Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tashkent (Fides Service) - “The demonstrations of the past few days were minor events, society is calm and the little Catholic community continues its life of faith free of major difficulties” Fr Krzysztof Kukulka Ofm Conv, Superior of the Catholic Mission in Uzbekistan told Fides.
Over the last few days small groups of demonstrators have come to the capital Tashkent from rural areas to protest against certain government measures including confiscation of land. The protesters were mainly poor farm workers from the less developed areas of the country complaining of difficult living conditions. Observers warn that the protest could assume greater importance considering that most people in Uzbekistan work the land and the question of land ownership and nationalised land is a sensitive topic and could trigger social tension. Earlier in March about 500 farmers stage protests and set police vehicles on fire. Moreover some fear recent demonstrations and change of leadership in nearby Kyrgyzstan could have a ‘domino’ effect on the whole area of central Asia.
Central Asia with the republics of Kazakstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, covers an area of 4 million sq km and has a total population of 49 million 80% Muslim. But there is a small although deeply rooted Christian community. Under Soviet rule the peoples of this region were subject to an ideology of atheism and collectivism. With the fall of the USSR in 1990s there came a spiritual re-awakening among Christians although with difficulty due to a scarcity of clergy, religious and catechists, religious publications, churches and means of information and in addition extremely difficult living conditions. In Uzbekistan there are about 4,000 Catholics.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2005 righe 27 parole 287)
