About that whole "Legislative Branch" thing...

This entry will be a little difficult to write due to some of the restrictions of Peace Corps service, but I think it is necessary to write it none the less to let people know what is going on in the most under reported region in the world. According to the Peace Corps Kyrgyz Republic 2007-2008 Handbook for Volunteers, “Material that might be viewed (on websites) as disparaging to the host country or as politically sensitive by the host government could create significant problems for the Peace Corps program in that country.” Thankfully, it does not say that politically sensitive topics cannot be discussed, just that they cannot be considered “political activity.” That being said, here is my attempt to explain what is going on here as politically sensitive-ly as possible.

In March 2005, the Kyrgyz Republic had what they now refer to as the “Tulip Revolution.” Then President Arkiev was forced from office as hundreds of thousands of protesters lined up in Ala-Too square to demand answers from what had been an ineffective government. Things never turned violent and eventually President Bakiev came to power.

Since the Revolution, things have not changed much. Corruption is still a major part of daily life (thank you, Communism) and the economy is not growing at the pace that is needed for the country to enter even the “developing” world category, even though it has infrastructure thanks to the Soviets that should vault it into the category automatically. Given all of this, it was decided that the executive branch was not the only one that needed a complete reversal of power and in October of this year, the entire parliament was dissolved. That’s right. The entire country voted the entire parliament out of office.

While I will not go into the multiple reports, both anecdotal and from the media, that there were serious objections to the validity of the process, it is worth noting that this country currently has no check on the President’s power. Granted, this isn’t too big a deal. Mr. Bakiev does not have a huge military nor does he poses power over anything that could cripple the world or even Kyrgyz economy. He does, however, currently have more power than his predecessor did. Even Arkiev had to deal with a freely elected parliament.

Political parties have been given until this week to officially register with the government and select candidates to run for the open seats (all of them) in parliament. The elections are set for December 16 (or 18, I can’t remember). One party is meeting right next door to my work and the people always look so angry. I don’t really know if that has anything to do with anything, but it makes it hard to get work done when people keep walking in accidently and then just staring at us until we tell them they have the wrong office.

I haven’t noticed anything terribly different since the dissolution. There is talk of a new constitution and I don’t know whether anything will be done with it until after the new parliament is installed. Easily said, there are lots of conspiracy theories in the air and it doesn’t take much to imagine a few 1984/Turkmenbashi characteristics coming to life (if you don’t know Turkmenbashi, Wikipedia him. It is worth the read).

Alright, that’s it. Hopefully I won’t get kicked out of Peace Corps for this. I really suggest reading up on the politics of this region. There are some characters in Central Asia that definitely do not get the attention they deserve because they don’t have enough oil. That, and anyone who knows the difference between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan automatically gets a free drink on me when s/he comes to visit!