Michael Jacobs (K12) in Kyrgyzstan - REVOLUTION: Burning down the house



Michael Jacobs (K12) in Kyrgyzstan - REVOLUTION: Burning down the house

REVOLUTION: Burning down the house

So, I am now in the middle of a revolution here. Some recent news links have been posted below. You should definitely keep up on the news for the next week or so. In the last two days, the situation in the country has somewhat become out of the control of the Kyrgyz Government, which is now negotiating with the opposition that has taken over the southern half of the country. Life on the lake is quiet, but some developments are happening on the eastern side of the lake I am told. We are on a special security advisory for the time being. I cannot leave my site except to the nearby town. Our training has been postponed. There is a real chance that we may be evacuated if the president, Askar Akaev, is forced out of office. Right now the entire police forces in the south of the country are sided with the opposition party, and the official Kyrgyz government has no way to fight against the protesters in the south who demand a reelection of the parliamentary deputats who have been voted in during the most recent election. The opposition in the movement, quite large as the photographs online will evidence, has requested the president to step down out of office. Two major news sources have claimed that the situation is beyond the point of turning back. It is difficult to get a clear picture from our news sources that are mostly controlled by the goverment elites anyway.

The doctor from Bishkek also wrote today to tell me that I will be heading to Bangkok, Thailand after our training if it happens for medical. The doctors sent photos of my skin conditions to Washington D.C. The people in D.C. said that I need more tests and to be seen by a dermatologist in Thailand for my condition. I will be in Thailand for about ten days if I end up heading out there. I will keep you posted on these developments, too.

Yesterday was the Muslim New Year called Nooruz. There was a huge festival in the park in Cholpon-Ata. The sun was out in full force. I have been able to run in the mornings in a t-shirt and warm-up pants. We ate plov at my house, and I took it easy: no drunkness to speak of. I am on break and taking the full advantage of it despite being "confined" to the lake where I can spend afternoons on the beach with a book in the sun with an alpine breeze blowing through my greasy hair. Without further ado, some of the most recent headlines from Kyrgyzstan. Oh yeah, and don't worry about me. The muscular, courageous Marines will evacuate me with a helicopter from the top of a nearby burning Soviet apartment building called PMKa if shit hits the fan:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/21/kyrgyzstan.riots.ap/index.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/21/kyrgyzstan.factbox.reut/index.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/kyrgyzstan.riots.ap/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4370875.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4368837.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4369139.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4365945.stm

http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=kyrgyzstan&date_select=full&srchst=nyt

I am fine. I'm not scared considering my travel experience to Mexico City during their revolution and Israel where it's always fuckt. The protesting is reportedly making its way toward the capital. Stay tuned to the news for more information. Mom, don't have a panic attack. Love from the revolution, komrads. -MJ

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

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Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand After the Tsunami in Southeast Asia last December, Peace Corps issued an appeal for Crisis Corps Volunteers and over 200 RPCVs responded. The first team of 8 Crisis Corps volunteers departed for Thailand on March 18 to join RPCVs who are already supporting relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India with other agencies and NGO's. 19 Mar 2005

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March's Feature Stories - only on PCOL Dream Come True - Revisiting India after 34 years The Coyne Column: Read Winning Vanity Fair PCV Essay Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil RPCV reunites with friend after 40 years RPCV reviews "Los Heraldos Negros" by Cesar Vallejo Photo Essay: Taking it to the Streets

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March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories RPCV points out catalytic effect of Iraq 19 Mar PCVs set up Basketball pool in Ukraine 19 Mar Sam Farr introduces bill to monitor ocean fisheries 18 Mar Bridgeland does not rule out run for Congress 18 Mar Jim Doyle promotes Institute for Discovery 18 Mar Newspaper says Bangladesh is safe for PCVs 18 Mar Joan Ruddiman revisits Peter Hessler's "River World" 17 Mar Mark Schneider says Save Haiti from more violence 17 Mar Troy Johnson joins delegation to Indonesia 17 Mar Chris Shays says baseball not exempt from the law 17 Mar "Hurlyburly" benefits gypsy women in Romania 15 Mar Chris Matthews interviews Schwarzenegger 14 Mar Fred Burke dies in NJ, trained early PCVs 13 Mar Mike Honda introduces Student Privacy Protection Act 13 Mar FT details Cheney-McPherson relationship 13 Mar Tucker McCravy reports on Tsunami Reconstruction 10 Mar Dennis Braddock retires with record of accomplishment 9 Mar

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

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