Reconciliation actions underway in southern Kyrgyzstan.

BISHKEK, June 23 (Itar-Tass) - Still smarting from the recent mass
disturbances, southern Kyrgyzstan has launched reconciliation actions
between the conflicting parties.
"The situation in the zone of the recent conflict is stabilizing on
the whole, compared with the time when violence began; the bulk of the
population has realized 'the scope of the tragedy.' The process of
reconciliation between the parties in all southern regions is underway, in
which elders, clerics and government officials and the public actively
participate," commandant of the southern Osh region Baktybek Alymbekov
said at a meeting with head of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Centre in Bishkek Andrew Tesoriere on
Wednesday.
However, Alymbekov acknowledged negative factors that mostly concern
young people. "We still observe certain disagreements between the two
sides," he said, "so the key emphasis in the work is made on this age
group."
The authorities are carrying out awareness campaigns among leaders of
youngsters, while taking into account "the mentality of the south region
of Kyrgyzstan."
According to the commandant, leaders of local criminal groups were
involved in the tragic events in Osh.
"As of now, police are looking for the persons involved in the
events," he went on to say.
Alymbekov noted that some non-government organizations release
unauthentic facts about the work by police in the conflict zone, which is
a factor worsening the situation in the region.
For example, representatives of a number of such organizations claim
that police and the military engage in looting and robberies, and treat
the local residents cruelly. "Despite any statements, protecting the
person's life remains top priority for police," the commandant said.
For his part, the OSCE official asked what assistance the Organization
can provide to Kyrgyz police in this situation.
The OSCE has cooperated with Kyrgyzstan for a long time, so it cannot
stand aloof when it suffered such irreparable losses, and is always ready
to help in restoring law and order, Tesoriere said.
Riots broke out in Osh overnight to June 11. The next day, they spread
to the neighbouring Jalal-Abad region. The authorities announced a state
of emergency and imposed a curfew in the conflict zone.
Additional police units and interior troops were sent to the area, and
militia helped maintain public order.
More than 200 people were killed in mass disturbances and another
2,200 requested medical assistance. Hundreds of houses and cars were
burnt. The clashes resulted in a mass outflow of refugees to the
neighbouring Uzbekistan. The number of people who fled their homes is
estimated at 110,000.
Part of them has already returned home.
-0-myz/usn