Today, 24 March, is the first anniversary of the tulip revolution in Kyrgyzstan. Whether one may speak of a true revolution is not as clear as in the cases of Georgia's rose revolution or Ukraine's orange revolution.That president Askar Akayev chose to go into exile, today looks rather the effect of the tumultuous events of 24 March 2005 than of a coordinated political action. Rumours of a palace coup or the realisation that the situation under Akayev was politically unsustainable, leading to a managed takeover, have been manifold. No matter what one thinks of this, it is evident that one cannot speak of a people's revolution in the same way as in Georgia and Ukraine. New president Kurmanbek Bakiyev has recently declared 24 March a public holiday. It will be interesting to see whether this will become a day of public celebrations, ridicule or indifference.
4 comments:
"It will be interesting to see whether this will become a day of public celebrations, ridicule or indifference." It is athin line that separates the two. Only time will show.
Dear Angela,
Actually, president Bakiyev is considering to rename this day to "People's revolution day" or "Victory day of justice". He will let his decision be known by a presidential "ukas" ordering public festivities in streets and squares throughout Kyrgyzstan. A thin line, indeed, but one cannot preclude that people are genuinely happy to be rid of Akayev.
Yours,
Vilhelm
My friend photographer friend in Bishkek informs me, with much sarcasm - that nothing has really changed with Bakiyev coming into power. In fact, in some ways the past year has been worse.
You can catch her photos and comments regarding the parade they had in celebration of the "revolution" here:
http://morrire.livejournal.com/
Dear Mr. Shedd,
Red Square Victory Parade - here we come again... Oh, it's simply so awful to see such pictures. To even start imagining how people have come up with the idea of walking in straight lines startles me. I am sorry - if not surprised - to see that the tulip revolution seems to have meant little to no change.
Yours,
Vilhelm
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