Oh, Kyrgyzstan. Not again.

News out of K-stan from RT.com

Kyrgyzstan on NPR and Facebook

Click here and listen to a short segment from NPR's All Things Considered on the current situation in Kyrgyzstan. The referendum on Kyrgyzstan's new constitution went off without a hitch (unless you consider all the Uzbeks who couldn't/didn't participate). Below is a facebook conversation my friends and I had on this subject:

Referendum Sunday in Kyrgyzstan

While I think it's great that Kyrgyzstan is having a referendum to determine whether or not the new government and new constitution are legitimate... having said referendum while unrest continues in the south, while tens of thousands of Uzbek citizens of Kyrgyzstan are still in refugee camps across the border in Uzbekistan, and while the remaining Uzbeks in the south fear to leave their homes doesn't really do much to scream "legitimacy!" - but the referendum is, nonetheless, scheduled for tomorrow. Read more:

Kyrgyzstan prepares for referendum despite warnings
Kyrgyzstan Prepares For Referendum Amid Ongoing Instability
Kyrgyzstan readies for referendum

Also, you might find this interesting: The pogroms of southern Kyrgyzstan

This just makes me cry.

This week in Kyrgyzstan...

I haven't followed the events in Southern Kyrgyzstan at all since last Monday, as I have been very, very sick. Was in the ER on Tuesday and at my doctor's office on Friday, and still don't feel so hot. Some kind of less than pleasant viral infection. Blech.

I'm just now sitting down at my laptop in an attempt to figure out what's happened since I last read the news. It seems that the rioting has stopped. Some ethnic Uzbeks are returning to what remains of their former lives - while many ethnic Uzbeks refuse to leave Uzbekistan or the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border.

Allegations continue to spread that former President Bakiyev and his son, Maksim, were responsible for instigating the violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan - including a telephone call in which Maksim allegedly instructs someone to round up 500 Kyrgyz men willing to commit atrocities. Additionally, Maksim has fled to the UK and is seeking assylum. Boooo.

Kyrgyz violence – allegations of genocide
Cases of cash paid for Kyrgyz unrest
Desperately needed humanitarian aid comes in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan: Stalin's deadly legacy
Son of former Kyrgyz president seeks asylum in the UK
Kyrgyzstan bloodshed: Princeling Maxim Bakiyev and the alleged phone conversation
Uzbeks return amid Kyrgyzstan fears
Barriers Removed in Kyrgyzstan Despite Uzbek Protests
Foreign Policy: Why Kyrgyzstan Matters
Uzbek slaughter in Kyrgyzstan 'organised by outsiders'
Why Isn't Russia Intervening in Kyrgyzstan?
Victims recount horrors of ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan
Saving Central Asia

Good coverage and analysis on the Kyrgyzstan situation from RT

This morning's Kyrgyzstan links

Things are looking pretty terrible for the ethnic Uzbeks in the south of Kyrgyzstan right about now. There are reports of Kyrgyz military turning a blind eye to attacks against Uzbeks... and even more distressing: reports of the Kyrgyz military joining in. Here are some recent links:

Refugee Crisis Looms as Uzbeks Flee Kyrgyzstan
Ethnic Violence in Kyrgyzstan Kills Hundreds
Uzbek refugees say Kyrgyzstan forces aided ethnic attacks

75,000 Ethnic Uzbeks flee Kyrgyzstan

Emergency declared in 2nd Kyrgyz town, as crowd raids local military base
Russia, Uzbekistan and Osh
Kyrgyzstan violence: British and US governments prepare evacuation of citizens
In pictures: Violence in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan to Send Troops, Volunteers to South in Effort to Quell Violence

Megistan - blog of an American woman in Bishkek

More Kyrgyzstan Links

I call it a massacre! is a distressing English language post by Kyrgyz blogger Tolkun Umaraliev, analyzing the Kyrgyz/Uzbek ethnic violence in the south of Kyrgyzstan over the past few days. Includes numerous photos and links to quite a few distressing YouTube videos.

Tons of photos of the scene at the Kyrgyz/Uzbek border taken by Dalton Bennett can be seen here. Also, I am very jealous of Dalton Bennet.

Even more photos by newseurasia.net author "murzaki" can be seen here.

Kyrgyzstan asks for Russia to send troops...

That's a headline that certainly doesn't bode well for Kyrgyzstan's future, but that's how things stand over there these days. Interim President Roza Otunbayaeva has asked Russia to send in peacekeepers:

The situation is spinning out of control. We need foreign military help and we have asked Russia to send it. We must do our utmost to save people's lives. There are reports that armaments and weapons have fallen into the hands of raging gangs in Osh. The security forces in the capital Bishkek are on high alert following the events of yesterday, when mobs demanded guns and buses to go to the south. Roza Otunbayeva, from here.

I'm not sure whether it's fortunate or unfortunate, but thus far, Russia has declined to send in military assistance.

Meanwhile, thousands of ethnic Uzbeks (mostly women and children) seem to be making for Uzbekistan, while at the same time begging for help from Uzbek troops:

Another (and in my opinion, better) video can be seen here, I just can't embed it.

Ugh, Kyrgyzstan's at it again :-(

New Violence in Kyrgyzstan Leads to Troop Deployment
At Least 37 Dead As State Of Emergency Declared in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan imposes curfew after clashes kill 23
Fresh ethnic clashes hit Kyrgyz southern city of Osh
Dozens killed and injured after violent clashes in turbulent Kyrgyzstan

I'm still on vacation...

...and things are still haywire in Kyrgyzstan, apparently. Here are some links, but again, can't do much detailed blogging/researching while I'm on the road.

State of Emergency in South Kyrgyzstan

Emergency imposed in Kyrgyz city

Kyrgyzstan elections shelved as further violence hits southern city

I'm on vacation, but....

....there's counter-revolutionary clashes going on in Kyrgyzstan. I'll give you a few links, but unfortunately, I won't be able to cover the events like I did the ones last month. My poor K-stan :-(

Clashes break out in Kyrgyzstan

At least one killer, 42 injured

Deadly clashes erupt in southern Kyrgyzstan

Clashes erupt in south Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz opposition seize government buildings

Hindsight 20/20?

Really? More examples of things I could've told you six months ago, a year ago, whenever. And yet everyone seems so surprised. It was obvious (to me, anyway) that after the US got kicked out of Uzbekistan they kissed Bakiev's ass in order to make sure they didn't lose their foothold in Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, these analysts seem a tad too late in their analyses. Also, I've seen numerous article (like this one) which try to make it out to be that the US presence at Manas was the reason for the ouster of Bakiev. Um, no. Certainly the fuel contract sending dollars directly into the Bakiev family coffers added to the anger and resentment of the Kyrgyz citizens against corruption in the government... but a key factor? No.

Latest Kyrgyzstan Links

Deposed Kyrgyz leader says he is still president (despite submitting a letter of resignation and leaving the country. Yeah.)

US State Department only just now issues a travel warning for Kyrgyzstan.

New Kyrgyz Government authorizes opening fire on looters

Megalomania!! "Death alone can stop me!" says Bakiev.... um.... his warm welcome in Belarus must be going to his head!!

More on ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan

Here's an English language Reuters video and article on the ethnic clashes outside of Bishkek. I'd read elsewhere (can't remember where) that the Russians, knowing that the Turks were the focus of the crowd, painted "Russians" on their doors to keep the looters out... These two articles make the spraying of "Russians" on the doors out to be something a little different. where lies the truth?

More on the clashes on the outskirts of Bishkek

This article (in Russian) was so informative that I translated it for you:

Medvedev orders the Russian Defense Ministry to ensure the safety of Russians in Kyrgyzstan

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to take measures to ensure the safety of Russian citizens in Kyrgyzstan, according to the Kremlin press service. In addition, the President ordered the Defense Ministry to strengthen the protection of Russian facilities due to the increasing number of seizures and raids in Kyrgyzstan.

One day ago, Russia's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan said that during the pogroms in the villages outside Bishkek, Russians were attacked. There have been reports that the rioters “burst into the house of a Russian family and demanded that the Russians be tossed out.”

Pogroms in the villages Mayevka and Lenin began on April 19. A large crowd of looters seized land on which farmers grew wheat, and began to divide the land among themselves. The looters clashed with the locals, and then marched toward the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where they were stopped by security forces.

Riots outside of Bishkek continued until the evening, with looters throwing stones, smashing cars, burning houses, and fighting with villagers. Police officers, government security forces, and armored personnel carriers were sent to the village of Mayevka. As a result of the rioting and looting, five people were killed, including several from gunshot wounds. The next day, looters, local residents and police continued to clash.

Um... Is this to ensure the safety of Russian *citizens* only? Or does this also apply to ethnic Russians who are citizens of Kyrgyzstan? Food for thought.

Another update from a contact in Kyrgyzstan

Never thought this would happen why I was here but can't say I didn't see this coming.

I lived in Jalalabad for 2yrs but have been in Kant since January so I've gotten a taste of both the north and south vibe. I'm sure you've found out about last night's disturbances outside B[ishkek].

Last few days, I've been getting comments about the low level of education the new government seems to possess.for instance, some Kyrgyz told me Otunbaeva's Kyrgyz is bad. Of course, some Russians tell me her Russian is bad so there's a lot of bias mixed in there. At least it's consistent ;0

I've even heard "grass is greener on the side" comments bout Akaev.

If you're outside B[ishkek], [Jalala]bad, or Osh, or Talas you don't notice much. Though from what I hear Talas is still without a police force. I guess 50% control of the nation equates to 100% for the new govt?

The south, well, is the south. The majority didn't like the old prez and they don't the new one either. Well, that's how the majority of the country feel anyways lol

One thing is certain, however. If a certain someone [Bakiev] tries to come back anytime soon, 'there will be blood'.

So sad....

The huge market discussed in the first video below is Dordoi: a huge, sprawling market just north of Bishkek, where in the past I spent way too much money on useless yet wonderful things. See here and here.

More unrest in Kyrgyzstan as new government takes controlViolent unrest continues to escalate in Kyrgyzstan