Central Asia Now dips its toe into Afghan affairs with Poison Harvest by Nick Jackson, our latest piece of original analysis, focussing on the poppy crop in the central Asian states’ most volatile neighbour.
This week in Kyrgyzstan thousands of supporters of the opposition took to the streets in the capital, Bishkek, to protest against President Bakiyev following a draft constitution which, it is said, would increase presidential powers. Demonstrations are set to continue as calls for an early election grow.
Kazakhstan’s leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has proposed a Union of Central Asian States, or ‘Uni-Stan’, based on the European Union, a plan which would create a trading block in a region containing some of the world’s richest sources of energy. The Kazakh government has also received a second multi-million dollar loan from the World Bank to build another dam in an attempt to stop the Aral Sea drying up completely. The 40% return of the sea level since the first dam has been dubbed the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ by locals. Meanwhile the southern section of the sea in Uzbekistan continues to shrink. Following his launch from the cosmodrome at Baikonur, Charles Simonyi, the billionaire software pioneer, arrived back on Earth on Tuesday after a successful 10-day $25 million rocket ‘holiday’ in space.
The Uzbek authorities barred one of the most prominent Russian-language religious news websites in their latest bid to restrict access to religious and political news, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s long-standing position as Central Asia’s most internet-censored country. On Monday, a high-level EU delegation met with Uzbek officials to discuss sanctions, human rights, energy resources and closer relations as part of their three day visit to Uzbekistan. At the same time, Reporters Without Borders urged the European Union to “be tougher” with Uzbekistan in reviewing sanctions, imposed after the Andijan killings, in light of charges brought against independent journalist Umida Niyazova. Niyazova was detained crossing into Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan in December 2006. She was interviewing family members of victims of the Andijan violence, which left at least 189 people dead.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow, President of Turkmenistan, continued his drive for reform (or at least his drive to appear reformist) by sacking his Minister of Internal Affairs for failing to tackle high levels of drug taking, bribery and other crimes in the country, according to Turkmen TV.
In Tajikistan the ‘cultural makeover’ gathers momentum, at least from the point of view of the President. His plans for the future include further de-Russification, restricting the names given to new-borns and a ban on displays of wealth and extravagant parties.
Stay tuned to Central Asia Now for weekly news digests. Keep an eye out for our fortnightly analysis slots by regional experts.
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