Comments on: A long hot summer

By: Guest

Guest — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:46:05 +0000

Hi Ian

it looks as if life has been interesting in Osh, don’t know if that means things are also interesting for you in Bishkek.

The news footage has been limited but the story has been on the ABC and SBS (Multi-cultural television station) for the last few days.

i heard this morning that the Russians have decided to come to the aid of the Kyrgyz army – will that help or make things worse?

Hope all is well with you

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:44:14 +0000

Well, news here in the UK has certainly picked up on events, and I gather Radio 4 had it’s own representative staying in Bishkek … assume he is still there.

However, the message seems to be that things may be getting out of hand and that Russian troops may be on their way; particularly to the South.

Guess this has to be considered more worrying but maybe for you on the spot it’s a little less “sensational” – I feel too many radio presenters have to liven it up more to promote their own careers than to report factually.

Look forward to your next update and trust you, your colleagues and friends keep safe.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:42:56 +0000

…. to the news about Osh. Please take
care and let’s hope that the problems remain confined to the south.

By: Guest

Guest — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:40:35 +0000

Thanks Ian for the long report,,,but since then…Osch got in flames and chaos …terrible situation…
but frankly speaking and after a lot of consideration and reconsideration, I’m not very surprised by these Osch riots…

so many frustration in the ranks of young people holding any kind of diplomas but no jobs, no future, no aim…it’s an easy crowd for all kind of manipulation: political, drug and weapons traffickers, maffia uzbek and kyrgyz, politicians, fundamentalists and so on…

easy to say it’s ethnic riots, the “People” needs somebody to push them to go and kill the neighbour… who are the “pushers”…
very sad , very very sad…
Be careful

By: Guest

Guest — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:40:05 +0000

The underlying tinderbox in the south is ethnic – and the burning and
killing this time again is ethnic. No doubt someone (who wants to
destabilise) paid the Kyrgyz initiators to light the first flames – but then
it takes on a life of its own because of the ethnic enmity that has been
constantly reinforced over the last 5 years – if not longer. If the security
services do not take total control very soon, it all begins to spiral out of
control. But then, does anyone have authority over the security services? Do
they have someone they respect leading them? If not, there is little chance
of them risking their lives.

Who initiated it this time is an interesting question. Could be Bakiev
related (since if they cannot have the place, no one else will) or could be
anyone who wants to be President and does not want to change the
Constitution or it could be anyone who would rather see the place in a mess
than allow the Russians to gain influence from the recent government
overthrow.