Kyrgyzstan Notes

I've really fallen out of the new loop lately, but over at Registan, Nathan Hamm mentions Hizb ut-Tahrir's condition in Kyrgyzstan, where the organization is holding an internal debate over how best to attract new supporters. If they're having this kind of debate, that suggests they're not aspiring to suddenly sweep to power in the aftermath of the Tulip Revolution, though I'm not sure that was ever much of a concern in Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, RFE-RL reports on a growing land controversy, as squatters from other parts of the country are turning up in Bishkek to demand land that was supposed to be parcelled out to them after the fall of communism. This issue looks like it could become serious, because I'm not convinced the interim government has the power to control the situation, and am worried about what might happen if things turn violent and the authorities have to forcibly choose sides.