what can we expect?, page-12

from above, mljets point 2. There is now a democratic Govt for the first time. The will of the people for change is very strong. They are sick of living in poverty.

I have no doubt this will be very true. I spent a little time in Ukraine about 10 years ago and the two countries share a fairly similar history as former Soviet Union states. The people of Ukraine had been brainwashed into thinking that capitalism would make them rich, and that all Americans, Canadians, English etc are loaded. I was actually given a unit when I first arrived with a US$200 per night price tag, and it took a lot of convincing before they would believe that I could not afford to keep it for a month. Life under Soviet rule was far less strenuous than many would believe (we are in fact equally brainwashed against communism but few realise it), but conditions rapidly deteriorated during the 90's after the fall of the USSR in '91.

The people of Kyrgyzstan have been through a very similar struggle and will be sure to want to embrace capitalism and the improved life it promises. If the wages from Kentor are indeed far better than that offered by the landowners this is the big dream coming true. Also, stopping community services will only result in further pressure to end this delay early and is sure to be a very effective measure. It would be naive indeed to see it to have any other underlying intention.