A quick note on Kyrgyzstan. If you’ve been watching the news you might have heard of this country. They just underwent another “revolution” and overthrew the current leader, Kurmanbek S. Bakiyev. When we visited in 2006 they were just getting going after the 2005 “revolution” that brought this man to power. Even then there were rumblings that he was not delivering on his promise of bringing democracy to the country.
You can go back to our earliest entries in this blog for information on out trip there in 2006. At that time it was peaceful and hopeful. Today, I am both saddened at the loss of life and and hopeful that the people will get what they desire this time around. There are people in the world who are dying for the chance to have democracy and freedom.
This country is at the crossroads of Central Asia. Larger and more powerful countries have tread on them for ages. While this may appear at first blush to be just another petty dictator ousted by outraged citizens, there is a lot more going on. As in the past, outside countries have an interest and it has played into this event, like many in the past.
The U.S. “needs” the base there to conduct the war in Afghanistan. Russia “needs” to “control” drug traffic and “needs” to maintain it’s “sphere of influence” in Central Asia. The man recently ousted was playing both those sides for personal gains at the cost of his people.
Like most of you, I had never heard of this country until recently. For us it was an invitation to visit a relative working there. For many of you, I’m sure this news is the first thought you might have given it. Many may not yet have paid attention to it today. Busy lives, bits of news seem to slip past.
I encourage you to view this post and enjoy it for the “been there, done that” screen grabs. I got a bit of a thrill thinking, “Oh my god. I have a shot of Rita in just that spot.” aspect of it.
Bishkek, 2006 - 2010
One of the prominent government buildings on the plaza, Rita and her cousin (and our driver) on the left.
Monument in Bishkek
In the video, you can see them running toward this. I was shocked to see the two guards (I believe this is equivalent to our tomb of the unknown soldier) still standing at attention there. In some of the videos you will see officers with the rather stylish hats the same as these guards wear.
This is the “White House” (they call it that) and while it looks like offices, it served also as the presidential palace. You can see the distinctive fence being rammed in the video. In the 2005 revolution, the citizens stormed the fences and the guards and police left and did not shoot. This time, it was not so peaceful.
Monument in Bishkek
The most distinct monument, and the one that really caught my eye. I wasn’t sure of where exactly in the city the filming was taking place, but when I spotted them running toward this, I knew right where they were. A sad way to come upon your nostalgia.
Here is the blog page with a lot of footage and background. The news blog where the screen grabs are from is The Lede.
I encourage you all to also think seriously about what freedom is about, and what debate is about, and about what can result from playing one side against another. The petty divisiveness of our country’s current political climate, which is being inflamed by interest on BOTH sides for the sake of their own gain, can lead to ruinous results.
I know these aren’t “good Christian people” over there, most are Muslims, but they are good people. I hope some of you who pray for things will pray for them, and for their reaching their goal of freedom and democracy. And I hope you will pray for our freedom and democracy to continue. And please while you are at it, pray that we have the strength to pursue our countries interest with the interest of the world in mind, and not just the interest of our good Christian nation.
If we were really good Christians, we would care about the poor and the oppressed, even when they aren’t Christians. My sympathy goes out to the families of the dead in Kyrgyzstan. They are important people, even if we never heard of them.
RKK