation buildings. After this incident, her health started worsening abruptly – she was weak, and she started losing weight quickly. As a result she had a thought that there may have been some poison in the tea pot, from which the police had treated her with tea…
In March 2014, the suspicion on deliberate poisoning became stronger, when together with her elder daughter Zarnigor, Malohat had tea with sugar at an informal office of “Birdamlik” in Algoritm district of Tashkent. The state of health of both worsened abruptly – Zarnigor started vomiting and had high temperature. Malohat got so weak that she lost the ability to move by herself. Thin as she was, she lost twenty kilograms. And she could not eat anything – she had very bad diarrhoea.
Malohat Eshanqulova suggested that this was the work of Uzbek authorities, who must have decided to kill the “white” actions away in this way. It wouldn’t have been difficult to find the right key to the office door and add something into the sugar bowl. She was so sure of this thought that principally refused to approach any medical institution in Uzbekistan.
Instead, she asked the embassies of the USA, Germany, France and United Kingdom to assist her in an independent medical examination, which could help her identify the exact reason of her illness. But the diplomatic missions did not react to Eshanqulova’s request.
MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS
Not everybody thought that the approach to the embassies of the leading Western countries was decent. But we should keep in mind that at that time, Malohat Eshanqulova was the ONLY leader of a political organisation, who conducted thought peaceful but active activity of democratic nature in the territory of Uzbekistan.
The embassies of Western countries always welcomed peaceful methods of fight for democracy, admired the brevity of Malohat and always invited her to all festive ceremonies. And Malohat thought that she could ask her friends for a help. Moreover, she did not ask much – only assistance in getting examined at the diplomatic corps clinic in Tashkent. And she was prepared to pay for it.
After her request having been ignored by the embassies, Malohat deliberately refused to approach any official medical services in Uzbekistan. Her relative took her to Samarkand, where national healer-tabibs took on her treatment..
Of course, the tabibs could not identify the cause of the illness, but only unanimously admitted anaemia and severe damage of her liver. But they managed to put Malohat on her feet in three months. At least, in the summer of 2014, accompanied by her daughter, she could visit Tashkent for several days.
The reason for this trip was a website article, where a medical lady “disclosed” the doctors’ confidential information by telling that there is a genetic endocrinological disease in the Eshanqulovs family and therefore all of them die of cancer. IN fury, Malohat got tested at relevant clinics under a false name. They did not find any oncological or any endocrinological diseases. And at the Institute of oncology the doctors were surprised by the blood tests – very low haemoglobin content and high iron content. Bu the official medicine did not find the cause of her illness either.
As a result the hopeless journalist took on self-treatment by combing herbs from the tabibs with infusions for increasing the haemoglobin content. She would get better once, but get worse again. And there was no serious progress in treatment of her condition.
WORSENING OF CONDITION
On 25 April 2015, she started having exacerbation – at home in Tashkent Malohat fainted, and the frightened daughters called the first aid. The doctors took her to a gynaecological hospital for some reason, where the tests showed very low content of haemoglobin. The doctors used infusions to increase the haemoglobin content in her blood and did not even refuse to continue treating Malohat.
But the lady did not have any gynaecological diseases, the clinic did not correspond to the illness she had, though the hospital in the capital city did not refuse at all to admit a lady with Zangiota district permanent residence registration. As a result, in four days’ time, having signed a letter to the gynaecological clinic doctors about her refusal for further hospitalisation, Malohat headed for home – to continue her self-treatment.
This time, Malohat tried exclusively medical preparations. But they did not bring the desired result either. On the contrary, the woman was getting worse. Her hair started falling, she lost appetite, and due to the abrupt thinness, the right arm took off to the elbow, and the left hand took off either.
“On 13 August, Malohat told me that she as dying and invited me to her home to say farewell, tells Elena Urlaeva. “When we had met last time in early June, she looked very thin, exhausted and she was getting tied very quickly. But when I saw her on 13 August, I was shocked: only German concentration camp victims could look like that. And I and other human rights activists called the first aid and required to immediately take her to a hospital form the first aid doctors”.
According to Elena Urlaeva, the first aid van took the journalist first to the Emergency Medical Aid Centre, then to the Haematology Institute. But everywhere, the hospitals refused to admit Malohat Eshanqulova. Only the Haematological Department in the territory of the New Tashkent Medical Academy agreed to admit her.
According to Malohat – “The staff did not take me to a ward. They said that the doctors who take decisions had gone. They put me into a small room with two beds. One of the beds was already occupied by a man. In the morning I was told that they could admit to a paid ward at 800 000 Soums (approximately 160$) for ten days of treatment, plus 100 000 Soums (20$) per day for food. In addition, one had to buy medicine at his own cost. My financial condition was not so good at that time and I did not believe in successful treatment at that hospital. Therefore, I decided to go home and die at within home walls”.
Elena Urlaeva made a lot of noise about this – she went out to strike pickets demanding free emergency aid according to the law. At some fights with the police, they damaged her leg. She did not break her leg but the oedema caused the doctors place her leg in plaster. However, even with her leg in plaster Elena continued going out to strike pickets.
MIRACULOUS CURE
Elena’s strike pickets saw positive results. According to Malohat, a doctor from the district family polyclinic visited her. The doctor examined Malohat and asked to send one of her daughters to see the chief surgeon of the polyclinic, who would sing an order for admission to the hospital. Malohat’s younger daughter Zarhala went to see the chief surgeon. On the first day Zarhala saw the chief surgeon and he asked to bring Malohat’s blood test results. On the second day the chief surgeon happened to be away at a meeting. Zarhala could not find the chief surgeon on the third day either.
“I realised that there was no sense in visiting the polyclinic, says Malohat. – But I was lucky – some friends recommended a good tabib who practices in Tashkent. The tabib have me 20 herbs and told me the succession of taking the decoctions. And he also gave a special herbal cream for my hands”.
Actually within one month the treatment created a miracle. Eshanqulova gained her appetite back, she notably put on some weight and the dumbness of arms almost disappeared.
“Tabib told me to move much and if I don’t walk – I will die”, – tells Malohat. – The tabib meant walks in the town and physical exercises. But I approached to the issue in a different way: late September together with Elena Urlaeva we headed for the cotton fields to undertake monitoring of forced labour. You got movement here and you are engaged with the work you like – journalist investigations”
Eshanqulova is afraid of taking a bad eye and therefore does not tell anybody the name of the tabib who put her on her feet. Because she has to take the herbal decoctions for a long time. Yet Malohat get tired very easily, but in general she is much better. This reckless lady thinks that Almighty God has helped her. We do hope that her health will get better and better and we want to wish her success in her journalist investigations.
Own correspondent