Just north of the Amu Darya River, which presently serves as the political boundary between Afghanistan and the former USSR, lies a world of history, colour and culture that Western eyes have rarely seen. A centre of world civilization since the first millennium B.C., the region has produced a number of renowned individuals including the great scientist Avicenna, poet Omar Khayam and Tamerlane, the Uzbek warrior who managed to unite the lands of Central Asia into a powerful empire in the 14th century.

With birth-rates almost double that of their Russian rulers, the Central Asian Mus-lim peoples are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with.

According to demographic projections made 10 years ago, by the year 2000 one half of all the children born in the former Soviet Union will come from a Muslim bloodline. It would be a mistake, however, to view Central Asia's peoples as a homogeneous collection. The northern Kazakhs, for example, have long led nomadic lifestyles similar to those of the Mongols. The typical Kazakh man is a fine horseman, herdsman and hunter. Many have also become expert fal-coners. A striking figure in his boots, cloak, sash and fur hat, he can often be seen downing a ladle full of kumiss, a popular drink made of fermented mare's milk.

South of Kazakhstan and nestled up against the Chinese border is the homeland of the Kirghiz.

The ardently Muslim Turkmen live in a sun-beaten land of deserts and oases along Soviet Central Asia's southern perimeter. The deserts, dominated by the broiling Kara Kum, occupy 99% of Turkmenistan's territory. The society is male-dominated, and it is not uncommon for families to consist of as many as fifteen children. World-famous Turkmen carpets often serve as tables, beds and floor coverings. The often repeated folk saying "roll out your carpet and I shall read what is written in your heart" refers to the fact that the carpet's intricate designs incor-porate the individual's collective and personal history.

The most numerous of the Central Asian peoples are the Uzbeks. Descendants of the "Golden Horde" that dominated Russia in the 1300's, the Uzbeks are still considered to be the region's most natural and dynamic leaders. In Uzbek-istan, modern metropolises like the city of Tash-kent (population 1.8 million) have risen in the midst of ancient centres of power such as Bukhara and Samarkand. On the streets, men in business suits and embroidered skull caps (duppis) are frequently seen headed to traditional chaykhara, or teahouses, to quench their thirst with sugarless green tea.

Tadzhikistan, the smallest of the Central Asian republics, is also the highest. Known as "the country that goes straight up", over half of Tadzhikistan lies at an altitude of 10, 000 feet or more. Speaking a language similar to Farsi, the Tadzhiks are considered the Persians of Central Asia. Although possessing some Asiatic features, Tadzhiks often have red or even blond hair. Along with their obvious differences, the Soviet state and its Muslim community also had a number of paradoxically similar characteristics: Both established rigid social laws; both were willing to use force to establish their societies; and both anticipated an international community as their highest ambition. In the battle for Central Asia's soul, daily life was a contest between the proverbial immovable object and irresistible force. To date, 10 years on, it is unclear who has attained supremacy.

PRAY:
-for the fifty million-plus Muslims of Central Asia. Labouring under the twin burdens of both poverty and Is-lam, this vast region represents one of today's neediest frontiers of the Gospel.

PRAY:
-for special strength and spiritual ma-turing for the handful of converts among the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Tadzhiks, Turkmen and Kirghiz. Pray also that a church will be established among the remaining unreached peoples.

PRAY:
-that the remaining Russian believers and churches scattered throughout Central Asia would develop a burden to reach out with the Gospel to their Muslim neighbours.

PRAY:
-that God would supply finances to trans-late additional evangelistic material for these unreached people.

PRAY:
-for training initiatives taking place to equip missionaries from among the indigenous churches, often at great cost to the missionaries and their families.

10 Years on:
DRUG-FUELLED CRIME IN CENTRAL ASIA
by Kanai Manayev
Times of Central Asia
4 January 2001

BISHKEK -- Drugs and crime always come together. This is an axiom. Today all the Central Asian countries are facing this axiom.

The situation of drug-related crime in Central Asia has increased to a critical level. From 1991-1993 the number of cases of illegal opium poppy growing and drug-related crimes rose 300% and 65%, respectively. In 1994 Kazakhstan registered 564 drug-related crimes per every 1 million of the citizens, in Kyrgyzstan - 553. In 1998 each 14th crime in Kyrgyzstan involved drugs.

Corruption in the law enforcement agencies has also increased. In all the Central Asian countries there were cases when seized drugs returned to the illegal drug market. The meagre salaries of customs and police officers (some US $20-30 per month) force them to take bribes from drug traffickers.

By decree the President of Kyrgyzstan set up the Coordination Council to investigate cases of corrupt officials. In Tajikistan several arrested officials charged with corruption were freed after the interference of some influential circles. Kyrgyzstan's law enforcement agencies also arrested some high-ranking police officials, including the director of the drug enforcement agency of Osh and several of his subordinates. But this is only the top of the iceberg.

Nearly 50% of customs officials in Central Asia cooperate with drug business. There were charges against the servicemen of Russia's 201st mechanized infantry division stationed in Tajikistan. In December 1997 twelve servicemen of the division were arrested in a Moscow aerodrome while trying to carry in more than 8 kg of drugs, including 3 kg of heroin.

Women are getting more involved in the drug business. Since 1996 the percentage of women's participation in drug trafficking has grown from 3% to 12.2%. In Tajikistan women make up 35% of all convicts for drug-related crimes, in Kyrgyzstan - 12.4%.

The number of criminal groups involved in drug trafficking is growing. Over the first three months of 1999 alone Kyrgyzstan's drug enforcement agency revealed 35 such groups. Kazakhstan's National Security Committee has revealed 125 organized drug business groups in Central Asia.

The leaders of the Central Asian countries have realized the seriousness of this problem and promise to make maximum efforts to resolve it. The President of Kazakhstan has declared anti-drug programs a national priority. The Tajik President declared 1999 the year for fighting the drug business.

The President of Kyrgyzstan is perhaps the most eager fighter against drugs. In 1997 Kyrgyzstan stepped up with an initiative to set up an inter-state commission for the control of drugs with the participation of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. In March 1999 Kyrgyzstan was admitted in the UN Drug Control Committee. At an international conference in Bishkek President Askar Akayev proposed to create drug-free zones in all Great Silk Road countries in the beginning of the 3rd millennium. All the Central Asian countries have joined the UN Convention on drugs of 1988. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan also signed the similar UN conventions of 1961 and 1971.

However, the shortage of money undermines all the efforts taken by the Central Asian countries in fighting the drug business. Since 1991 GDP in Tajikistan fell by 49%, in Kyrgyzstan - 34%, in Kazakhstan - 31%, and in Uzbekistan - 10%. This resulted in cuts of expenses for anti-drug programs.

At the same time, these countries have strengthened their anti-drug laws. The new criminal code of Kazakhstan stipulates a serious punishment for drug trafficking. The Kazakh Government has adopted a plan to fight drug business. On 16 May 2000 President Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the Strategy of Fighting Drug Use and Drug Business for 2001-2005.

In Kyrgyzstan the State Committee of Drug Control coordinates actions of 15 ministries and government agencies. In April 1998 Kyrgyzstan, the first among the Central Asian countries, passed a law on drugs and drug-containing substances. Anti-drug measures are stipulated in several national programs, including "Measures to strengthen civil society and fight crime in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1997-2000."

In 1998 alone Turkmenistan sentenced to death 700 people, 90% of whom were charged with drug-related crimes. But such tough punishments have not prevented the spread of drugs and the Turkmen-Afghan border remains one of the most porous in the region. In 197 Turkmenistan's law enforcement agencies seized more than 40 tons of drugs.

In June 1998 Uzbekistan's Supreme Court sentenced two Kazakh citizens to death for carrying 40 kg of heroin.

All the Central Asian countries are destroying plantations of opium poppy and hemp. In 1998 Kazakhstan cleared 4,465 hectares of such plantations, Kyrgyzstan - 4,000 hectares, Tajikistan - 65 hectares, and Uzbekistan - 2.9 hectares.

Most local officials do not see any connection between drug trafficking and illegal weapons trade, corruption, terrorism, and money laundering. In October 1998 in the railway station in Osh Kyrgyzstan's law enforcement agencies stopped a train carrying humanitarian aid from Iran to Afghanistan. In this train the Kyrgyz customs found 700 tons of weapons. After talks the train was sent back to Iran. The weapons were intended for the Northern Alliance of Ahmad Shah Masood. However, extremists of Szhuma Namangani attacked the train and seized the weapons.

Drug money finances many separatist, radical, religious, and terrorist organizations. Drug barons, aiming to destabilize the situation in Central Asia, sponsored intrusions of extremists into Kyrgyzstan's Batken and Uzbekistan's Surkhandarya province in the summer and fall of 1999-2000.In 1997 Tajik authorities seized 8 tons of heroin belonged to Iran's drug baron, Hadj Gulyam Balosh, who has been financing the warring groups in Afghanistan.

It was also reported that Osama bin Laden also finances terrorist operations through funds derived from his opium syndicate in western Afghanistan. He considers opium a powerful weapon of Jihad. According to the Indian intelligence, the Terrorist No. 1 controls about 60 heroin labs.

Drug groups are getting stronger, more organized and involved in new spheres of activity. There is a danger that legalized, "laundered" drug money will penetrate into political structures of the Central Asian countries and ruin all efforts to build a democracy in the region. According to Interpol today international drug business controls governments in 12 countries of the world.

The problem of drug trafficking causes tensions in the relations of the Central Asian countries and Russia, which is concerned with the growing drug trafficking into its territory from Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to Russia's law enforcement agencies, 17.1% of drugs come to Russia from Uzbekistan, 13.6% from Tajikistan, and 12.7% from Kazakhstan. Eighty percent of heroin seized in Russia was delivered from Central Asia. Russia even proposes to restrict the entry of the citizens of the Central Asian countries to its territory. Thus, the problem of drugs causes ethnic tensions, making natives of Central Asia and the Caucasus the main target of the Russian police.

The fight against drugs must be conducted not only by the law enforcement agencies also by other government agencies. It is necessary to direct more funds for educational actions among the youth to prevent them using drugs.

Today drugs pose a serious threat to national security in all the Central Asian countries. Different extremist and radical organizations will continue spreading drugs to finance their actions. Public order will be undermined by the struggle between drug business organizations for the spheres of influence, which will destabilize the situation in the region.

Unfortunately, today the Central Asian countries do not have enough funds to cope with this problem unaided. The region's countries do not have a common understanding of this problem. Instead, each country pays attention to its own aspects.

Meanwhile, public, political, ethnic, cultural, social, and economic changes in Central Asia may turn the region into a big "hot spot." It is a time for the world to pay more attention to this problem and help Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan take control of the situation until it has completely gone out of control.

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