Kyrgyzstan's unrest

[Schadenfroh]

My cousin's tour (air force) ended shortly before this country started to implode. He said that the people were torn between pro-Russian and pro-independent factions. He also said the Russians were spying on them from the north and south (they were constructing a facility south of the NATO base) and the Chinese were spying on them from the east. Looks like the situation in that country is going downhill, quickly. This nation contains a very important base that is used to resupply NATO forces in Afghanistan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65A02B20100614

A Moscow-led security group said on Monday it would consider sending a military force to southern Kyrgyzstan to quell ethnic clashes that have killed at least 124 people in the impoverished Central Asian state.

The Moscow-led security bloc of ex-Soviet republics, known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), met on Monday to discuss the situation in the Central Asian state.

Kyrgyzstan's interim government, which assumed power after president Kurmanbek Bakiyev was overthrown in April, has accused supporters of the ousted leader of stoking ethnic conflict -- an allegation Bakiyev denied in a statement on Sunday.

Looks like the perfect opportunity for the Russians to flex their military muscle. It has been a while since the short war with Georgia. Although, I am surprised they have not done more in Chechnya after the last stunt separatists from that province pulled. Looks like they want Kyrgyzstan as a vassal state or at least a strongly pro-Russian one.

 

[Jaskalas]

This nation contains a very important base that is used to resupply NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Another reason to leave Afghanistan.

Looks like they want Kyrgyzstan as a vassal state or at least a strongly pro-Russian one.

Just what Russia needs. More Chechnya.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Looks like it is worse than I thought:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65A02B20100615

refugees fleeing the clashes may soon exceed 100,000

At least 170 people have been killed in the cities of Osh and Jalalabad

Witnesses said gangs with automatic rifles, iron bars and machetes set fire to houses and shot fleeing residents.

Thousands of ethnic Uzbeks have fled to the nearby border with Uzbekistan or sought refuge in local villages to escape the deadly fighting. Many said they were being targeted by Kyrgyz gangs in a "genocide" backed by local police and troops.

This makes what is going on in Gaza right now look like a pleasant vacation. Wonder why we are hearing so little about this in the media?

 

[nonlnear]

This makes what is going on in Gaza right now look like a pleasant vacation. Wonder why we are hearing so little about this in the media?

Because despite all their sentimental rhetoric about human rights, the media doesn't actually give a shit about humans. Stories about the Kyrgs won't drive sales, so it's not news. Dignity and human rights and only matter in the marquis stories.

 

[Oceandevi]

Try tuning in to a real news network. It's been covered for days.

 

[Exterous]

Because despite all their sentimental rhetoric about human rights, the media doesn't actually give a shit about humans. Stories about the Kyrgs won't drive sales, so it's not news. Dignity and human rights and only matter in the marquis stories.

Good lord, can you imagine the coverage if this was about Israel and Palestine? I don't think you could find a thread about anything else in P&N. Basically it doesn't count unless the People are interested and right now they are interested in the Gaza Flotilla and the Oil spill so nothing else matters

 

[Exterous]

Try tuning in to a real news network. It's been covered for days.

Which one? MSN and CNN have only given coverage on their 'News Ticker' that I have seen (although I am strongly considering removing them from my 'Real News' list)

 

[Nemesis 1]

With the new found resources found in afgan. The US will not leave . The Powers in charge want those resources . Look at Africa.

 

[Jaskalas]

100,000 refugees sounds like something to care about.

 

[nonlnear]

Try tuning in to a real news network. It's been covered for days.

Which one? MSN and CNN have only given coverage on their 'News Ticker' that I have seen (although I am strongly considering removing them from my 'Real News' list)

Perhaps that is the best conclusion.

 

[Stas]

Which one? MSN and CNN have only given coverage on their 'News Ticker' that I have seen (although I am strongly considering removing them from my 'Real News' list)

haha, really? just now you realized that?

 

[Exterous]

haha, really? just now you realized that?

No - I keep hanging onto my hope and every once in a long while they do a short segment that actually seems well put together

 

[Schadenfroh]

Which one? MSN and CNN have only given coverage on their 'News Ticker' that I have seen (although I am strongly considering removing them from my 'Real News' list)

I have started listening to NPR recently and I have found it to be one of the highest quality news outlets out there. Unfortunately, the nearest broadcast tower is in a city about 1.5 hours south of here, so the reception has good and bad days. FWIW, I am highly conservative.

Good lord, can you imagine the coverage if this was about Israel and Palestine?

I entertained the idea of titling this thread "Israeli settlers begin ethnic-cleansing of Palestinians, 170+ dead, 100K+ flee"
But, I am not one to make deceptive titles.

 

[Jaskalas]

I entertained the idea of titling this thread "Israeli settlers begin ethnic-cleansing of Palestinians, 170+ dead, 100K+ flee"
But, I am not one to make deceptive titles.

It would be the global news story of the entire year, if not decade.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Situation is now worse than 100K refugees, try 400K refugees:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65A02B20100617

Makeshift camps on both sides of Kyrgyzstan's border with Uzbekistan are home to 400,000 refugees uprooted by ethnic violence, the United Nations said on Thursday, and the area remains extremely tense.

 

[Nebor]

I hope this doesn't screw up operations at Manas Air Base.

 

[Perknose]

I have started listening to NPR recently and I have found it to be one of the highest quality news outlets out there.

Welcome to the light, where the legacy of the commitment to painstaking fairness and honesty (as best as can be done) and public service that is the genuine ethos of public spirited American Liberals still makes its mark, born and bred from the incredibly "socialist" idea of Public Broadcasting!

Still think the so-called "Free Market" trumps ALL in every single case?

Without the classic 1950's American Liberal idea of a National Public Broadcasting Network, we would have never had Sesame Street and we wouldn't have NPR, and we'd all be poorer for it.

Watch the absolute fury with which the knee-jerk ideologues of the right here (I know you're not one) froth and tear at this post.

Just watch.

 

[Zebo]

Few days late and only a few hundred killed. I'm sur[rised this even got posted in here since it didnt involve Isreal killing some terro..I mean peace activists. Certainly won't hit 1800.

 

[Zebo]

Good lord, can you imagine the coverage if this was about Israel and Palestine? I don't think you could find a thread about anything else in P&N. Basically it doesn't count unless the People are interested and right now they are interested in the Gaza Flotilla and the Oil spill so nothing else matters

The All Israel All The Time coverage and forum auguring and UN almost singular attention while ignoring far worse human suffering just proves antisemitism. Nothing needs to be said like Irans leader by the rest of the world actions speak louder than words. Old habits die hard.

 

[Harabec]

At a glance, the clashes seem unavoidable in a country that has only recently gained its independence.

The real question is, IMO, will the people be given a chance to fight to the end and come up with a final form of government or wll other forces (russia etc) step in to "control" the situation and leave the current unwanted and corrupt government in place for decades?

 

[Perknose]

At a glance, the clashes seem unavoidable in a country that has only recently gained its independence.

The real question is, IMO, will the people be given a chance to fight to the end and come up with a final form of government or wll other forces (russia etc) step in to "control" the situation and leave the current unwanted and corrupt government in place for decades?

Any "fight to the end" would involve wiping out one of the two major ethnic groups. Ethnicity, tribalism, really, is at the root of this unrest.

At it's present stage of development, the "current unwanted and corrupt government" will only be replaced by another regime which will then shortly become the "current unwanted and corrupt government."

The idea that this country will suddenly make the leap to our level of socio-political development, even with an nice "fight to the end", is naive.

 

[Nebor]

Even my limited exposure to their culture at Manas showed me that the "white" Kyrgyzstanians hold a higher position in society than the "asian" Kyrgyzstanians. The whites get all of the manager\supervisor jobs, and the asians get all the grunt work. I assume the conflict is between these two groups.

 

[Chaotic42]

It's a terrible thing that's happening, and it's all too common. It really makes you appreciate the lives we have.

 

[Zebo]

Big surprise here...from the Islams borders and innards are bloody continuum: "Kyrgyzstan: violence provoked by Islamic militants"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hbaJ4FKRgvRUjqmBoyfYUmpG0vJgD9GHH9G00

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- Kyrgyzstan's security agency claims relatives of the country's toppled president have colluded with Taliban and other Islamic militant movements to provoke ethnic violence in the ex-Soviet nation.

It's statement Thursday says former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's relatives met in Afghanistan last month with representatives of Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and other militant groups to discuss plans to trigger unrest in Kyrgyzstan. The agency alleges Bakiyev's clan promised to pay Islamic extremists to stir up violence....

 

[Zebo]

It's a terrible thing that's happening, and it's all too common. It really makes you appreciate the lives we have.

It was not by accident. Took a lot of organized violence to have our way of life. Something we tend to forget.