OMBUDSMAN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST KYRGYZ-UZBEK SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001354 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF PHUM KDEM KG SUBJECT: OMBUDSMAN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST KYRGYZ-UZBEK SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE SOUTH REF: BISHKEK 1226 BISHKEK 00001354 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 15 the Ambassador met with Ombudsman Tursunbai Bakir-uulu to discuss Kyrgyzstan's failing refugee regime, recent crackdowns on alleged extremists in the south, and Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations. Stating that the situation in the south seemed to be getting worse, Bakir-uulu linked the killing and detention of suspected terrorists to warming relations with Uzbekistan and the Kyrygz security service's collaboration with its Uzbek counterpart. Bakir-uulu also cautioned that Uzbekistan's growing influence could lead to increased hostilities between religious, ethnic groups and the state. To track these issues effectively, Bakir-uulu said he needed additional funds from, and closer cooperation with, the United States. END SUMMARY. KYRYGZ-UZBEK RELATIONS TO BLAME -------------- ¶2. (C) On September 15, the Ambassador met with the Kyrgyz Ombudsman for Human Rights Tursunbai Bakir-uulu to get his take on recent events in the south. Bakir-uulu linked each of the issues addressed, from rising ethnic tension and religious extremism to the deterioration in Kyrgyzstan's refugee regime, to President Bakiyev's desire to improve relations with Uzbekistan, especially before the need for Uzbek gas surges this winter. In doing so, Bakiyev has unnecessarily exposed Kyrgyzstan to Uzbek manipulation, said Bakir-uulu. The Ombudsman accused the Kyrgyz Government of moving away from its democratic ambitions towards closer interaction with undemocratic neighbors, threatening Kyrgyzstan's unique standing in Central Asia as a country that adhered to religious freedom and human rights. ¶3. (C) Citing the killing of Imam Mohammadrafik Kamalov on August 6 and the detention of other supposed religious extremists since then, Bakir-uulu assessed that the Kyrgyz National Security Service (SNB) had been collaborating closely with its Uzbek counterpart. According to Bakir-uulu, the fact that Kamalov's daughter married the son of an Uzbek Imam, who the Uzbek Government believes to be extremist, prompted the SNB to take action against Kamalov directly. The belief that Imam Kamalov allowed members of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) to pray at his mosque was yet another, possibly more publicly accepted, reason to get rid of him, according to Bakir-uulu. ¶4. (C) Bakir-uluu pointed to the August 9 refouling of four Uzbek refugees and one asylum seeker, as well as the separate disappearances of four other Uzbek asylum seekers in August (Reftel) as concrete examples that the Kyrgyz Government had allowed Uzbek security services to operate freely within Kyrgyz territory. Calling these events Uzbek provocations, Bakir-uulu forecast that, due to the unmonitored Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, the Uzbeks could continue their operations with or without Kyrgyz permission. In his view, the Uzbek Government, because of President Karimov's concern over the political orientation of its neighbors, had acted to gain a strong foothold in Kyrgyzstan, taking advantage of Kyrgyzstan's vulnerability with rising ethnic and religious tensions and a porous border. ¶5. (C) Bakir-uulu also claimed that Bakiyev was using this cooperation with Uzbekistan to strike at his political opponents in the south. When Bakiyev ran for Parliament prior to the March 2005 events, Hizb ut-Tahrir organized to oppose Bakiyev's candidacy, denying him a victory. As President, Bakiyev has used his power to suppress those he deems to be a threat to his position. According to Bakir-uulu, Bakiyev has, perhaps naively, accepted Uzbekistan's offer to help the GOKG rid itself of unwanted actors in Kyrgyzstan. From Bakir-uulu's point-of-view, such cooperation will only create more problems for Bakiyev as BISHKEK 00001354 002.2 OF 002 Uzbekistan continues to seek greater influence over its neighbors. ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUIRED -------------- ¶6. (C) Stating that his budget had been slashed repeatedly by Bakiyev, Bakir-uulu said he needed to locate other sources of funding to continue his office's operations monitoring events throughout the country. Though he was sporting an expensive suit and cufflinks, he claimed that his employees did not have enough money to pay for taxis outside of Bishkek. Bakir-uulu appealed to the Ambassador for U.S. assistance to aid in the purchase of new vehicles and to ensure the completion of needed renovations throughout the building. Bakir-uulu suggested that such assistance would be symbolic of the United States' willingness to work closely with his office, in support of human rights and Kyrgyz independence. The Ambassador agreed to relay his request to Washington for consideration. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) An outspoken figure with his own political aspirations, Bakir-uulu did, nevertheless, come across as being a sincere and candid interlocutor. Bakir-uluu has not limited his verbal broadsides to Bakiyev and the Kyrgyz Government; in August, he attracted attention when he refused an invitation to attend an ombudsman conference in the United States after he interpreted President Bush's remarks about "Islamic fascism" as being anti-Islamic. More passionate than in previous meetings, Bakir-uulu clearly has been personally affected by the increased anti-terror operations in the south, particularly the killing of Imam Mohammadrafik Kamalov. A native of Karasuu, Bakir-uulu and the Kamalovs have enjoyed a close relationship for many years. Bakir-uulu claimed he was being harassed by the SNB at the behest of the Uzbek Government and noted that he was going to file suit for slander on September 20. (NOTE: As of September 21, Bakir-uluu's office could not confirm that a lawsuit has been filed. END NOTE.) He was negative about the same pressure to others in the opposition under neighboring President Karimov's influence. "Democracy cannot be established in just one country," Bakir-uulu said and added that observation of human rights and good relations with the Uzbeks could not simultaneously exist while Karimov is in charge. It remains to be seen how the Bakiyev government handles the Ombudsman; the belief, shared by many, that Bakir-uulu is an HT sympathizer may give the GOKG more of a reason to keep him under close watch. END COMMENT. YOVANOVITCH