Bishkek, 12 December 1996 (RFE/RL) - Two ethnic Kyrgyz, living in Tajikistan have written to United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on behalf of other ethnic Kyrgyz. In their letter this week, they say living conditions for ethnic Kyrgyz in Tajikistan are getting worse because of continued fighting between government forces and Islamic opposition forces.
Tajikistan has a large ethnic Kyrgyz population. The Red Cross recently launched a large aid appeal for Central Asian states, citing war, hunger and the collapse of social welfare. The Red Cross has specifically cited malnutrition in Kazakhstan, the needs of Afhgan refugees seeking shelter in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, and the continuing civil war in Tajikistan.
New Opposition Movement To Be Founded
The chairman of the organizing committee of the new opposition movement "For Deliverence from Poverty," Topchubek Turgunaliev, tells our correspondent in Bishkek that the founding Congress of the movement will be held in Bishkek December 21. Our correspondent was told yesterday that several political parties and movements in Kyrgyzstan have agreed to unite in this one movement. Kazakhstan's opposition "Azamat" movement will also participate.
TurgunAliyev previously helped found the "Democratic movement of Kyrgyzstan," which consolidated all democratic parties and movements in Kyrgyzstan in 1991-1993. TurgunAliyev was released in April after four months in jail, convicted of insulting President Askar Akayev.