Jun 16, 2010 0
Osh Update
The violence in Osh and Jalal Abad seems to be waning. Many Uzbek refugees are still in Uzbekistan, it is hard to say if they will return. Several sources are suggesting that ousted President Bakiyev and his son were behind these events. Eyewitnesses in Osh stated they saw Tajik masked men shooting at both the Kyrgyz and Uzbek. Interpol arrested President Bakiyev’s son, Maksim, in the UK at the request of the Kyrgyzstan government who is alleged to have funded these Tajik “mercenaries”.
Now, Kyrgyzstan will need international help in bringing aid to Osh and Jalal Abad and to the areas in Uzbekistan where the refugees reside. The international community still seems to be failing in helping southern Kyrgyzstan.
The video below was taken last weekend. You can see the Uzbekistan Army helping the Uzbek refugees cross into Uzbekistan. It is a bit chaotic. Latest estimates suggest that over 100,000 Uzbeks crossed into Uzbekistan. Osh itself has an official population of 300,000 (450,000 unofficially).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBFgAES2Ovk[/youtube]
Recent Comments