1. Action for Peace in Kyrgyzstan
Central Asian Diaspora and Friends in Scotland
Aims of the campaign
In June 2010 an “ethnic” conflict between Kyrgyz and Uzbek people broke out in the
south of Kyrgyzstan. Unfortunately, this brought about widespread violence, looting,
and destruction. Most parts of Osh and Jalalabad cities were ruined. Markets,
hospitals, schools, shops, and cafes were the key targets of paid thugs and revenge by
angry citizens. According to official data, over 300 people died and around 2000 were
wounded. Unofficial reports suggest that the number of both dead and wounded was
much higher. The people of Osh and Jalalabad were left without food, medicine, and
even their homes.
As members of the Central Asian diaspora and friends in Scotland, we wanted to
impartially raise funds for Uzbek and Kyrgyz victims of the crisis in southern
Kyrgyzstan. It was widely reported that the ‘ethnic’ conflict stemmed from a
deteriorating social situation and political tension between different political forces
and elites in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, we also wanted to set a sign of peace that this
conflict was not caused by ‘ancient hatreds’ and that Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and friends in
the UK stood together in solidarity.
A burnt down tenement of flats in Osh
Uzbek refugees at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state
border
Thank you notes
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the people who contributed to
our ‘Action for Peace’ campaign and who came to our charity event. Your generous
contribution helped create a sense of solidarity, and has allowed a large number of
people to recover from the crisis and face the winter in southern Kyrgyzstan. Special
thanks go to the Edinburgh businesses (shops, cafes, restaurants) who contributed
prizes to our raffle and tambola. We are also grateful to all our friends, colleagues,
and family for all their emotional and financial support and contributions. Many
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2. thanks go to the Sociology Society of the University of Edinburgh for their
organisation of coffee and book sale. We would also like to thank the Housing
Department of the City Council of Edinburgh and Taylor Nelson Sofres for their
donations.
Funds collected
Our ‘Action for Peace’ campaign raised funds through a variety of activities.
• We conducted a charity event with a rich and interesting programme which
included a Central Asia buffet and disco, a movie, raffle, and a fair of Central
Asian craft and jewellery. This event was a great success and raised £ 1,121. We
also provided information about the crisis to our visitors.
• We also organised a coffee and book sale at the University of Edinburgh with the
support of the Sociology Society. The sale raised £ 302.
• Finally, we collected £ 1,093 through online donations and contributions from our
friends and colleagues.
As a result, we raised £ 2,516 in total.
Book and coffee sale in the University of
Edinburgh
Central Asia buffet at the charity event
Central Asian craft and jewellery fair at the
charity
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3. Raffle at the charity event
Central Asian diaspora and friends who organised the ‘Action for Peace’ campaign
Use of the funds
We transferred all donations (£ 2,516) to the Kyrgyz Red Crescent and a voluntary
initiative group ‘El Demi’. Each organisation received £1,258.00 (50%). The Kyrgyz
Red Crescent was at the front line providing instant humanitarian help to the victims
regardless of their ethnicity since the beginning of the conflict. Our funds to the
Kyrgyz Red Crescent were a contribution to their budget. Since June 2010 the Kyrgyz
Red Crescent has done a tremendous job in assisting Uzbek and Kyrgyz people in
southern Kyrgyzstan who suffered from the conflict. For example, according to their
mid-year report as of September 2010, the Kyrgyz Red Crescent provided 14600
blankets, 928 jerry cans, 2716 kitchen sets, 9810 mattresses, 196 plastic jugs, 34100
bottles of drinking water, 1393 food parcels, medical items and clothes for hospital
patients. Further detailed information about the activities of the Kyrgyz Red Crescent
in southern Kyrgyzstan can be found at
http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/10/MDRKG007EAou3.pdf
and http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/cn6.asp?countryid=98 .
The voluntary initiative ‘El Bilimi’ is a group of professionals working for
international organisations in Kyrgyzstan (USAID, AUCA, SOROS, UNV). During
the conflict they focused on the prevention of the conflict’s escalation by
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4. distributing leaflets promoting interethnic peace, airing public service announcements
with the same content on two major national TV channels and radios, and composing
a ballad with Uzbek and Kyrgyz composers about this tragedy and promoting this
song in three languages on TV, radio, mobile phones, and other means. Their overall
aim has been to support victims of the conflict and contributing to the promotion of
peace.
Information board about El Demi at the charity event
Within our ‘Action for Peace’ campaign El Demi also provided humanitarian
assistance to an Uzbek community in Osh which is located at the heart of the city.
During the June conflict 298 houses were burned in the community neighbourhood
(please see photos below). People were left without proper accommodation. Five
people (both Uzbeks and Kyrgyz) were killed here.
Burned down houses in the community neighbourhood
After assessing the needs of the community, El Demi identified that the community
members needed flour and coal for winter to heat their houses. El Demi purchased
2500 kilograms of flour (50 sacks) and 2.5 tonnes of coal. The flour was distributed to
fifty people and coal was given to five people who were most in need.
All the receipts and lists of beneficiaries are available in Russian. They can be
provided upon request with translation into English. More photos are also available.
Please contact Kanykey Jailobaeva at kanbay28@gmail.com.
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5. Flour purchase
Beneficiaries
An Uzbek woman receiving flour
Coal purchase
The current situation in Kyrgyzstan
Since June 2010 the situation in Kyrgyzstan has relatively stabilised. The acute
conflict has ceased. At the end of June 2010 there was a referendum as a result of
which a new constitution based on parliamentary democracy, was adopted. This type
of constitution is very unique for authoritarian Central Asia. In October 2010 there
were parliamentary elections in which a large number of parties competed. Only five
political parties won the elections. After almost two months of negotiations, a
coalition consisting of three parties was build. It is a time for Kyrgyzstan to
demonstrate its commitment to building democracy. However, the situation still
remains precarious with political, social, and security problems to be solved. You can
find more information on news websites such as http://eng.24.kg/,
http://www.akipress.com/, http://www.eurasianet.org/, and http://www.rferl.org/.
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6. For more information please contact:
Jeanne Féaux de la Croix jeannefeaux@yahoo.co.uk
Temirlan Jailobaev tjailobaev@gmail.com
Kanykey Jailobaeva kanbay28@gmail.com
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