KURILSK, Russia -- After a time of neglect, the federal and local government are investing more in the economy of the Southern Kurils -- a group of disputed islands governed by Russia but also claimed by Japan. As the life of the islanders is gradually improving, they are less likely to agree to transferring the territory to Japan.
In November 1998, when I last visited, the Kurils were gripped by a serious energy crisis, and the island of Etorofu was without electricity for 16 hours a day. Some buildings, including the hotel, had no heating or even, at times, cold or hot water. There were also problems with telephone connections.
At that time, the islanders were outraged with the situation in the populated southern Kuril islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan (Japan also claims a nearby group of uninhabited islets known as Habomai). At least, one third of people I spoke with on the dirt streets of Kurilsk wanted Japan to take over the territory because Russia's government was doing nothing to improve their life.