Article

2010-04-07 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Kyrgyz protesters storm provincial govt. office

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Posted by Fred 2010-04-07 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 The donks would do well to take notice of happenings like this.

Posted by Cheresh Black7582 2010-04-07 01:58|| 2010-04-07 01:58|| Front Page Top

#2 Lots of NOT-GOOD-ASIA-NEWS-FOR-THE-BAMMER today.

Shade of BOB DYLAN SOng > "THE EASTERN WORLD..IT IS EXPLODIN.."

Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-04-07 02:20|| 2010-04-07 02:20|| Front Page Top

#3 Odd situation, to say the least. From the CIA Factbook:

A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed.

Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved.

Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990.

Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV.

The political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to parliament and the government.

In December 2006, the Kyrgyzstani parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change.

By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAEV-era 2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed referendum initiated by BAKIEV.

The president then dissolved parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in December 2007 elections.

In July 2009, after months of harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won re-election in a presidential campaign that the international community deemed flawed.

Just a few months later in October, BAKIEV engineered changes in the government structure that further consolidated his already considerable hold on power.

Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political freedoms, endemic corruption, improving interethnic relations, electricity generation, and combating terrorism.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-04-07 09:43|| 2010-04-07 09:43|| Front Page Top

#4 It's not stable. More here and a region overview here. (PDF)

Posted by newc 2010-04-07 10:03|| 2010-04-07 10:03|| Front Page Top

#5 Newc - it is 80% +/- Islamic. Any connection to stability?

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-04-07 11:14|| 2010-04-07 11:14|| Front Page Top

#6 We want vowels! We want vowels!! We want vowels!!!

My first thought exactly... ;)

Posted by mojo 2010-04-07 13:03|| 2010-04-07 13:03|| Front Page Top

#7 BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan say they have formed a new acting government in the Central Asian nation. The announcement was made Wednesday on a state television channel that opposition members stormed and seized in the capital of Bishkek.

Temir Sariyev, an opposition party leader, told The Associated Press that a coalition of politicians had agreed on a new prime minister as well as a new interior minister and new security chief.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry says 40 people have died and more than 400 have been wounded in clashes with police trying to quell an anti-government uprising.

The main opposition leader in the former Soviet Central Asian nation said earlier Wednesday on national television that 100 protesters have been killed.

The unrest swept across several cities in this mountainous former Soviet nation, which houses a U.S. military base that is a key supply center in the fight against the Taliban in nearby Afghanistan.

Posted by tu3031 2010-04-07 13:04|| 2010-04-07 13:04|| Front Page Top

#8 Not trying to divert traffic but militaryphotos.net following this closely - have about 8 pages of comments so far there with hotlinks to twitter, facebook, blog play by plays. Curfew sked for 2200-0600; president fled country; interior minister beaten to death; SF position over-run and pictures posted of "protesters" with Krinks w/EOM sights linked

Posted by Flailet White6069 2010-04-07 13:21|| 2010-04-07 13:21|| Front Page Top

#9 Not trying to divert traffic

If that's where the information is, Flailet White6069, we want to know. Ladies and Gentlemen of Rantburg, there are photos, videos, links and discussion about current events in Kyrgyzstan at Flailet White6069's link. Fred may want to add it to his sidebar.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-04-07 15:45|| 2010-04-07 15:45|| Front Page Top

#10 How does this affect US in Afghanistan? Is the US still using the airbase there as a major logistics air hub?

Posted by Beldar Threreling9726 2010-04-07 18:40|| 2010-04-07 18:40|| Front Page Top

#11 Google is your friend. And mine.

The United States has a "transit center" located at Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan, about 19 miles northwest of the capital of Bishkek. It is a major hub for the transit of personnel and equipment into Afghanistan. There are about 1,100 U.S., French and Spanish personnel located at the facility, with the overwhelming majority of them being American.

I wonder how this will impact operations. Will the US/NATO lose the base and damage its ability to sustain forces in Afghanistan?

Posted by Beldar Threreling9726 2010-04-07 18:47|| 2010-04-07 18:47|| Front Page Top

#12 This is now WOT.

Posted by Beldar Threreling9726 2010-04-07 18:58|| 2010-04-07 18:58|| Front Page Top

#13 US Base is temporarily closed and is impacting flow into Afghanistan. I posted an article here that links to the Stars & Stripes article what says it is closed. It is not up yet.

Posted by Beldar Threreling9726 2010-04-07 19:03|| 2010-04-07 19:03|| Front Page Top

#14 ION STORMIN'-NOT-NORMAN [USArmy General "Stormin" Norman S.], DITTO FOR THE THAI "RED SHIRTS".

Waiting on those in MONGOLIA.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-04-07 19:24|| 2010-04-07 19:24|| Front Page Top

#15 No wonder Barry decided to throw Karzai under the bus today.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-04-07 19:38|| 2010-04-07 19:38|| Front Page Top

#16 "y" is sometimes a vowel! Don't diss the "y"

Posted by Frank G 2010-04-07 19:40|| 2010-04-07 19:40|| Front Page Top

#17 DAILY TIMES.PK > [Thailand]PROTESTS FORCE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN BANGKOK.

ARTIC > One "RED SHIRT" Leader warns the Group is READY TO DECLARE WAR AGZ THAI GOVT., + "NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS"???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-04-07 21:19|| 2010-04-07 21:19|| Front Page Top

23:43 JosephMendiola
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