Following news that an Evangelical church in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgystan, was robbed three weeks ago, comes news that six other churches in the city have since been attacked. Sending details of the original attack Jed Courley the church’s pastor said ‘At about 1am in the morning four men climbed over the fence and broke into the back door of the church. A parishioner called Valya was badly beaten, tied up with tape, and then beaten more when very little money was found. Rooms trashed, safe demolished. Some music equipment, a computer, and other things were taken. Since our church was robbed we have heard of six other churches who were robbed recently and a couple of other people also beaten in the process. The police are doing nothing. In one case, they never even arrived on the scene. Please pray against these obvious attacks of the enemy.’

Pray: this escalation of violence against Christians will end and for no retributions to be considered. (Ps.119:86)

More: http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2010/s10080004.htm

Kyrgyzstan's opposition said on Thursday it had taken power and dissolved parliament after a bloody uprising forced President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee the capital. Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the interim government, demanded his resignation. She said Bakiyev was trying to rally supporters in his power base in the south. The uprising, which began in the northern town of Talas on Tuesday soon spread to the capital Bishkek. A missionary living in Jalalabad Bakiyev’s home town reports, ‘Bakiyev is reported to be in Osh - the second city of Kyrgyzstan located further west. It’s still peaceful here right now. Bishkek is a mess. There’s meant to be a new government led by a woman in the opposition party. Nothing has been signed officially so anything could still happen. There are differing reports on numbers dead maybe 1-200 casualties with hundreds more injured. Looting has been going on in Bishkek and even here shops are closed.’

Pray: for the situation in Kyrgyzstan that the problems will not escalate and there would be peace. (Pr.12:20)

More: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6363E020100408

Deposed Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country and flown to neighbouring Kazakhstan. His departure comes in the wake of a 7 April uprising that killed scores of people and forced him to flee the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He had been trying to muster support in his home region of Jalalabad in the south of the country. Kyrgyzstan's interim government said Mr Bakiyev had signed a letter of resignation. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Mr Bakiyev's departure had been agreed with the US, Russia and the EU. The Russian Interfax news agency said Mr Bakiyev may fly on to Turkey or Latvia. Gunfire had been heard earlier as Mr Bakiyev spoke in the southern city of Osh; an opposition rally was going on nearby. Mr Bakiyev was quickly bundled into his car and driven back to Jalalabad where a plane was seen taking off from the nearby airport. (See also Prayer Alert 1510)

Pray: for the people of Kyrgyzstan that there would now be peace leading to just and stable government. (Job.22:21)

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8623021.stm

An alliance of Christian humanitarian groups is pressing the government of Kyrgyzstan to launch an investigation into the recent civil conflict that left over a half-million people in immediate need of food, water, shelter, and medical care. ‘The civil conflict in southern Kyrgyzstan, which erupted in the first half of June, was characterized by extreme violence, hatred and cruelty,’ stated leaders of the ACT Alliance, http://www.actalliance.org/ including the heads of DanChurchAid, Christian Aid,and ICCO en Kerkinactie. Though the situation now reportedly appears calm and more stable since the constitutional referendum on June 27, tensions continue and violent acts – including killings and kidnappings – are still reported from southern Kyrgyzstan, according to ACT. Furthermore, in its statement Thursday, the global network of churches and related aid organizations emphasized that ‘there will not be reconciliation without justice, and that justice is based on all facts, which give an objective picture of what has happened. (See Prayer Alert 2510)

Pray: that justice will prevail bringing healing and reconciliation. (Ps.106:3)

More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100704/kyrgyzstan-govt-pressed-to-launch-probe-on-recent-conflict/index.html

First the violence, now the fear. Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan report that Kyrgyz authorities are rounding up Uzbek men without probable cause. Many of the arrests are taking place during the pre-dawn hours. In some cases, Uzbeks say they are paying a ransom to secure their loved ones’ release. Several deaths in custody have been reported. Those living in predominantly Uzbek areas of Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s southern capital, say they now dread the onset of night. ‘We have decided to guard our streets at night between about 23:00 and 05:00 so we can somehow try to put a live shield against the Kyrgyz military and police, who rush into our neighborhoods at night and take away our sons, husbands and brothers,’ Minura, a 45-year-old Osh resident, told EurasiaNet.org. Like most sources discussing the ongoing ethnic tension in Osh, she asked her last name not be printed. 'They took away my husband about a week ago after searching our house’ she said.

Pray: for a breakthrough to the healing of relationships that would bring lasting peace following the conflicts. (Ps.28:5)

More: http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61554