<![CDATA[
<head><title> Kyrgyz News </title> </head>
<body background="wall.gif">
<center><h1><b> KYRGYZ NEWS (February2 96)</b></h1>
<H2><i> - at Sanjar's homepage- </i> </h2> </center>
<p>
<body>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<p> Kyrgyz News Digest On-Line (C) Kyrgyz American School <p>
Editors: Edil Baissaloff -edil@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su- <p>
Bolot Kerimbaev -bolot@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su- <p>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please forward the Digest to anyone who might be interested in it! <p>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 18-25, 1996 <p>
<p>
C O N T E N T S <p>
Chronicles <p>
Personal Reaction to the Event! <p>
Believe it or Not... <p>
Special Report on Drugs in Kyrgyzstan <p>
Acknowledgements <p>
Sources <p>
_________________________ <p>
Subscription Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C H R O N I C L E S <p>
A movie award goes to Chingiz Aitmatov
One of the prizes of the 46th International CinemaFestival in Berlin
The Golden Camera Berlinale - 1996" was awarded to Chingiz Aitmatov for
enermous success of the "Burannyi Polustanok", filmed on the basis of his
novel - "Day is longer than a century"
(SG: Feb 24, 1996)
<p>
A series of interviews with Maken Abylov, the chairman of the Electoral
Committee
<p>
Last week three newspapers published interviews with Maken Abylov,
the chairman of the Central Electoral Committee. One of the new clauses of
the Constitution demands that no member of the Parliament be involved in
commercial activity or hold a position in the state service. According to
Abylov, letters suggesting that they resign from one of the positions were
sent to 28 members of the both houses of the Parliament. In the next few
monthes, said Abylov, some districts will have elections to elect their new
representatives to different levels of the legislature and municapalities.
Then the referendum on land will take place, "if of course
the parliament doesn't manage it."
(SG: Feb 24, 1996)
<p>
According to Richard An, the head of the korean association "Chin-Son", one
of the results of the Second Kurultai of the People of Kyrgyzstan will be
a creation of the Institute on the Research of Interethnic Relations, funded
by the organization on security of European Council.
(DV: Feb 24, 1996)
<p>
Customs Union's advantages under doubt
<p>
Parliamentary hearings on Kyrgyzstan's signing of the Customs Union
agreement took place last week with participation by the Prime Minister,
Apas Djumagulov, and experts from the Ministry of Economics. Many members
of the upper house of the Jogorku Kenesh were doubtful about the alleged
advantages of the Union such as easier communications within the Union
and easier access to the Russian market. They said that most of the
advantages the government wants to describe as economic are really
political. Accoding to Rep. Sabirov, the republic will gain economic
advantage only in the short run, while in the long run he doesn't see any
future for the Union. The prime-minister said: "Let's enter, then we will
see!"...
(SK: Feb 20-21, 1996)
<p>
Pessimists, including many foreign experts, say that the Union will actually
decrease customs duties collected at the Kyrgyz borders and hurt many
domestic enterpreneurs specializing in the import of foreign consumer goods.
Thanks to low custom duties and the absence of restrictions on hard currency
exchanges and export, Kyrgyz "shoping travelers" to Turkey, China, Emirates
and Pakistan have made Kyrgyz prices the cheapest in the region.
<p>
Signing the Customs Union postponed again...
<p>
The ceremony for entering the Customs Union was postponed til the first half
of March last week. It will take place either in Bishkek or Moscow. It will
be signed by Prime Minister Djumagulov in the presence of his colleagues
from three other Union countries: Russia, Belarus and Kazakstan. Leaders
of Uzbekistan and Tadjikistan will join them to discuss their possible
admission to the Union. According to the newspaper, there are different
reasons behind the postponement. One is a busy schedule of the Russian
Prime Minister, the other is a neccessity for experts to check "one more
time" for possible results for the economy of Kyrgyzstan, most probably
related to negative reaction by some of the foreign experts and the Kyrgyz
parliament. The government is also said to be expecting the Russian
Government's decree to cancel some of the customs and export dues, what
will correspond to current Kyrgyz practices.
(SK: Feb 24-25, 1996)
<p>
Military exercise in Osh oblast
<p>
It was decided to hold a military exercise in Osh oblast this month. Local
military units, representatives of the Internal Affairs Ministry, the
State Committee on National Security, State Customs and other "power"
structures will participate. The exercise's main goal is to work out joint
operations just in case the Tadjik opposition penetrates Kyrgyzstan's
territory.
(SK: Feb 20-21, 1996) <p>
Akaev's speech on the Second Kurultai
<p>
In his speech on the Second Kurultai, the President noted that "We have
achieved positive results in the most important (sphere of life) - in our
internal interethnic policy. We have ensured an athmosphere of respect for
every ethnicity, tolerance, concord and peace among them." He said that the
decree of state support to the Assembly (ed: the union of ethnic centers,
funds and associations) is being prepared and will define the status of a
member of the Assembly Council. The Assembly will also be funded by the
state.
Akaev also stressed the need to return to the old "communist practice" of
"volunteer" citizen service on weekends when all the population had to work
on cleaning the streets, planting trees and repairing public facilites. He
went as far as to express it in "Considering the current situation with
preserving natural and social resources, it is necessary to declare a
fight against dependency and laziness and to mobilize the population of every
village and town to renew resources." In his speech, he ordered all akims
(heads of local administrations) to prepare a 5-year plan with numbers by
March 1st.
Concluding his speech, Akaev said that 1996 is the year we need to dedicate
to creative work by each of us for good of ourselves, our families and
the Motherland. Kyrgyzstan has good economic indicators as compared to
other CIS states. For instance, the average monthly inflation rate of 2.4%
was the lowest in the CIS; and the expenditures for 1996 on social welfare
are the highest with 55.5% of the budget.
(SK: Feb 20-21, 1996)
<p>
Bishkek is shocked by "cor...tion"
<p>
Many readers of the Friday issue of "Vecherniy Bishkek" said "hm" when they
turned to the second page of the most popular Kyrgyz daily and saw a list of
stolen items from the apartment of Almambet Matubraimov, the Speaker of the
lower house of the Parliament. The list includes 2 videocams (5000 soms
each), 2 VCRs, a $1000 American "Winchester" shotgun, 2 mink fur-coats,
7 leather coats (total cost 55,000 soms), other expensive imported clothes
(including "two pairs of shoes, "made in England", black and brown pairs,
with buckles, size 41, total cost 5000 soms, the black pair - new, brown -
used"; diamonds and gold complects. The list goes on and cosists of 27
items. Total cost of "what was lost" by the speaker Is estimated to be AT
LEAST 200,000 soms.
(VB: Feb 23, 1996) <p>
PERSONAL REACTION <p>
This is a personal reaction to THE EVENT by one of the editors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <p>
"EDITORIAL": Bishkek is waiting. There must be some reaction by state
officials, the parliament and Matubraimov himself. The first (naive)
question is how did he (better "THEY"?) ever get this rich? I am sure
this is only a bit of what Matubraimov and his "likes" own. Why and who
needed this list to be published just a week-end before the lower house
adjorns to to listen to Akaev's State of Union address, and among other
things to confirm President's choice of the Prime Minister and the
government appointments? There was no list published when a few monthes
ago Djumagulov's apartment had been robbed. Who is behind this publication?
I wonder, if we really will see any reaction to this event next week.
Maybe noone else is shocked by this list? Of course, we always knew that
high officials take bribes, steal, etc. But, by God, to use this money to
buy 3 womens' coats of the same size and design, but different colors? If
there (if ever) will be charges brought up against Matubraimov, what about
others?
Last week, there was an article in "Res Publica" called "Honor,
Dignity, and Hypocrisy" by Jamal Murat. She says, that when she learned
about the wages of our highest officials like the Prime Minister ($80) and
a cabinet minister ($60), she was shocked by the level of hypocrisy we all
have and live with, have to live with. Murat wonders how much more fair it
would to pay a government official 20 or 30 thousand soms (approxiamately
$2000 or $3000) so that the cost of his suit would match his salary; or to
allow ourselves (as many other democratic states do) to pay our President
$200,000 a year so that the First Lady didn't have to borrow $150 from
a daughter for an interpreter or from neighbors to buy a car.
When we, students of Kyrgyz American School, discuss politics among
ourselves, of course we use such terms as "dirty" and "mafia", noone of my
friends believes, that he or she will bribe or take bribes "when he
grows up". We say that the only precaution against being ourselves corrupt
("to feed children"), is to make good money before we even start thinking of
holding a position in the government.
The other precaution is to stay out of politics and not become dependant on
"good uncles" who will later use you. That's all! I hope this will work!
What do you think?
Edil Baissaloff -edil@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su-
<p>
Believe it or not...
<p>
The rumor goes that the next parliament will consist of one house. After
a difficult "transition period" is over, new amendments will be put
into the Constitution making the parliament the most powerful branch of the
state power. Most important: thus Akaev will not have to prolong his
presidential mandate in 2000, moving from President's office to Speaker's.
The same might be possible development for other CA states.
(KPK: Feb 23, 1996)
<p>
The "professional" upper house of the Parliament of 35 legislators cost
taxpayers 10 times more than 350 members of the "legendary parliament".
(KPK: Feb 23, 1996)
<p>
SPECIAL REPORT ON DRUGS
<p>
With Good Intentions To Hell? ("Delo N...", Feb 21, 96)
<p>
"Opium will save our republic! Screw foreign investors!" an Issyk-Kul
farmer was determined, "Growing opium will create jobs, it will drive
down prices, and eliminate narcotism problem entirely. If it were not
due to Akaev's decree, we would have swam in rivers of gold!" This
interview by Vadim Nochevkin was taken about a year ago.
It appears that today Kyrgyzstan for the third time is faced by a
slowly approaching opium crisis. <p>
The Mystery of Soviet History and History of Drugtrafficking
1916: During World War I, supply of opium from Turkey and Germany are
terminated. Russia removes the ban to grow opium in Central Asia and
Far East. <p>
1917: Soviets declare a state monopoly on opium. Farmers are obliged
to submit their yields. That same decree states that any person found
guilty of contraband, sales or purchase of opium is subject to mili-
tary revolutionary tribunal. <p>
1924: With borders of Kyrgyzstan determined, it is the only republic
of the USSR that has opium poppy plantations. By 1928 opium produc-
tion fills the demand in the USSR, imports are ceased, export possi-
bilities are discussed. <p>
1926: The State Political Department is authorized to punish without
trial. The contrabandists opposed and formed into a big band. However,
contraband was terminated, but internal drugtrafficking continued.
1926: Gross yield of raw opium amounted to over 100,000 kgs; one tenth
went to the "black" market. Note: black market price (per kg): 1500
rubles, state price: 13.5 rubles). <p>
1930s: Under collectivization, opium fits under the unlimited state
monopoly. <p>
1936, May: One of the biggest criminal cases in is under investigation, a
band of professional drug traffickers were supplying opium to various
regions of the USSR, over 90 kgs a month; in addition, they maintained
10 dens that served over 100 drug addicts.
1937, January: In Przhevalsk (Karakol) N.D.Bey is caught with 20 kgs
of opium and lots of money. <p>
1940s (World Ware II): Opium becomes a strategic raw material.<p>
1951: Kyrgyzstan supplies 80% of opium in USSR and 16% of world pro-
duction. <p>
1960s: A joint action of Central Asian Enforcement agencies liquidated
several criminal groups. One of them, with 22 members, used to steal
opium from kolhoz, sovhoz farms, collection points, in order to sell
throughout Central Asia. It amounted to 200 kgs of raw opium.<p>
1974: Presidium the of Supreme Soviet passes decree "To strengthen the
struggle against narcomania." That year all poppy plantations were de-
stroyed. <p>
1991: USSR dissolved. Economy is in crisis. Opium development idea
emerges. One of the newspapers wrote, "Ministry of Internal Affairs
barbarously destroys valuable opium plantations... Millions are being
burnt..." Opium was close to legalization. It did not happen, how-
ever; the President had enough common sense to forbid it.
Today: The opium idea did not vanish into thin air, however. What
should be done with Afgan opium? A program outlining construction of
mini-plants for utilizing opium in 1996-97 is under the government's
examination. Various uses of opium are presented, ranging from raw ma-
terial for morphine production to traditional medicine cure.
<p>
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kyrgyz Pharmacy are clear on this
point, all confiscated opium must be destroyed immediately after a
court's resolution. However, government's resolution states: all opium
must be submitted to the National Security Committee for centralized
storage. As experience proves,the more links in the trade chain, the
higher is probability of stealing.
<p>
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
<p>
Idea Dean Camilla Sharshekeeva <p>
Advisor Dr. John Clark <p>
Internet Freenet (IREX): Igor Aronov, Jonathan Korn <p>
<p>
S O U R C E S
<p>
SK=Slovo Kyrgyzstana
VB=Vecherniy Bishkek
SG=Svobodnye Gory
DV=Dlya Vas
KPK=Komsomolskaya Pravda v Kirgizii <p>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Currently The Kyrgyz News Digest Staff is working with the News Agency
"InformAgenstvo "VB" of the newspaper " Vecherniy Bishkek" to develop
a joint online publication covering all of a Central Asia. We would like to
receive your feedback on the need for such a publication, the way to do it,
etc.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<p>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
to subscribe:
send a message containing 'subscribe' to
kyrgnews-request@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<p>
<address>
If you have any questions and comments you are very welcome to send them to my email <a href="mailto:sakturs9@uwcsms1.uwc.edu"> sakturs9@uwcsms1.uwc.edu </a> . . . . . . . . . . . . <img src="button.gif"><a href="index.html"> <b> back to my homepage</b></a>
</address>
</body>
]]>