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The month of June has seen news stories centered on the continent of Asia which seems to have exploded in different ways. From Japan to Kyrgyzstan, Asia has revealed to the world that the nations in that area are politically and socially unstable and have provided the second edition of Let's Go International with a plethora of news stories. From ethnic violence to political resignations Asia has become the international hot spot for all things controversial and tragic, lets take a peak at the chaos mounting throughout the expansive continent.
Asia
In early June the politically turbulent country of Kyrgyzstan erupted once again into a scene of violence and chaos, only this time in the form of an ethnic cleansing. The fighting between the ethnic Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz began in the city of Osh and it has been feared that the fighting would spread into the nearby city of Jalal- Abad where many youths have gathered and demanded transportation to Osh to join the demonstartions.
The Russian Central News Agency has reported that the Interim Government in Kyrgyzstan, headed by Roza Otunbayeva since the April rebellion, has given the police the power to kill in order to quell the violence. Otunbayeva has since requested outside military support from Russia in what she has called a situation "out of control." However, Russia has been slow to act and President Medvedev has told the world that he is ushering humanitarian aid and support into the area, not military support. His spokeswoman has said that Russia views it as an intra-state conflict and that they do not yet see reason enough for Russia to get directly involved.
At least 77 people have been killed and thousands have been injured and hospitalized, and these just in the first few days of the unrest. Newer and more accurate numbers have not been forthcoming.
Another important story coming from Asia is that Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, the man who helped the Democratic Party of Japan win its first majority ever, has stepped down and quickly replaced. Hatoyama was widely claimed to have helped bring a revolution in Japanese politics, which had been dominated by conservatives since World War II ended, but he was forced to resign after his approval quickly plummeted. His coalition broke up under accusations of corruption and illegal campaign finance, although the final blow was given when he announced he would not move a US military base, which he had promised during the elections.
His replacement was confirmed on June 4th, the former Finance Minister, Naoto Kan was confirmed by both house of Parliament where he said his first order of business would be to regain the trust of the people.
To continue with the turmoil that has seemed to sweep Asia this month, masses rally in Burma, otherwise known as Myanmar, to rally of the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the countries democratically elected leader who has been under house arrest for most the past two decades after he party win a sweep victory in a 1989 election. The military junta that runs Burma ignored the results and has since devoted much of its time to demonizing the Noble Laurette and trying to isolate her from the world.
President Barrack Obama himself has out his support behind this movement and has personally called on the government of Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and to stop violating the human rights of its citizens.
Europe
In Europe, the Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende resigned after exit polls showed his party would lose 20 of its 41 seats in Parliament. Balkenende, who also gave up his seat in Parliament, will remain the country's Prime Minister until a new coalition government can be formed. This process could take months because there has been no clear winner from the elections.
The surprising aspect of this election was the rise of the anti-Islam Freedom Party which increased its power from 9 seats to an estimated 23 seats. This will make any form of coalition increasingly difficult to form, leaving Balkenende with more time in power.
Later,
Cody
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