11/8/06 EAC MEETING REGARDING DEMONSTRATIONS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001570 SIPDIS SIPDIS DS/IP/SPC DON WEINBERG DS/IP/NEA-SA F. SCOTT GALLO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016 TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PINR PREL SUBJECT: 11/8/06 EAC MEETING REGARDING DEMONSTRATIONS IN DOWNTOWN BISHKEK Classified By: AMB Marie L. Yovanovitch for reasons 1.4(d) & (g) ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Bishkek Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on November 8. Present at the meeting were: AMB, DCM, POL/ECON, POL/RA, MSG, PAS, MGT, DAO, SAO, CONS, USAID, MED, INL, EXBS, CLO, RLA, USAID, RSO, Peace Corps, and Manas Air Force Base representatives. ¶2. (C) POL/ECON officer summarized the events of the past two days during demonstrations against President Bakiyev and his government. There was a confrontation between pro-Bakiyev demonstrators and the For Reforms demonstrators, including rock and bottle throwing which was subdued by the police using tear gas. Four major streets in downtown Bishkek were closed temporarily and two armored personnel carriers were positioned strategically in the downtown area near the demonstrations. The pro-Bakiyev demonstrators have headquartered in Old Square, and the For Reforms demonstrators are camped out in Ala-Too Square, which are approximately two blocks apart. Political negotiations between the President and the opposition appear to have produced a compromise draft constitution. Both sides are hopeful that necessary legal changes can be made to allow the proposed new constitution to be approved by parliament within the next two days. ¶3. (C) Reports from late November 7 indicated that many demonstrators are being bussed in from southern cities in Kyrgyzstan, while simultaneously pro- and anti-Bakiyev demonstrations are being held in Osh and Jalal-Abad and anti-Bakiyev demonstrations are being held in Naryn and Talas. ¶4. (C) RSO has organized mobile patrols with Embassy staff monitoring crowd size, mood, activities, and movements since the beginning of demonstrations on November 2. A pattern of no night or early morning activity has been observed, with most activity occurring late morning through early evening. CONS officer provided an updated warden message to AmCits. ¶5. (C) The EAC discussed mobile patrol scheduling, school closure notification procedures, and the advisability of considering the need to limit the number of TDY visitors for the immediate future. RSO will review any planned public events involving Americans. The Marine Ball, scheduled for November 11 at a site distant from the demonstrations, has not been cancelled at this time. DCM will approve all country clearance requests for the foreseeable future. The IMO will compile a list of American Embassy employee's personal e-mail addresses to use in sending out announcements on holidays and weekends, in addition to the emergency radio announcements, to ensure maximum coverage. AMB instructed RSO to monitor security conditions for those living in close proximity to the demonstrations and advise if individuals need to relocate. ¶6. (C) The EAC agreed that the current security situation did not warrant a staffing drawdown. In connection with the demonstrations, the DCM reviewed stages of evacuation and MGT officer reviewed ramifications of each stage and their impact for families. Trip wires and drawdown lists; these will be updated by November 13. The CLO office will circulate emergency checklists and embassy employees were urged to prepare "go bags" with important family documents and information, and prepare for an emergency by stocking up on food, water, gas, and other emergency supplies. MGT section will confirm that all American staff hold valid Kazakh visas in the event of an overland evacuation, and have contacted counterparts in Almaty regarding possible assistance in the event of a drawdown. A liberal leave policy was implemented last week and all non-emergency personnel are encouraged to request leave if they feel the situation warrants. ¶7. (SBU) The EAC will meet again as the situation requires. In addition, the RSO remains in close contact with security counterparts in international organizations in Bishkek. YOVANOVITCH