Central Asia' S1)Tev()Iutj
--,- Central Asia' s1)tev()Iutj By Daan van der Schriek nessed the revolutionary events in Osh as say- the parliament. This set a bad precedent. In sub~~ ing: "I had an impression that the opposition sequent years, Akayev gave himself more and The Kyrgyz revolution differs dramatically members threw stones at each other." more powers, not to push through reforms, but I from thoseplayed out in Georgia and the This is an important difference from events in to silence criticism. Yet, in the short term, Ukraine. Its lack of leadership hasgiven Georgia and Ukraine: The Kyrgyz revolution reforms didn't bring prosperity. This created dis- way to a moreviolent character lacks leadership and, as a consequence, is more sent, and Akayev became unpopular. violent. Hopefully, however, the opposition will Then, during the. 2000 presidential cam- ETTER not be too softon your opposi- soon agree on a policy and keep its supporters in paign, a credible challenger appeared - Felix tion. This is what the leaders must check. They are th~ authorities now, after state Kulov, a former vice president who had fallen B think whose countries border buildings were stormed and Akayev fled on Kyrgyzstan, which is'in the grips of revolution Thursday. What did Kyrgyzstan, an "island of or, depending on your view, of thugs. Some democracy" in a sea of Central Asian dictatorship, How did this 'island of democra have called the protests sparked by disputed as it was called in the early 19908,do to deserve elections the "Tulip Revolution", after this? Being more liberal than its neighbours is, of Central Asian dictatorships Georgia's Rose Revolution and Ukraine's paradoxically, part of the answer.
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