Topic: Ensuring Stability in Kyrgyzstan
Country: Uganda
Delegate Name: Kelsey Berry
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Uganda position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
Tensions in Kyrgyzstan began rising in April 2010, after president Kurmanbek Bakiyev was forced into resignation, and fled to Bishkek. Protestors accused the former president of usurping power from the government, causing nationwide protests to break out, resulting in the more than eighty deaths, and many more left wounded. Standing president Roza Otunbayeva took power after Bakiyev's resignation. Two months later, ethnic riots erupted in June between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek people, in the city of Osh. Thousands of Uzbeks fled their homes, and about 2,000 homes were destroyed. The government was unable to regain control of these attacks, and lost control of southern areas of Kyrgyzstan. Once the violence subsided, police pursued the investigation of the violence, while allegations came up claiming that Uzbeks were being subjected to beatings and other abuses. Concerns rose about the strength of Kyrgyzstan's weak central authority, and President Otunbayeva has asked support for an international police force, but has been unable to gain enough control to overpower the local leaders in the south opposing the government.
Uganda supports working towards stability in Kyrgyzstan, and since Uganda and the United States are in good relations, Uganda has no issue with the U.S. holding its airbase in Manas to aid its forces fighting in the Middle east. Uganda openly supports the War on Terror, and desires to see other countries begin to return to peace, just as Uganda was in a similar situation before. The United States gave aid to Uganda in its time of need and suffering, therefore, Uganda wishes to see other nations stabilized as well.
Uganda believes that it is important to begin rebuilding its ethnic ties as soon as possible, in order to stabilize a split nation. To achieve this, Uganda thinks it would be well to strengthen the government into one that can better control the ethnic protests and violence, and to suppress the fear felt by the Uzbeks. Because the United States has ties with Kyrgyzstan, and Uganda has ties with the United States, the country of Uganda would very much consider giving aid to Kyrgyzstan as well, and wishes only for the troubled nation to swiftly return to peace.
