WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?!

Nothing like a little coup to make your spring break interesting...

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This is the first real chance I've had to get on the internet and post about what has been going on here. And what has been going on here? I don't really know. You probably know more than I do since I have been locked in my apartment for a week with five other volunteers. We got secondhand news from PC and our families, and heard constantly changing reports from BBC radio. I haven't had a chance to read any news but from what PC is saying, Bishkek is calm and they expect no more problems. They told us yesterday that everyone can return to their sites, no longer needing us consolidated in case of evacuation. Consolidation was tough and very stressful since we didn't know if we would be staying or leaving, none of us really knowing how to feel. We made it through, though, withoutout killing each other (at least not in my warden group). All PCV's are fine as far as I know, and we're just waiting to see how this new government pans out.

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Now. Again I haven't read any news so these comments might prove moot. Problems that I foresee deal with Russia, other central asian nations, legitimacy, and conflicts within the new government itself. Russia I guess has a Monroe Doctorine kinda thing with regards to Kstan and could step in if things become escalated again. I don't think that will happen. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other CA nations could follow suit and mount their own coups since these nations all share common problems with regard to poverty, lack of jobs, and government corruption. We have to wait and see. As far as the new government is concerned, they are reportedly getting things under control and a representative council from the EU (I think is what I heard) is comming in to evaluate the situation. The next few weeks will show how popular the new government is and if it can stick to the changes that the protestors initially demanded. Also problematic is the Security Minister and the acting President. They are both from different areas of the country and have different outlooks on how to organize the new parliment. Clashes could arise over disputes as to who is the ligitamate governing body: the former parliment or the newly elected and highly contested one. All of these are things that will play out in the next few weeks and I'll be here to see it. I'll keep you posted.

I Live There!

  "Opposition-led protests over the election results spread on March 16. Protesters occupied government buildings in the Kochkor District in eastern Naryn Province and in the Bazarkorgon District of southern Jalal-Abad Province...In the Bazarkorgon incident, a district government official was reportedly being held in the building. Police later broke through a window in the building, freeing the official... "

Eurasianet.com article, 3-16-05

  That's right. Our governor was effectively held hostage by protestors half a mile from my apartment in the government building I walk past everyday on my way to school. The police that rescued the official were actually special forces militia, who have begun patroling the streets wearing their trademark army fatigues and bullet-proof vests. SHIT IS HITTING THE FAN HERE! Not content to only protest in Jalalabat, 50-100 protestors have moved to my village to speak out against Askar Akaev. They are peaceful (but really should stop singing, its annoying) and no serious incidents have occured (aside from the semi-kidnapping thing). I have heard stories of protestors being injured in Osh, a two hour drive from my site. I really have to start questioning Peace Corps policy if they think we are safer spread around the country instead of being consolodated together in the capital...

  So with everything going on, rumors are flying. The possibility of being evacuated from the country has been tossed around. With protests now and presidential and parlimentary elections scheduled for October, the chances of us being yanked out of here isn't too farfetched. We'll see... Now I have to head back to the bazaar to catch a taxi. It's just a ten minute walk but the militia members in full riot gear that I have to stroll past are becoming a bit disconcerting.

Unrest

Well things pretty much suck here in Kyrgyzstan. Because of political unrest all over the country, our in service training (IST) has been postponed for a week and all travel during the next ten days (aka our spring break) has been canceled. We have been ordered to stay in site until the 28th, when, supposedly, things will have quieted down and we will be allowed to travel to Bishkek.
We found out yesterday about the postponement and being grounded for ten days. Everyone is pissed, including K11's who have had their vacation plans canceled as well. A friend of mine in Jalalabat was accepted to a program that allows him to travel to Uzbekistan for a week to work with kids who will soon be visiting America as part of a highly competitive scholarship program. This is exactly the kind of work we are here to do and the Peace Corps has sent volunteers to help since 1994. His trip has been canceled.
Another friend is now not allowed to fly to Bishkek to visit is father, who was flying in from America to spend a few weeks with his son and see where he has been serving for the past 2 years. The trip has been canceled because Pezce Corps has deemed it too unsafe. His father, more than likely, won't be able to see his son.
As far as I'm concerned...I'm furious that I don't get to see Elise. We planned on spending ten days together during training and had been looking forward to it for a month. We've only seen each other 7 days out of the last 100 and being apart is horrible. We were both crushed by the news. I will get to see her in two weeks (if IST isn't canceled all together) but will only have five days and more than likely won't be allowed to leave the hotel in Bishkek.
From what I've seen in Jalalabat and from what I've heard from the north(check right for a link to the latest Kstan news). None of the volunteers are sure the postponement is neccessary. Roads have been closed and many demonstrations have been held, but from what I have heard there has been no violence. Our new country director might just be overly cautious and he is certainly not endearing himself to the volunteers by effectively canceling our spring vacations. I'm left with ten days alone in my site, something I am frankly dreading. Christmas break was almost unbearable. I was going out of my mind with boredom. And I was allowed to travel during that break...We'll see how this vacation pans out.
Ok, hope everyone is well. I'll keep you informed.

Words of Wisdom

“I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

                Henry David Thoreau

“Christ! Seven years of college down the drain…I might has well of joined the fucking Peace Corps.”

                John Belushi, “Animal House”

So You Say You Want A Revolution?

    Hellllllooooo Students. Things are popping down in the south of the country I now call home. I was in Jalalabat last Friday and witnessed what the Peace Corps during training termed “civil unrest”. The name is a little sexier than the actual thing unfortunately but it was interesting to watch nonetheless. About 200 protestors held a rally outside of the governor’s office. Anti-Akaev protestors. Akaev, the current president, is serving his third term despite a constitutional ban on serving more than two terms in office and has been accused of a number of crimes ranging from simply shady to downright dictatorial. Most notably, a recent Newsweek had some Central-Asian-Expert-Guy quoted as saying “Akaev is going apeshit” regarding his restrictions of the public’s role in elections in the wake of the Ukraine turnaround. Despite this colorful quote in the very reputable newsmagazine Newsweek (that’s my tongue in my cheek right there), Akaev isn’t exactly hated in Kstan. Many support the president, but have no democratic alternatives to compare him to. At best they are living the status quo. My friend Ailey and I discussed last week that the public here doesn’t seem to question Akaev and don’t seem to have the anger that is often required to spark a drastic change.

    I guess they found their anger on Friday. After a few hours of peaceful protesting, things escalated and the mob began to force their way into the governor’s compound. Someone climbed the ten foot tall fence and managed to get the electric gate open. Police, being helplessly outnumbered could do nothing to stop them as they began to push their way into the offices. This is what I and few other volunteers witnessed on our way out of the city. PC called us the next day to report that protesters in fact did make their way into the governors office and rumors said that they also stormed his house and that he and his family were forced to flee. How much of that last part is actually true is questionable, but it shows that obviously the people here are starting to really question their leaders and are not afraid to show it. Don’t misunderstand, however. Things aren’t chaotic here and I’m not at all worried about my safety. No one was hurt during the protest and the PC is really on top of things when it comes to volunteer safety. Frankly, I’m kind of excited about the whole thing. These protests are coming on the wake of last Sundays deputy (congressional) elections and they show that come October, when presidential elections are held, we are going to see an interesting show.

    That’s the latest from here. I’m in the city today because it is International Women’s Day and I have no class. I had no class yesterday as well, because, you know, it was the day before International Women’s Day and students shouldn’t be asked to work that day either. Anyway, to the ladies out there, happy IWD…Also! Movie quote help needed: “I can’t promise I’ll try, but I’ll try to try.” What the hell is that from? Let me know. Talk to you all later.

    P.S. Ailey, you smell.

Stupid!

Hey guys. So I'm in Jbad for the afternoon. I fled my classroom minutes after the bell rang as if the place was on fire. It's not that I don't want to hang out at school, its just I wanted to get into the city as fast as possible. I've had a long week and need a few hours eating decent food and sipping good coffee.

To start off with... I came back from Bishkek on Sunday. I had a great weekend with Elise and I got to see lots of friends as well. Three days wasn't enough time. I flew back with no in flight emergencies but started feeling ill when I got to my apartment. Turns out I had the flu and I spent three days lying in bed,watching movies and reading Newsweek. This wouldn't have been so bad, but this was the first week of great weather in Bazar Korgon and I hated to miss it. I taught Thursday and Friday and I've been walking around in a tee shirt and jeans. No more huge coats, long underwear, or wool socks! I have never really known what spring is until now.

Great weather notwithstanding, I managed to ruin my day yesterday by accidentally destroying my cell phone. I was doing my dishes (my normal way, on the kitchen floor using a bucket of water) and my phone was in my front pocket. I leaned over and the phone toppled out and landed in a bucket of soapy water. DOA. I had the same phone for 3 years in America and I can't make one last four months here. I bought a new phone today ($75) and managed to keep my old number, which is something to be happy about.
That's about it. Visiting to Osh this weekend and I'm looking forward to what I'm told in Kyrgyzstan's only brewery that serves dark beer. I'll keep you posted.