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Hello there! We're Jing wei, Gladys, Roy, Ibnu and Chandra of MK04 bringing you interesting and controversial news all around the world. Please support us! ;D ~Facebook
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Kyrgyzstan Conflict
June 11 2010, clashes took place between the two main Kyrgyz ethnic groups – the Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz people – in the second largest city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan. Mobs of armed men torched Uzbek neighborhoods in Kyrgyzstan on Friday in ethnic clashes that officials said left at least 45 people dead and 637 wounded in a Central Asian nation. To date, the death toll had increase to 117, and more than 1,485 wounded. In Osh, dozens of buildings were ablaze Friday after sustained gunfire that began late Thursday, and the interim government declared a state of emergency in the city and surrounding areas. The intensity of the conflict, which pits ethnic Kyrgyz against minority Uzbeks, appeared to take authorities by surprise. Rumours claim that Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the former president who was ousted in April, have been orchestrating a campaign of ethnic conflict along with his supporters. Michael Andersen, a Danish film maker who has been living in Osh, said "it's very likely that Bakiyev and his cronies are behind this". "I lived in Osh for several years and when you live there, you don't feel any everyday tension between Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz, this is clearly something that is constructed and provoked by some third party." he told Al Jazeera, an Arabic-language news network based in Qatar. According to local sources, there was a ruffle between two local gangs and it didn’t take long for the violence to spread over to the rest of the city. There were also reports of the law enforcement officials supporting the ethnic Kyrgyz gangs but the government denied any such allegations.  The interim government has sought Russia's help to quell the violence, but the Russian government has declined the request to send military assistance. As it is an internal conflict and for now Russia does not see the conditions for taking part in its resolution, however, Russia would be sending humanitarian aid to the troubled nation. To control the situation, Kyrgyzstan ordered the partial mobilisation of the army after nearly three days of deadly clashes and gave police and army authorisation to shoot to kill on any groups using firearms. This order however failed to stop the violence.  Officials in neighbouring Uzbekistan said tens of thousands of Uzbek refugees from Kyrgyzstan had fled across the border into Uzbekistan to escape the violence. Witnesses said the Uzbeks fled Kyrgyzstan in panic after their homes were torched by roving mobs of Kyrgyz men. Some Uzbek women and children were gunned down as they tried to escape. One elderly refugee said despite despite a curfew and state of emergency imposed by the Krygyz interim government. The Kyrgyz forces came and informed them about the curfew, and let armed gangs set fire to their houses and killing everyone while they were all in the houses. Another refugee said people were shooting at them when they fled their house after it was set on fire. And her attackers were using guns mounted on an armed personnel carrier. On June 14, corpses burnt almost beyond recognition lay in the streets of Uzbek neighborhoods. Naked, mutilated bodies of two ethnic Uzbek women killed in Osh had been pulled out of the river on the Uzbekistan side. These had led to the increasing fear that the death toll will soar even higher. Afterthoughts The Thailand Political Crisis, Sinking of Cheonan Incident, Gaza Flotilla Raid. And now this, the Kyrgyzstan Unrest. Seems to me, there is an raise in groups of people wanting to flex their muscles for a purpose, but with the wrong method. We must all understand the fact of which through violence, will hatred and vengenence grow. Hence, starting a endless spiral of suffering. And personally, that is not the way to victory. According to reports, the cause of the riots in Kyrgyzstan is still unknown. Although, Uzbek witnesses said that the Kyrgz starting kill Uzbeks indiscriminately. It is still a one sided story, as no one had heard of any account of a Kyrgz. If the statements of every witness are true and not exaggerated, then the actions of the Kyrgz are truly disgusting. Not only had they burnt down houses, they opened fire at the old and the women, even the women who are pregnant were not spared. What's worse, despicable officials lied to the Uzbeks to stay at home for the curfew, and let the mob set their house ablaze and shoot them as they make their escape. Unfortunately, it is an issue which foreign countries can play no part in. And hopefully, it will not escalate to the stage where Russia is forced to exert necessary force to protect her people. If that happens, the death toll will sure to rise even higher. Labels: Roy's |
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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