Content area
Full Text
On 24 March 2005, President Askar Akayev - who ruled Kyrgyzstan for 15 years since its independence in December 1991suddenly fled the country in the face of the popular protests. The protest movements had first gathered momentum in the provincial Ferghana Valley cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh. The local authorities in both the cities peacefully abdicated power to the people's movements. From there the protestors marched to capital Bishkek leading to the fall of government there. Change of regime in Bishkek following 'Rose' revolution in Georgia and 'Orange' revolution Ukraine, sent shock waves in the corridors of power in other former Soviet republics. Subsequent developments after the Kyrgyz revolution known as 'Tulip' or 'Yellow' revolution demonstrated the resolve of the governments in other former Soviet republics to ensure that the 'colour revolutions' are not repeated in their respective states. It appears now that the advocates of the 'regime change' have suffered a set back and are on the back foot. Future only will unfold what broad pattern the developments in the former Soviet space would assume.
As regards the Kyrgyz revolution per se, it was a complex intermix of external and internal factors, including the interplay of clan rivalries and north-south divide. Two contradictory trends were simultaneously developing for some time in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. These were: (a) laying the groundwork for the democratization of the society; and (b) further entrenchment of pyramid- like power structure with the concentration of all power in the hands of the powerful President. The growing tension and contradiction between the two trends finally erupted in the 24 March 2005 'revolution.'
'ISLAND OF DEMOCRACY'
Kyrgyzstan has been projected as the 'Island of Democracy' in Central Asia. The Kyrgyz economic reforms, emergence of a large number of Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), numerous political parties and an independent press clearly show the growing democratization and formation of a vibrant civil society in the republic. The foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan has been one of multiple alignments or 'an open door policy.' Soviet disintegration resulted in the drying up of substantial federal subsidies that had kept the republic going. After its independence in 1991, it was believed that the difficult transition from the Soviet command economy to market economy could be carried out with the...