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POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN KYRGYZSTAN NO LONGER EXISTS

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 24. (RIA Novosti)-The events in the south of Kyrgyzstan are not an attempt to launch a democratic revolution, but an attempt to start a civil war. Political rivalry has not led to the crisis in the republic. The real causes of the conflict might be religious, social or nationalistic. The opposition has not put forward any political programs, although their demands might sound political. The opposition in Kyrgyzstan simply has ceased to exist and its activity has become a catalyst for public disturbances without political substance, writes Izvestia.

Yesterday's opposition leaders are facing a tough choice now: whether to lead the uprising and throw Molotov cocktails or stones, or simply disappear. The first choice is attractive; the second is inevitable.

The uprising in the south of the country has led to the emergence of new leaders that do not belong to the ranks of the traditional opposition. The current events hardly resemble public pressure on authorities because an obvious minority is involved in the disturbances. However, this minority is extremely aggressive. The "orange revolution" scenarios have never materialized. The opposition did not simply lose the elections; it lost them by a huge margin, too big to repeat the Kiev scenario. OSCE observers did not support the opposition's claim that voting was rigged. Court appeals are out of the question and so the legal route to power is closed.

This meant a classic lumpen-revolutionary came out on the streets. His methods resemble more those used during the Moscow standoff between parliament and the Russian president in 1993 rather than those applied in Belgrade or Tbilisi. In addition, his methods are extreme.

It is not difficult to incite people to violence. It is far more difficult to pacify them and to turn violence into political dialogue. Unfortunately, the leaders of the uprising have failed either to demonstrate leadership or propose alternative strategies. Besides this, they cannot even control their supporters. It is not surprising that the crowd, provoked by old resentment and new promises, have attempted to free criminals from local prisons instead of demanding civil freedoms from the authorities.

The mutineers have issued an ultimatum, but to Kyrgyzstan's civil society rather than the president.