And another way to deal with police corruption

[LBD]

Some of you will have seen on the news, the civil unrest here in Kyrgyzstan. The core of the unrest lay with corruption through all facets of the Govt from the former President who seems to have flown the coup with an estimated $1B, down to the traffic police who collect instant fines....Tui's moment there. People que or bribe their way into public service for the sole purpose of being in a position of legal authority that can expect bribes for approvals....You cannot pass a drivers licence in Kyrgyzstan...(In theory you can) You buy your license....

Pictures below from last week are the result of rebellion against corruption. 87 dead to date and with the state of health care in this country, that figure will grow.

Warning Some pictures are Graphic.

[LBD]

And some more....

This all took place 1 km from our modern comfortable apartment. We cold see the smoke and hear the gunfire interspersed with occasional loud explosions. The pictures are Graphic....The live uncensored coverage on TV was more so, watching a protestor, one of several we saw, slump to the ground laying motionless as a young life departs....

That night when there were no police, military or militia out, the anti political/corruption rally turned to destruction of private businesses as looters capitalised on the liberty to do whatever they wish. One expat tells of his wife watching looters walk past from her window. Arms full of handbags...and all she felt were pangs of envy

[LBD]

And more still....

This was the 2nd revolution in 5years....last time no one was hurt, some windows got broken and there was a little looting, And someone kicked Almaz's donkey. The concern is for the future, now that it is obvious a riot can over through the govt, it could become the accepted means of replacing a govt instead of a vote. The reciently deposed persident was in his second term after he and his family and party won the election by a decisive 95%....another Tuis please.

[LBD]

And a few more

NZ...the fantastic place it is...is officially the worlds least corrupt country. Kyrgyzstan is....hopefully was.... in the 3 most corrupt in the world....Its cultural amoungst other things, being so poor people do what they can to survive and if it means corrupt practices?... well every one else is corrupt, one more wil not make a difference.

Yes I read there is corruption in NZ...this policeman had sex with this prostitute free in return for? And that was front page news for days. Hell, Kyrgyz Police fleece kyrgyz drivers of 1000's of dollars a day and pocket it....who cares, and dont make a fuss (or ask for a reciept) or you will get pulled over by every cop you pass for the next 6 months.

Corruption in NZ? you don't know how good you really have it

[LBD]

Okay a couple more....

Things have setteld down although today there were more protests against those who helped get the former President out of the country...Russian, American, Europe, UN, and Kazakh were all involved but the yanks bore the brunt of it...or so they say but then the world rotates around Washington in their eyes. With the ex president gone, the hope is for increasing calmness, and that the interim Govt will be able to start managing the coutry......If they can find any experienced public servants not related to the deposed President Bakiev....

[mashman]

I'm sorry you have to be amongst that travesty. Amazing, yet disturbing pictures of what your government will do to protect their way of life. Truly upsetting.

[scumdog]

Throw stones at a gun-fight and somebody s going to end up in tears...

[LBD]

I'm sorry you have to be amongst that travesty. Amazing, yet disturbing pictures of what your government will do to protect their way of life. Truly upsetting.

Yes we kept our head down for afew nights, stayed indoors during the daytime, it was not until 5 days later tat we ventured out to the market to buy food and supplies. The mood was sad and depressed. but now the expresident has resigned, there is hope.

There is another factor in the mix, Kyrgyz vs Russian ethnecities. not much love lost between them on occasions. There are some 65000 officially unemployed...there will be many more. Of that figure most will be kyrgyz nationals.

[miSTa]

Some quite powerful shots there LBD, post 1 photo 2 - right in the line of fire, bugger that!

Post 4 photo 6 - the old guy is looking kind of hopeless while the guy in front crawls away.

Was wondering how close the action was to you, on the front door it seems. Yes we don't how lucky know how lucky we are here.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

So why do the government think they are right... that are controlling and manipulating you... and government tropp blindly follow orders and fire on their own people... if change, real change, not just a change of gooberments, but change in the way people think including those at the top, doesn't happen soon I can see that crap hitting NZ street, with police and government troops who blindly follow without question, doing the same thing here...

Terrorist or freedom fighter... who is correct... and untill you know the whole story and see the big picture... nothing will change... nothing will be just the same BS same people control and manipulating just wearing a different mask

[LBD]

We were about a km away from the main violence...no the photos are not mine....I don't have the fortidude to go wandering out amoungst that shite. The looters were walking past our place and there was a a lot of gunfire and destruction about 400m from our home...but it was all very targeted at assetts and businesses belonging to the former president. Most things out side that scope were left well alone.

My employer has several "exit plans" in place for the expats but that is unlikely to eventuate. Especially as things are settling down now.

We are fortunate that the violence has not touched any one we know of or that I work with.

The NZ Embassy in Moscow has been doing a good job keeping us informed and tracking the 8 Kiwis known to be in Kyrgyzstan

[LBD]

So why do the government think they are right... that are controlling and manipulating you... and government tropp blindly follow orders and fire on their own people... if change, real change, not just a change of gooberments, but change in the way people think including those at the top, doesn't happen soon I can see that crap hitting NZ street, with police and government troops who blindly follow without question, doing the same thing here...

The Govt knew they were wrong, they know they are corrupt, it was a matter of greed and milk the population of as much as they can into their own coffers....The population know the Govt was corrupt so something had to give.

Police were reluctant o fire on the population at the outset, however the police were over come by the mob who were becoming heavily armed...with what they brought and what they aquired of the defeted police and military, Then it becam a case of police and military fighting for their own lives. Snipers on the roof of the parliment building were selective and not random selecting targets, ie stone throwers, fence climbers, flag wavers were left to their means, a protestor who aquired a RPG launcher, or a molotov coctail hurler prepairing to throw at police or a armed protestor taking aim, they became targets....sad, but I have to say when fighting for their lives, it is understandable.
It was not only civilian casualties, the police and military suffered greatly as well.

The head of the military was the presidents brother....nepotism. Now that the former establishment has departed, police, military and militia are all working on the same side to establish law and order.

[SMOKEU]

That's gangsta.