Kyrgyz lawmakers blast intl commission's ethnic conflict report

BISHKEK, May 26 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyz lawmakers said the international
independent commission's report on the cause of the ethnic conflict that
broke out in the south of the republic in June 2010, was biased and
provocative.
An overwhelming majority of the Kyrgyz lawmakers voted on Thursday to
denounce the document, and chairman of the commission Kimmo Kiljunen was
announced persona non-grata, in accordance with the parliament's
resolution.
In early June of 2010, armed clashes occurred between ethnic Kyrgyz
and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan. More than 400 people were killed during
several days of confrontation, and another 2,300 were injured. More than
2,000 houses and administrative buildings were burnt or demolished.
Several months later, the Kyrgyz authorities gave permission to
investigate the cause behind the conflict to the international commission,
which included representatives of a number of European states led by Kimmo
Kiljunen of Finland.
The commission published its findings several weeks ago, partially
blaming the Kyrgyz leadership for failing to respond to the alarming
signals on time, and the Kyrgyz military for inaction.
The report noted that a majority of the fatalities were ethnic Uzbeks
and mostly were defendants in the criminal cases related to the conflict.
The resolution adopted by Kyrgyz lawmakers on Thursday criticized the
results of the international commission's work as "biased."
"The results of the commission's work are aimed at inciting ethnic
hate and do not contribute to the reconciliation between the parties," the
document said.
The lawmakers banned Kiljunen from entering the country, noting that
he has "a dubious reputation" in this native Finland.
The prosecutor general and the Interior Ministry were ordered to take
measures towards holding responsible the persons guilty of producing and
disseminating unauthentic information on last year's events in the south,
according to the document.