Migration Between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan - Literature review Example

Migration between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Introduction In the year the violence between the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in Kyrgyzstan. The act left many around the world wondering why such an act would occur in a country that many believe to be one of the strongest democracies on the Asian continent. Others find Kyrgyzstan to be the most liberal country on the continent, so violence in this part was not just any news. Many parties have tried to come up with a complete explanation of the fight but as Rezvani (2013) puts it, the causes have not yet been understood appropriately. Most of the opposing explanations tend to criticise one or the other parties, foreign forces or certain obscure. Quite some analysts depend solely on the internal affairs of Kyrgyzstan to try and come up with a valid explanation for this violence (Rezvani). In exception of the civil war that erupted in Tajikistan, Central Asia had been considered as a haven of peace since the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2010, most people believed that the scores of hatred between the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz had already been buried deep in the darkness of history. Most parties blamed the violence in Kyrgyzstan on the socio-economic situation’s post-perestroika deterioration of the former Soviet Union. Other analysts especially in the western parts of the world believed that regardless of the petty cases of ethnic stereotypes between the two ethnic groups, hostilities and violence had already been done away with in 1990 after order was restored in the area. The 2010 conflict One can argue that the conflict in 2010 a re-eruption of the 1990’s conflict between the ethnic groups that was somehow subsidized following the elimination of the violent hostilities. Regardless of the conflict in 2010 lasting for a shorter period, we should not refute the fact that the roots of this violence are deeply embedded in a longer history. Just as it is the case in other cases of ethno-territorial conflicts in other parts of the Soviet Union, it is right to assume that the roots of the conflict go back the nationalities policy, establishment of the Soviet Union as well as the national territorial divisions. Resulting from these divisions, a large population of the Uzbeks lives in within the territory of Kyrgyzstan (ANDERSON, KATUS and SILVER). By history, the Uzbeks used to be sedentary whereas their counterparts were nomadic by tradition. In the past years, there were times when the nomads would launch an attack on the sedentary population. However, the ancestors of the Tajiks and the modern-day Uzbeks were never always observed violence. This is because they saw an important coexistence with their counterparts where they would carry out trade in a peaceful manner. The policies vis-à-vis of the earlier Imperial Russian regimes assumed that the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz had interests that were largely incompatible. As a result, these two ethnic groups became assured that violent conflicts in between themselves were somehow justified (Khamidov). The conflict between these two groups can be considered as an ethno-territorial conflict since it was a conflict characterized by violence as well as an ethnic character. Regardless of the territorial character of this war not being of an enormous influence as is the case in other sections of the Soviet Union, the territorial character in it cannot be easily refuted. In the earlier war in the 1990s, there was an Uzbek separatist agitation in which the southern Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz believed that Uzbeks were in fact separatists (ALLWORTH). In the 2010 war, however, there was no real separatism that took place (Rezvani). The conflict in 2010 can, therefore, be referred to as a one-sided violence directed towards the Uzbeks. The Kyrgyz can be considered as extremist Ethno-nationalists who regarded ethnic cleansing as a way through which they would remove the Uzbeks who existed on their land as tenants. But in reality, it is important to note that the Uzbeks are justified natives to this land as they have stayed in the land for quite a number of generations. The cities in Fergana valley in the south of Kyrgyzstan were regarded by the Uzbeks as some of their historical areas of living. However, the Soviet Kyrgyzstan was ruled dominantly by the Kyrgyz and, as a result, they reallocated their tribe men to these towns and cities in the Fergana Valley. The Ethno-nationalist Uzbeks, on the other hand, regarded the move as assault launched against their claim of ownership of this region (Khamidov). How the 2010 conflict cause migration The revolution named as the Tulip Revolution resulted in the worsening of the political position of many Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan. The power shifted in favour of the Kyrgyz, who originated from the south. In Tajikistan, the locality and clan of individuals are of great influence when it comes to political affairs. The ethnic imbalance between the Uzbeks and the southern Kyrgyz gained further momentum after the Tulip Revolution. To begin with, following the removal of Akayev as well as his government from holding office, the Uzbeks started complaining increasingly about discrimination. They blamed the new government led by Bakiyev for being disinterested with inter-ethnic relationships. In the previous governments, the Uzbeks had been represented in local governments in the areas to the south of Kyrgyzstan where they have a larger population made up of Uzbeks (Hukam and Mathur). The migration of the Uzbeks was also propagated by many cases of the negative stereotype that are common amongst the Kyrgyz and other ethnic groups. To begin with, Uzbeks have a greater demographic dominance over the Kyrgyz in that region a situation that makes them an ignored group in Central Asia. The Kyrgyz thought that the Uzbeks were capable of bringing up serious demands revolving around separatist and irredentist scenarios. A similar case was evident in 1990 when the Osh conflict occurred. The migration was also facilitated by the political instability that occurred upon the removal of Bakiyev from power. The lack of government interference in the conflict ensured that there was a new opportunity to unleash generational hostilities was now available. Most criminal gangs of Kyrgyz origin organized themselves in preparation for the conflict directed towards the new government and the Uzbeks who were in support of this government. When the war started in 2010, the Uzbeks were seen the underdogs although the situation changed after some time. The first days of the war were characterized by clashes, and the situation was very chaotic. Many were killed giving a total of 260 in a span of six days. On the 14th of June 2010, a total of 203 people migrated from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan. The increase in the number of casualties by the 18th of that month was as a result of the immigration of these Uzbeks from Uzbekistan seeking a revenge (Rezvani). The border between the Uzbek and the Kyrgyz is usually a difficult one to get across. However, never means that no interaction occurs as the Uzbek networks are known to work on either side of the border between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The government of Uzbekistani is known to use these informal networks so as to counter and contain radical Islamists of the Wahhabi sect. It is clear that the militants who crossed over the border to Kyrgyzstan from Uzbekistan were responsible for the escalation in the number of casualties. Another factor that is believed to be behind the unconstitutional immigration of persons from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan is as the low standards of living in Uzbekistan. As a result, most of Uzbekistan’s residents migrate to try their luck in farms, the retail trade or as unskilled labourers in the neighbouring country (Rezvani). Interview with a 40-year-old lady of Uzbekistan origin who lives in Kyrgyzstan Interviewer: Hello, good morning. Would you begin by informing us your names in full? Interviewee: good morning to you too. Thank you. I go by the name of Malika from Osh. Interviewer: now, since you came to Kyrgyzstan, how many years have passed? Interviewee: I remember crossing the border on a cold night, and that was a terrifying situation I have ever been through. My family back in my homeland was a poor one where we could sometimes go overnight without having something to put in our stomachs. Interviewer: you have stated that your family was quite poor, how many were you and were you the only one who crossed the border to this other side? Interviewee: I was born in a family of seven with my father passing on as a result of a clash in our community back home. As the eldest daughter and the only educated individual in my family, I had to come to this other side in order to find a job and provide for my family back home. I crossed the border together with my family who accompanied me and now live with a relative in Cheremushki, Osh. Interviewer: was the journey a smooth transition or was it characterized by cases of violence? Interviewee: the journey is not an easy task from the word go! You have to keep checking over your shoulders for people of the Kyrgyz origin who tend to abuse us racially. The local authorities also make the migration a difficult step through their continued harassment. Interviewer: recently, the president RozaOtunbayeva stated that the government was unable to control the southern part of Kyrgyzstan. Do you feel as if the government of Kyrgyzstan is doing enough to keep the situation in check in this part of the country? Interviewee: Honestly, I don’t believe the government would be this reluctant if similar clashes were to rise in the northern part of the country where we the immigrants from Uzbekistan are not a common figure. During the protests that occur here on a daily basis, the police take quite a while to make an appearance. Interviewer: do you feel comfortable around here especially after the conflict? Interviewee: to me, I have been on this land since 1994 when there were not too many Kyrgyz around this place. I have come to love this place, and it is as well comfortable compared to my home. Interviewer: would you consider leaving the country at this time? Interviewee: I believe that everyone who wishes to abandon a place they have found happiness must be led by a greater reason. For me, my options are limited because, despite the cultural and language ties with the authoritarian Uzbekistan, it is still not a desirable destination. The two governments have imposed heavy policies and restrictions on the process of obtaining a visa, and the border remains cold. The only safer place to go to is Russia. Interviewer: Malaika, I would like to thank you for sparing your time to share some of your inner-most stories. I wish you safety as you take care of your family. What would you like to tell anyone out there listening to this? Interviewee: Thank you. I beg the United Nations to intervene and observe that a state of peace is maintained so that we can continue living peacefully with one another. Conclusion The 2010 conflict as a result of ethnic imbalances as well as political instability resulted in the migration of Uzbeks from Kyrgyzstan. Most of them were stranded as theycould not cross over to the neighbouring Uzbekistan where the border is closed. The situation is a difficult scenario, and the intervention of all stakeholders is of great importance. References ALLWORTH, Edward. Central Asia. A Century of Russian Rule. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. Print. ANDERSON Barbara, KATUS Kalev and SILVER Brian. "Developments and prospects for population statistics in countries of the former Soviet Union." Population Index, vol. 60, n° 1, (Spring) (1994): 4-20. Document. Hukam Chand and Krishna Mathur. A History of the Modern World (1500-2000A.D.). Jaipur, India: Jain Prakashan Mandir, 2010. Press. Khamidov, Alisher. "Uzbeks Leaving Southern Kyrgyzstan in “Mass Exodus”." Eurasianet.org 26 July 2010. Rezvani, Babak. "Understanding and Explaining the Kyrgyz–Uzbek Interethnic Conflict in Southern Kyrgyzstan." Anthropology of the Middle East (2013): 1-23. Read More