Looking at the Conflict in Kyrgyzstan: Part I

Recent Conflict

Over the past few months, an intent international gaze has firmly rested itself upon the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan. Violent, ethnically inspired demonstrations have broken out in several different cities across the county. Most recently clashes in the southern city of Osh have led to over 200 confirmed deaths – many more unreported, thousands injured, and a flood of refugees into neighboring state Uzbekistan. The fighting and riots, having quieted early last week, occurred between the counties two main ethnic groups—the southern dwelling, state minority Uzbeks and the northern concentrated majority Kyrgyzs.

The seeds of the political unrest, planted years before were ignited in mid-April when opposition Uzbek leaders protested against government corruption and increased living expenses. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev declared a state of emergency and eventually fled for exile in sympathetic former Soviet satellite Belarus. The renewed May ethnic clashes bring about fears of a civil war and have interim administrator Roza Otunbayeva scrambling for international peacekeeping aid. Currently the provisional government has lost control of the southern portion of the country and the Uzbeks have set up de facto autonomous zones and refused to recognize the authorities in the Kyrgyz capital.

Ethnic and Political Backdrop

Historically, tensions between the two largest ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan have been high. While neighboring states Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have had a single authoritarian leader since the break-up of the Soviet bloc, Kyrgyzstanis have twice overthrown leaders for perceived corruption, tyranny, and nepotism.

Tumult in the political system was demonstrated in 2005, when Soviet-minded leader Askar Akayev was ousted for muscling up his presidential power. His predecessor, Mr. Bakiyev, managed to govern with equal disregard, denying opponents economic opportunity and also eyeing reins for stronger presidential clout. However, presidential appetite for power has done little but divide the Uzbeks and the Krygyzs. The divide is more than just idealistic, mountainous terrain isolates the southern Uzbeks geographically with comparable rigor. The two regions are held together by a scant two roads, making a one way trip from Krygyyzstani capital Bishkek to the largest southern city of Osh a full day’s journey. These thin threads of transportation are all that connect the semi-industrially developed north with the poor, Islamic, and agrarian south.

Working with a politically, geographically, and ethnically divided nation, Kyrgyzstani leader have a good deal of unification work to be done.