Happy Easter
Easter is here. The date of Easter is calculated according to a complex formula based on the lunar cycle and the timing of the Equinox, and changes each year. This year it is occurring very late, the latest date when it can occur, according to the formula, is on April 25th. Usually, the festival falls on different dates in the the Orthodox and Western churches which follow different calendars, (the Julian and Gregorian, respectively), and most years, the Orthodox Easter follows the Western one by one or two weeks. This year, however, they happen to coincide. Towards the end of the week, prominent politicians issued messages congratulating believers on the holiday. First of all was the President, Roza Otunbaeva, followed by the Prime Minister, Almazbek Atambaev, and then the Speaker, Ahmatbek Keldibekov.
If Easter is meant to be a time of reconciliation, then all is not in keeping with the spirit of the festival as controversies aboud.
The Ombudsman is the latest target for criticism. His annual report to the Parliament was rejected by the deputies, his work was described as unsatisfactory and a commission has been established to consider his dismissal.
The government is looking to increase their influence over the Kumtor Gold mine, of which it considers that it exercises little control despite the fact that it owns over 30% of the stock. This is probably a reflection of the various disputes that have continuously simmered away over the years and seem to grounded in the fact that the original license to develop the gold deposit cost the Canadian parent company just seven dollars. There is a general (and growing) feeling that the country haven’t done as well out of the gold mine, and others which are under development) as it could have done and it is time to put things right, as it were.
Preparations are under way for the Presidential election which is slated for this Autumn – the date has to be announced by July 1st. Atambaev, the Prime Minister, says that he hasn’t yet decided if he is going to run, but most people seem to think that he will. There is plenty of speculation as to who else might also stand. In the meantime, the situation looks as if it might have settled down with the 10 members of Ar Narmys who have declared that they will support the government. Despite this, Atambaev issued a cautionary warning saying that the events of last June could still be repeated this year. He has gone out of his way to point out that further progress is impossible without stability, inter ethnic peace and unity.
Even the governor of Djalal Abad oblast (province) has said that there is a “third revolution” is still possible and that given the widespread discontent in the population of widespread corruption, “whiuchb is growing daily”, he said that he is even prepared to lead it himself (!). Perhaps as a precursor to potential problems, although there haven’t been any high profile protests in the capital this week, one has occurred in the town of Mailuu Suu in support of the deposed Mayor and demanding his reinstatement.
There is an interesting situation developing over the publication of books about the events last June, (one called “The Hour of the Jackal”). They were cited by one controversial deputy concerned about their inciting racial hatred with claims of “genocide”. It seems these books were published abroad, (perhaps, according to one commentator, in Finland), and no-one else seems to have seen a copy. However, the authorities have taken the issue seriously and the Prosecutors office has opened a criminal case in order to investigate the publication.
Yet another deputy seems to be in trouble for possibly holding dual nationality. This is not permitted under Kyrgyz law and the charge seems to crop up with increasing frequency.
The deputies seem to be very concerned about their image … they’ve asked broadcasters not to show them in “awkward situations: “chewing gum”, putting on lipstick, (presumably just the ladies), and the like. But, as one news report noted, “None of parliamentarians told their colleagues not to chew gums or put on lipstick during plenary sessions of Parliament.”
I am not sure how the sacrifice of seven sheep before the opening of the day’s sessions earlier in the week in order to drive “evil spirits” from the chamber and prevent them from disrupting the work of the parliament will affect their attempts to clean up their image, even if the meat from the slaughtered animals will be sent to homes for the elderly and the disabled. Or, for that matter the spat in the cahmber which resulted in one of the controversial female deputies apparently threatening to “hit” another who sits as the Deputy Speaker.
Even the Mayoralty of Bishkek is in trouble. In recent years, land in one of the larger parks on the Southern side of the town, has been turned over to developers and now a criminal case is being opened to look into the affair.
The Manas airbase won’t go out of the headlines. Apparently the arrangements for providing it with fuel have been sorted out, (I hope that I am not tempting fate by saying that), with the President signing into law the ratification of the agreement with the American government. Now, however, the talk from the Prime Minister is about transforming it into a civilian transport hub once the American forces withdraw from Afghanistan, which should start getting under way next year … with the help of the Russians. Suggestions that both Russia and America might open other, “anti terrorist”, bases in Southern Kyrgyzstan which were floated by Roza Otunbaeva look as if they are being played down.
The debate over accession to the Customs Union continues, with one party declaring that any application to join is a “hasty step”, premature and coming out against it. They say it will costy the country over USD1 billion annually and the Union is likely to disappear when Russia and Kazakhstan join the World Trade Organization. Other commentators say, however, that Kyrgyzstan will maintain a key role as a transit point for goods in or out of the Customs Union. Whatever, a key period is approaching as from July 1st the Union will establish its outer borders, and preferences which Kyrgyzstan already enjoys may be cancelled.
Kyrgyzstan’s borders at one time were simply administrative boundaries within the Soviet, but now that they assumed the status of international borders, troubles continue to manifest themselves – especially in the region of the various enclaves. It doesn’t help that there are still some disputed areas where the delimitation of the border hasn’t yet been completed. This week saw the arrest of a Kyrgyz citizen by Tajik authorities of a Kyrgyz citizen for apparently attempting to smuggle mercury across the border. He was later returned to Kyrgyzstan.
Recently the security services and border guards have been quite active in arresting “terrorist” suspects. A couple of weeks ago they managed to detain an Israeli fascist who was later extradited to Tel Aviv to face charge, and this week Kyrgyzstan managed to arrest a Russian wanted on “terrorist” charges.
If they weren’t being deported, then their might be difficulties in keeping them in custody. I have mentioned before that there was a hunger strike in Kyrgyzstan’s penal colonies, and it now appears that there are plans to abandon these as they are ineffective. According to one report, some convicts turn up occasionally, pay a bribe and then return home and some in the authorities think the funding for the colonies could be better spent elsewhere.
One of the problems that Kyrgyzstan has faced since the collapse of the Soviet Union has been the modernization of its infrastructure and equipment. This week saw the announcement of a Russian-Kyrgyz joint venture to renovate the army’s tanks. I don’t know how many tanks the army has, but I suspect that the plant will have fair bit of work if they can diversify once they finish this particular task – but I am not sure how it’s all going to be paid for.
We’ve had yet more earth tremors, (there have been over 30 earthquakes since the beginning of the year), and although they haven’t been serious, they have helped to concentrate the attention of the authorities on the issue. It’s estimated that we are in a period of high seismic activity, although I thought that it was, (as yet), beyond the limits of contemporary science to predict earthquakes at least people are looking at the possible precautions and measures that need to be taken to mitigate the effect of a major catastrophe. One of the things I have constantly said is that, despite the existence of a Ministry of Emergency Situations, the country is not well equipped to deal with a major incident, as the events of last summer showed. At least people are now thinking about the possibility of the “unthinkable” happening, even if they have will have limited resources available to them in the event of a major quake actually happening. It possibly helps that we are approaching the anniversary of the 1966 Tashkent quake that caused so much devastation, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale and which left over 300,000 homeless. It’s estimated that almost four million people (out of a population of just over five million), live in earthquake sensitive zones.
One of the really big issues which has captivated local attention is the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and a Canadian company to establish Bio laboratory in Bishkek. The government and parliament are eager to develop technology parks in the country, but the opposition to the biological laboratory doesn’t necessarily bode well for their plans. Four acres have been allocated for the construction of the laboratory in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens, and the Canadian side has apparently allocated sixty million dollars for the construction and dev elopement of the facility. There is a lot of concern felt locally, however, about the nature of the nature of the work that will be undertaken and some of the conditions that will give foreign workers at the plant “diplomatic” status
But, at least Spring has arrived and this Easter we don’t have a violent revolution to cope with. What disputes there are seem to be confined to the Parliament building – and long may that continue …
The sun is shining and the temperatures are back to the seasonal mid-20’s. The stands selling Maksym Shoro have reappeared on Street corners and members of the public are starting to walk around in shirt sleeves and T-shirts.
Bishkek