Bit of a mixed bag of stories and events this week, so without further ado and in no particular order:
AlertNet reports on the lack of qualified teachers in Kyrgyzstan and a new USD 15.5 million project funded by the Asian Development Bank aimed at modernising the basic curriculum, the renovation of facilities and providing equipment for 90 schools in rural areas. Yet again, one is left wondering if this form of material aid is the most effective way of assisting Kyrgyzstan, since without the people and skills to make use of such assistance such projects are destined to fall far short of their aims and potential.
Debate continues to surround the Ganci Airbase, with the New York Times (via the International Herald and Tribune) running a piece entitled “Kyrgyz-U.S. fuel alliance draws inquiry” which examines allegations that the Pentagon was party to fuel deals that allowed ex-president Akaev and his family to pocket considerable sums of money. According to one US lawyer, the Pentagon made the deals knowing it would benefit the ruling family. The matter is linked to ongoing negotiations over US payment for use of the airbase, which is located at Manas International Airport, which have included demands on the Kyrgyz side for retroactive lease payments from the Americans to help cover the cost of alledgedly misappropriated funds. Understandably, the US is proving reluctant to pay up and negotions are continuing in an increasingly tense atmosphere, not least due to increasing pressure from the SCO to curtail the US presence in the region. Axis Global also has a short report on the issue.
The draft law “On freedoms and guarantees of access to information” is causing concern amongst NGOs reports Development Gateway. It is feared that the law may end up providing protection for the state by allowing officials to refuse to provide information. NGO representatives expressed their concerns in an open letter to the President. Obshchestvennyj reiting takes a closer look at the matter (in Russian).
RFE/RL has a short report on a protest in southern Kyrgyzstan demanding judicial reform. The report notes that about 200 people, mainly prisoners’ relatives, participated in the protest in Osh, which was organised by Union for the Protection of Law. Many of the participants maintain that their relatives did not receive a fair trial.
Interfax reports on a shooting incident in Bishkek that resulted in one death and two hospitalisations with gunshot wounds. The target of the shooting, which was possibly contracted, appears to have been 2 members of the Stuntmen’s Association. This is not the first time stuntmen have been targeted; Usen Kudaibergenov, head of the Stuntmen’s Association and associate of Prime Minister Feliks Kulov, was murdered in April.
Energy has been in the news with reports that Kyrgyz officials have successfully negotiated with their Uzbek counterparts to obtain a contract for Uzbekistan to supply its eastern neighbour with 750 million cubic metres of gas in 2006. Payment is being assisted by a loan from the Kyrgyz Finance Ministry. Meanwhile, Kyrgyz exports of electricy continue to grow, reports Kazinform, with Kazakhstan being the chief recipient.
Coming back to politics, Regnum reports that the leader of the party Erkindik, Topchubek Turgunaliev, has announced that they have collected the required numer of signatures (300 thousand) to initiate the dissolution of the Kyrgyz parliament. The signatures are now being checked and the process will be completed by December 5.
Finally, the debate over the status of Russian in the republic has continued to generate both column inches in the local press and debate. There’s been an interesting exchange on the KelKel email list on the issue that is well worth a read for Russian speakers, and Obsheshvennyj reiting took the general mood regarding this thorny issue in the first question of its weekly “Blits-opros”, as well as a comment piece (both in Russian).
Over and out from Bishkek.
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