World shocked by critical situation in Kyrgyzstan
On Friday, June 11, first reports on mass brawls and murders were received. The authorities announced their intention to introduce the additional forces in Osh to regulate the situation. Head of the interim government Roza Otunbayeva said that the riots in the south of the country had been caused by some local domestic conflicts. A state of emergency was imposed in Osh, Uzgen cities and in Kara-Suy and Aravan districts of Osh province. Besides, a curfew from 20:00 to 06:00 until June 20 was announced. Senior officials of security agencies and two Vice-Chairpersons of the interim government - Omurbek Tekebaev and Azimbek Beknazarov - were sent to these cities.
Kyrgyz and Uzbek people are the opposing sides in the current conflicts. The share of Uzbek population in Kyrgyzstan makes 50% today.
On the same Bishkek reported of death of 14 people over June 10/11 night in Osh.
Like the previous authorities, the interim government of Kyrgyzstan reported on successful actions of the force structures which, allegedly, managed to stop violence from the side of destructive groups. The government expressed confidence in ensuring safety of civilians. The law-enforcement bodies as well as the previous heads of the Internal Affairs Ministry reported on normalization of the situation in Osh and said the situation was under control.
At a roundtable in Bishkek, June 11, Roza Otunbayeva said she did not see the influence of external forces on the situation in the southern regions of the country. In her viewpoint, the conflicts were provoked by certain parties and movements which wished to disrupt the referendum. She noted that the additional forces would be deployed in Osh.
The same day, towards evening, reports on continuing unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan were received.
37 people became victims of mass fights in Osh, more than 300 people were injured. It was reported about shooting in the streets, the situation was not controlled although there were militaries in the city. According to Vice Chairman of the interim government Azimbek Beknazarov the clashes in Osh had ethnic nature.
The next day, June 12, 50 people were reported killed; more than 600 people were injured in Osh. 27 people were got injuries during the unrest in Bishkek.
On this day interim president of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbayeva appealed to the President of the Russian Federation with a request to provide peacekeeping assistance. She said that the tragic events in the south had been provoked by the relatives and supporters of ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
At the same time, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev had a telephone conversation with R. Otunbaeva. Besides, K. Saudabayev held telephone conversations with Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, EU High Commissioner Catherine Ashton and ministers of foreign affairs of the EU in Spain - Miguel Ángel Moratinos, in Russia - Sergey Lavrov and Turkey - Ahmet Davutoğlu.
Kanat Saudabayev also held telephone talks with UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, EU High Representative on International Affairs Catherine Ashton, Ministers of Foreign Affairs chairing the Spain European Union Miguel Angel Moratinos, Russia - Sergey Lavrov, Turkey - Ahmet Davutoglu.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office informed the sides of his decision to send his Personal Envoy, Vice Chairman of the Majilis Zhanybek Karibzhanov and heads of the Conflict Prevention Centre of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna to the neighbor country. CSTO General Secretary Nikolai Bordyuzha held telephone talks with the Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO member states and with leader of the interim Kyrgyz government Roza Otunbayeva.
Mass media has already reported about thousands of refugees departing from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan. According to the latest information their number has reached 74 thousand.
The Government decision to transmit information to citizens living in the south via SMS proves that the Kyrgyz authorities are unable to control the areas of riots.
On June 14 Moscow held the talks of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO member countries. The Kazakh side was headed by Marat Tazhin. During the negotiations 60 people including ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz citizens gathered in front of the building of the CSTO Secretariat. They urged the Kazakh and Russian authorities to send military troops to the southern Kyrgyzstan.
Following the talks, the participants of the session adopted a joint statement which stated that the measures launched by the interim government of Kyrgyzstan were not enough. The Secretaries of the Security Councils of the CSTO member countries called on the Kyrgyz people to resist provocation and instigation.
The negotiators worked out certain proposals aimed at reducing the ethnic tension in southern Kyrgyzstan, localization of illegal acts of criminal groups, suppression of extremist actions and strengthening border security.
As official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Askar Abdrakhmanov reported on June 14, there were no Kazakhstani citizens among the victims in Kyrgyzstan.
On June 14 Assistant Secretary of State of the U.S.A. Philip J. Crowley made an official statement on the events in Kyrgyzstan.
"The United States observe the events in the Kyrgyz Republic and call for early restoration of peace and public order in the city of Osh and everywhere," the statement reads.
Uzbekistan in turn receives refugees from Kyrgyzstan, takes steps to accommodate them in camps, where food and medical care is provided. Vice Premier of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov announced that refugees' camps ccould not accept people any more, so only wounded women were allowed to cross the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. In total 45 000 adults left for Uzbekistan, the number of juveniles is unknown. The representatives of the UNDP, UNICEF and other international organizations expressed their willingness to assist them.
Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zhanybek Karibzhanov met with head of the interim government of the Kyrgyz Republic Roza Otunbayeva to discuss cooperation on resolving the current issues.
Minister of Emergencies of Kazakhstan Vladimir Bozhko said that Kazakhstan was ready to accept refugees from Kyrgyzstan and provide them with humanitarian assistance.
Currently, the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan reports about 124 dead people. More than 1600 people need medical care.