Focus Group: Central Asia

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Focus Group Central Asia
Focus Group Central Asia

• Russia and the South
• Chechnya and other Hotspots
• Turkey
• Afghanistan

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Russia and the Southby Jaclyn Katzman
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Focus Group Central Asia Where is
RUSSIA??????
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HISTORY!!!!!

• Russia was determined to conquer all of the Tran
  Caucuses and the south.
• The czars were also doing the same in 1800s.
• Chechnya tries to brake away from Russia, after
  the fall of U.S.S.R.

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1990-1994

• Russian and Chechnya formed separate Russia does
  not support this happening.
• Russia Declares war.
• Chechnya decisively wins battle and Russia
  withdraws.

As her aunt faints after seeing her wounds,
four-year-old Liana lies on a hospital bed in
southern Russia. Liana's mother, mother, brother
and aunt were killed when a Russian shell fell on
their house in the Chechen town of Urus-Marta
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The Current WAR 1999-_Present___

• Chechen terrorism attacks 4 apartments bombed
  300 killed in Russia.
• New President Putin prosecuting War aggressively,
  and Russia Committed to conquer Chechen rebels.
• Most Russians Consider Chechens to be bandits,
  criminals.

A Russian soldier looks at a destroyed building
in the Staropromyslovsky district of the Chechen
capital Grozny.
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Religion

• Legislation favors Eastern Orthodox church.
• Discrimination between E. Orthodox(71.8),
  Christians (1.8) and Muslims (5.5) because of
  Chechnya and other problems.

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Chechnya and other hotspotsBy Lauren Gruber
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Chechen succession from Russia

• The conflict between the two countries is a long
  one, going back to the 1800s and Czars.
• USSR finally controlled Chechnya by the 50s.
• Fall of USSR in 1991 led to Chechen cries for
  independence
• Militant Islam becomes anti Russian force

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The 1994-96 war from the Chechen point of view

• Militant Muslims begin to fight for independence
  in 1994
• Russia attacks Chechnya to keep it
• Chechnya beat Russia decisively
• Chechnya looses 12 of its population
• Chechnya de facto independent

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The Current war from the Chechen point of view

• Militant Muslims try to war in Dagestan
• Terrorist bombings, no proof Chechnya involved
• Russia is back to get revenge and get Chechnya
  back under control
• Neither Russia or Chechnya can afford to loose
  the war

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The current war continued

• Russia changes tactics
• The new Russian president, Putin, is willing to
  put everything into the war, his reputation at
  stake
• Civilians are the wars main victims, refugees
• Chechnya very badly damaged

Fighting intensifies in Grozny - CBC.CA (Jan 20,
2000) Chechens inflicted "a devastating blow for
the Russian army" - BBC (Dec 6, 1999)
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The current war results
Gruesome Monument The rubble of downtown Grozny,
Sunday February 6, 2000. Russia may not spend the
estimated 1 billion required to rebuild the
city, instead letting it stand in ruins as a
warning against separatism.
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Afghan Scenario

• Even if Russians take Grozny, Chechnya could
  fight on
• Retreat to mountains for guerrilla war
• Chechens could fight Russians forever, as they
  have for 200 years
• Russians take combat dead indefinitely.

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TurkeyBy Michelle Jackson
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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

• Turkeys founder- completely modernized.
• Created new political system and abolished the
  Caliphate.
• Gave equal rights to women and changed alphabet
  and attire.
• Reacting against traditional values in favor of
  Western styles.

Here, Ataturk teaches the new alphabet.
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The Kurd Question Abdullah Ocalan

• Waged 15 yr. Guerilla against Turkish government.
• 30,000 people died.
• Kurdish rebel leader arrested and sentenced to
  death for treason.
• Execution of Ocalan would forbid Turkish
  membership in European Union.

Ocalan gets arrested.
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Challenge Secular and Religious

• Turkey faces challenge in remaining secular.
• Countries around are more religious and
  disapprove of Western state.
• Islamic fundamentalists in Turkey challenge and
  demand a more Islamic state. (Sharia law.)

Militant Kurd sets himself on fire to protest the
arrest of Abdullah Ocalan.
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Challenge Continued

• Turkish military nullify elections where Turkey
  challenged on this.
• Although a Muslim country, it is much more modern
  than most Muslim places.
• Crossroads of Asia and Europe. Greatly influenced
  by both.

Turkish people kicked out of Turkey by Ataturk
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AfghanistanBy Nicholas Reid
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Afghanistan in the Past

• Durrani Dynasty 1772-1818.
• Start of Jihad Dost Muhammad.
• Used as a battleground for for wars involving the
  and not involving the Afghanistan.
• English tried to take over Afghanistan for many
  years but were unsuccessful.

Afghanistan was continually involved in war.
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The Soviet Invasion
The Soviet Invasion
Injured people in the brutal war

• 1979-1989
• Soviets fought for communism, land, and power.
  The Mujahideens, freedom fighters, fought as a
  form of jihad.
• USA helps Afghanistan, Soviets ousted.
• Afghanistan left in ruins without a government.

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Rise of the Taliban
Taliban taking over Afghanistan

• After the Soviet Invasion a tribe of Mujahdeen,
  called Taliban, declare themselves government.
• They quickly take control of most of the country
  by murdering and threatening.
• They spread their ideas to become head of most of
  Afghanistan.

Osama Ben Laden
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The Taliban Interpratation of Islam

• Harsh and strict rules.
• Not appreciated and liked by other Muslim
  countries.
• Cruel laws toward woman.
• Hate the West because it is impure.
• Encourage Jihad to all dissidents of Islam.
• Anti-American and Israel

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THE END!