Today was the Naruz festival (Turkish/Persian New Year) in Kyrgyzstan. As always there were colorful banners, costumes, and dances in the center of Bishkek with tens of thousands in attendance.
What was unusual was the high profile police/military presence. I felt like I was in Uzbekistan! That is the only other place I have seen that has so much military and SNB out on public holidays.
They were everywhere, most were special forces. They made a human lines blocking access to certain areas. For example, you could not walk within a block of the White House or other government buildings. There was even a body-armor clad riot-squad standing on the ready at one of the side streets. The only good thing was that few of them seemed to have guns.
The way I see it, there two possibilities, which in my more cynical moments I think are related:
One, it could be that President Bakiev was afraid the opposition might try pull something earlier than the rallies they are planning for next month. (see IWPR Mar 13.07; Eurasia Daily Monitor Mar 15.07; or RFE/RL Mar 14.07 for details).
Or two, such heavy security was because of a real terror threat in Bishkek (see IWPR Mar 12. 07). However, it is worth noting that much commentary in the local press thinks the SNB cooked-up the terror warning as a preemptive excuse to clamp-down on the opposition.
Either way, it was sad to see such a crass display of military muscle on a beautiful holiday in what used to be a very democratic place. I guess there goes the neighborhood.
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