Clashes in North Kyrgyzstan: conflict between Kyrgyz and Dungan population

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Several people have been hurt in clashes between Kyrgyz and Dungan people in the village of Iskra of Chuya Region in North Kyrgyzstan, reports a REGNUM correspondent from the scene. The day before, on February 5, several hundred people representing Kyrgyz population of the village and three neighboring villages threw stones and bottles with petrol at houses and cars belonging to Dungan population. In response, Dungans fired several shots at the crowd of the attackers, nobody was hurt. The police detained those who fired and ceased a gun and three grenades from them.

As the REGNUM correspondent notes, the disorders were caused by a fight between Dungan and Kyrgyz teenagers for a seat in the computer game center. After the fight, two young Kyrgyz turned to hospital and reported to the police. On February 4, at a meeting with representatives of the Dungan Diaspora and local authorities, about two hundred Kyrgyz claimed that several Dungan families leave the village within 24 hours. Then, they managed to ease the tensions, but on February 5, Kyrgyz population urged to evict several Dungan families.

Dungan people say that such conflict situations arise rather often, but they have never resulted in such clashes. The situation became tense, after Dungan population supported a new head of the local council on December 18, 2005.

Governing officials arrived to the village on February 6, including governor of the region, head of president’s administration defense and security department, deputy interior minister. At a meeting with Dungan population they said they saw no reasons to cal the situation interethnic dissention. According to the officials, the police will search for provocateurs and initiators of the clashes. However, most Dungans have moved their women and children from the village. According to the interior ministry, the ministry’s troops and special units are patrolling the village. Nevertheless, according to the most recent reports of the REGNUM correspondent, about 03:00 p.m. the situation has started worsening again. One of the local residents said an explosion could be heard, and the rest of the Dungans are packing their things and flee from the village.