On May 13, 2005 Uzbek government forces killed hundreds of unarmed protesters as they fled a demonstration in Andijan, in eastern Uzbekistan. To date the government has taken no steps to investigate or hold accountable those responsible for this atrocity. Instead it is denying all responsibility and persecuting those who seek an independent and transparent investigation.
Part 1
Zokirova: There was very heavy shooting. I don’t have the words to describe it. Even during war this does not happen. There was so much blood. I was lying down in the street and the blood was running beside me. I thought if they are willing to shoot their own people what will happen to us? People ran in every direction to save their lives. There were about ten thousand people. Many people ran away, many people died right there.
Part 2
Zokirova: People opened their doors saying: “Don’t let women and children die, don’t let them be shot, why should they die for no reason?” Those who wanted went in. I didn't. Even if I had gone in, they would have come after me. I saw with my own eyes soldiers in cars. If I had entered a house they would have killed me. Instead of dying like this I ran farther away. Cars passed us. We thought that they will shoot us anyway, and if we reach the border they have no right to shoot us. We kept running and thinking, “They probably think that they should kill us.” When we reached Teshik-Tosh none of us was armed. There were women, old women, pregnant women, children. The women took off their scarves and men used them as white flags and went in front saying, “Let women pass. If they have to kill let them kill us.” But when we started walking they didn’t look at white flags. These people shot [us]. I swear on my four children that they did.
Part 3
Zokirova: The bullets were flying around. Now the horror started. My son was crying. Even though he is my son I was so afraid to go to him and save him. I was standing a bit away from him and was crying “my child!” At this moment a tall young man ran to him and covered him with his body. I saw a bullet hit his head. Because of this young man I will tell the truth. I will tell the truth. Why would I lie? How can I lie? I am indebted to this man who died for my child. He probably had children too.
Part 4
Prosecutor: Zokirova, in your testimony you said that you are becoming scared as you recall the events. From your testimony it became clear that your close relatives are still among those who didn’t come back. It also became clear that your close relatives are members of Akramia. During investigation and at this trial it was determined that they [referring not to her relatives but members of Akramia] attacked a battalion of the police; do you understand that they attacked the police who defend the peaceful population? They stole 334 weapons. Do you understand, 334! Earlier, they had already bought 24 weapons. The arrested men themselves admitted it. In Kyrgyzstan. Because you are a woman, because you had children you do not understand who shot from where.
