TRAVELS TO BATKEN AND BEYOND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000833

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: TRAVELS TO BATKEN AND BEYOND

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Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: During a four-day trip to southern
Kyrgyzstan, the Ambassador visited the remote Batken Oblast,
which is almost completely surrounded by Tajikistan, on the
edge of the Ferghana Valley. Batken has several Uzbek and
Tajik enclaves located within its borders, and mining
(mercury and antimony) and agriculture are the dominant
sectors of the limited local economy. Local government
officials, religious leaders, and civil society
representatives complained that Batken is neglected by the
central government, with few officials traveling to the
region. They spoke of problems along the borders with
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, including concerns that Tajiks are
encroaching on Kyrgyz lands. The Ambassador heard how
limited economic opportunities have forced many to migrate to
Kazakhstan and Russia for employment, with their remittances
supporting families left behind. Batken officials said that
the lack of funding for irrigation repairs and poor water
management hinders agricultural development in the oblast.
In neighboring Osh Oblast, the governor expressed concern
that many local officials are not prepared to manage their
increased responsibilities under the government's
decentralization measures. Also in Osh, the Ambassador
turned the sluice gates to inaugurate a USAID-sponsored Water
Users Association canal project. End Summary.

FOUR DAYS IN THE REMOTE SOUTH
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2. (C) During a trip to Batken and Osh on June 18-21,
Ambassador met with the border services and discussed
regional problems with numerous government officials, Islamic
leaders, local NGO representatives, and U.S. exchange program
alumni. Ambassador laid a wreath at a memorial to honor
border services soldiers who lost their lives defending the
borders from insurgents. She also visited a mountainous
village that received U.S. assistance following an earthquake
earlier this year, and she toured a boarding school renovated
with funds raised by the American Chamber of Commerce in
Bishkek. She ended the trip in Osh to attend ceremonies to
kickoff the Women's Mentoring Program and celebrate the
completion of a USAID Water Users Association canal project.
The Ambassador was welcomed at every meeting with gratitude
for her visit to the remote region, as most complained that
few Kyrgyz government officials from Bishkek travel to Batken
and that their Oblast has been neglected and forgotten.

BEWARE THE ENCROACHING TAJIKS
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3. (C) Local officials and residents told the Ambassador that
the porous and ill-defined borders with Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan present numerous problems, including harassment by
Uzbek border officials and the encroachment by Tajiks. The
Ambassador visited the Khaydarken Border Guard base to
discuss border security and observe radio equipment provided
by EXBS in use. The base commander expressed his gratitude
for the communications package, stating his confidence that
the unit was now well-equipped to guard the borders from
insurgents. However, government officials and civil society
leaders complained of porous borders and increasing
harassment and altercations between Kyrgyz citizens and Uzbek
border guards and customs officials when crossing the Uzbek
enclave of Sokh. The government hopes that by September the
road to bypass the enclave will be completed, although it
will add several hours to an already arduous trip from Batken
to Osh. (Note: The Ambassador traveled around Sokh on this
rudimentary road, which was still under construction in many
areas. End note.) Many accused the Tajiks of buying up
houses along the border areas not yet demarcated, allowing
them to claim territory historically belonging to the Kyrgyz.
A deputy governor warned that "in ten years, the Tajiks will

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have taken control of half of our land!" Government
officials encourage their citizens not to sell to the Tajiks,
but with few economic opportunities, many local Kyrgyz have
sold their houses and moved to Bishkek, Kazakhstan, or Russia
in the pursuit of employment.

A DISAPPEARING POPULATION
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4. (C) Concerns about the migration of Batken citizens to
Kazakhstan and Russia were raised in every meeting with the
Ambassador. Some officials claimed that as much as 70 per
cent of the working age population had migrated in search of
better economic opportunities. Local NGO representatives
spoke about numerous cases of migrants returning infected
with AIDS or addicted to drugs. The Ambassador heard several
stories of youths who, upon completing their secondary
education and possibly tradecraft training, departed
immediately for Bishkek and beyond. Many students are known
to pay bribes to receive diplomas from their local university
while they live and work in foreign countries as labor
migrants. The flow of remittances was evident, as many
houses had been repaired or improved, and some officials
mentioned anecdotal evidence of migrants returning to open
stores and small businesses. One government official
estimated that an average of over $100 is sent home monthly
by each migrant worker. However, the flow of money has done
little to jump-start the near-lifeless economy. Residents
fear that more of the disappearing work force will decide to
stay in Kazakhstan or Russia, apply for citizenship, and
bring the rest of their families to join them, thus
exponentially increasing the flow of migrants and decreasing
the flow of remittances.

BETTER WATER USAGE ESSENTIAL TO BATKEN ECONOMY
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5. (C) In order to improve the economy and slow the mass
exodus of migrant workers, some officials believe that
expanding the canal system and irrigating more farmland may
be the answer. Local citizens noted that Batken has numerous
water sources but inefficient water management limits their
beneficial capacity. A district official estimated that 20
per cent of the water flowing through the region is used by
Batken farmers, while the Tajiks utilize the rest for
irrigating their own crops. The poor state of the Batken
canal system limits the amount of irrigated land available to
farmers. Local government officials recognize the problem
and proposed a project to build additional canals that would
double the amount of irrigated land. However, funding of the
project continues to be an obstacle.

CONCERNS ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY
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6. (C) During a meeting with the Ambassador, Osh Governor
Jantoro Satybaldiyev inquired about alternative debt relief
programs following the government's rejection earlier this
year of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Satybaldiyev asked whether another HIPC-style program to
eliminate national debt could be offered to Kyrgyzstan. He
claimed that the decision to reject HIPC was made by
politicians instead of economists and hoped that the West
could offer an alternative. Similar to concerns raised by
Batken officials, the governor said that local government
officials were unprepared to deal with recent budget reforms
that will provide direct funding to local administrations
through a "two-tier budget." He felt that administrative
reforms are essential to the republic but had little faith in
President Bakiyev's abilities to see them through.
Satybaldiyev also added that not only Batken but the entire
south has been abandoned by the central government and
thanked the Ambassador for drawing attention to their region.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) The remoteness of Batken is compounded by bad roads,
difficulties at the borders (and at enclave borders),and a
lack of irrigation infrastructure. Desperation in the voices
of Batken residents emphasizes the gravity of the economic
situation and the necessity for the central government to
redirect attention and financial assistance to the area.
Until then, the limited economic opportunities will continue
to drive many from the area abroad in search of employment,
Tajik citizens will gain control of more Kyrgyz territory,
and remittances will remain a lifeline for the oblast.
YOVANOVITCH