Miners caught in middle of fight between company, Kyrgyz government

“The average Kumtor employee ‘is probably a 40-year old husband with three children and a wife that doesn’t work. Many have a higher education degree and earn an average of 60,000 soms (nearly $1,000) [per month],’ (mine union president Eldar) Tajibayev told EurasiaNet.org. ‘More than 70 percent of them are mortgage holders paying roughly 20,000 soms in monthly payments while supporting other family members. Everything is on the line for these people.’”

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/79776

Kumtor gold field produces 12 percent of GDP, government wants more with leftists in parliament favoring nationalization.