N T Tarimi writes in Asia Times Online that Akayev’s fall is an opportunity for Kyrgyzstan’s Uighurs.
In the aftermath of the breathtaking political changes that swept through the streets of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek last Thursday, Uighur human-rights activists are hoping that a new democratic government will move away from the more traditional views of the apparently former president Askar Akayev – most notably, his willingness to cooperate with the Chinese leadership when it came to their desire to crack down on the Uighur political and democratic movement in the Central Asia.
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Nathan Hamm – author of 2040 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan founded Registan.net in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural factors shape risks and opportunities. Follow him on Twitter or drop him a line.
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That’s an interesting assumption. Thinking-East is trying to get an expert writing on that.
I’d really be interested what the Uighurs in Bishkek are saying to that. My experience with them is that they are totally frightened to speak out.
I’d be sceptical though that ‘no Akaev’ means more liberty for them, sad as it is.