Kyrgyzstan Lutheran Missionaries Safe

On Thursday morning, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) reported that all its missionaries in Kyrgyzstan have remained unharmed through a violent coup d'état that left 70 injured and hundreds more looted.

"All LCMS World Mission missionaries are accounted for, and the mission offices in Kyrgyzstan are temporarily closed," according to a report by John Mel, LCMS World mission regional director for Eurasia.

Following a day of protests in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishek, where violent clashes between supporters of the old government and the opposition injured 70, the parliament convened in an emergency session. In it members of the opposition were installed to act as president and prime minister until Friday when a new government for the Central Asian country will be presented.

Rumours are continuing that the president, Askar Akayev, 60, fled the country. An opposition spokesman also said that the Prime Minister, Nikolai Tanayev, tendered his resignation.

With no police on the streets, many young men have been reported to be looting department stores, casinos, and jewelry shops. The parliament gave the new government special powers to stop lawlessness in the capital.

Kyrgyzstan has a Muslim majority of 75 percent. Orthodox Christians make up 20 percent.





Francis Helguero
Ecumenical Press