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Mass riots put Kyrgyzstan’s economy, tourism at risk

31 May 2013 23:43 (UTC+04:00)
Mass riots put Kyrgyzstan’s economy, tourism at risk

By Aynur Jafarova

The mass riots ongoing in Kyrgyzstan's Jeti-Oguz district of Issyk-Kul province have forced President Almazbek Atambayev to sign a decree imposing a state of emergency.

About 2,000 protesters had descended upon the Kumtor mine office furthering a protest that began earlier this week to demand that the mine be nationalized and provide more social benefits in the Central Asian state.

The mine, operated by Toronto-based Centerra Gold, is the largest foreign-owned gold mine in the former Soviet Union.

On May 28, several hundred residents of the Issyk-Kul province blocked the road leading to the Kumtor mine. They seized the 'Tamga' substation and cut off the power supply to the mine and the gold extracting factory. Early on May 31 the police managed to free the substation and detain the riot organizers.

According to the presidential press service, the state of emergency imposed on the territory of Jeti-Oguz district is in effect from 3:00 p.m. on May 31, 2013 to June 10, 2013 with a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the interests of public safety.

First Deputy Interior Minister Bakytbek Zhusubaliyev was appointed the commandant of the district during the current state of emergency. He is instructed to take comprehensive measures to prevent, deter and eliminate the consequences of mass disorder accompanied by violence and the threat to people's lives.

Currently protesters are clashing with the police in some villages on the southern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake. The road to the Kumtor mine in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region is still blocked by protesters.

Riot police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the stone-throwing protesters. According to reports, at least 55 people, including 13 police officers, have been wounded in clashes.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiyev believes that the government should do everything possible to peacefully resolve the situation. He also said at a press conference that the government hasn't raised the issue on denunciation of the agreement with Centerra Gold Inc. on the Kumtor gold mine development.

The government has tightened the security measures in the country, in particular in the capital Bishkek.

Experts already warn that the riots in Jeti-Oguz district put at risk the tourism season of the region and the country as a whole.

Furthermore, the incidents are seen as a threat to the image of Kyrgyzstan from the economic point of view as the stability of the political situation and the security of foreign investments are very important for foreign investors.

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