No German trade partnership with Kazakhstan without human rights!

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) criticized the German government's planned commodity trading partnership with Kazakhstan, because this Central Asian nation violates basic human rights and international conventions. "A nation that arbitrarily breaks international law cannot be trusted in a commodity trading partnership," warned Ulrich Delius of the STP's Asia section on Monday. According to the STP, Kazakhstan committed a serious breach of the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees just last week: Kazakh public authorities handed over a Uighur refugee from China to Chinese security agents, although his refugee status has been recognized by the United Nations. The deportee, 38-year-old former teacher Ershidin Israil, has been condemned to death in China.

"Kazakhstan's government is obedient to China. Even international conventions are easily ignored at China's bidding," Delius. The commodity trading partnership between Germany and Kazakhstan will also be dependent on China's good will." Federal Minister of Economics Philipp Rösler signed a declaration of intent on 24 May 2011 indicating he would enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Kazakhstan concerning a commodity trading partnership.

The STP is deeply concerned about the life and health of the deported Uighur. Israil had been in custody in Kazakhstan since June 2010 awaiting extradition. Officially, China has accused the political refugee – as it does most Uighur human rights activists – of "terrorist activities." His family, however, is convinced that that Israil, native of the city of Gulja, is wanted by Chinese authorities because he publicized details concerning the murder of political prisoner Shohret Tursun in September 2009. Tursun was tortured to death in prison. His family was pressured by the authorities to bury his body, which bore the marks of numerous injuries, as soon as it was released.

Israil fled on foot, walking four days to Kazakhstan where he applied officially for protection. He fears he will be imprisoned again in China. In 1999 he was condemned to six years prison for his dedication to human rights for Uighurs. At the same, Israil sought political asylum in Western Europe. Sweden agreed to accept him, but he was arrested immediately before he left the country.