Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK397
2007-04-11 12:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ OPPOSITION BEGINS MASS DEMONSTRATION
how-toVZCZCXRO1328 OO RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHEK #0397 1011243 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 111243Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9334 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 2074 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 0164 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 0174 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 0647 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0463 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU IMMEDIATE 0171 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0330 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0549 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 2469 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1856 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000397
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ OPPOSITION BEGINS MASS DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. BISHKEK 389
B. BISHKEK 396
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000397
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ OPPOSITION BEGINS MASS DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. BISHKEK 389
B. BISHKEK 396
1. (SBU) The opposition United Front began its mass protest
on Bishkek's central Ala-Too Square. Throughout the day,
United Front and other party workers erected over 30 yurts
and dozens of tents on the square. As of 17:00 local, the
crowd had grown to approximately 4-5,000 demonstrators. Much
of the crowd appeared to have come from the regions outside
Bishkek, and many were wearing blue United Front scarves or
other political party paraphernalia. Opposition leaders,
including Felix Kulov and MP Melis Eshimkanov, addressed the
crowd. Prime Minister Atambayev also addressed the crowd,
but reportedly was hissed. We expect the crowd to swell in
the evening hours.
2. (SBU) Several streets in the area were blocked to
vehicular traffic, but people were allowed to move freely to
and from the square. Two to three hundred police remained in
a park area between the square and the nearby Kyrgyz White
House (government house),and several busloads of Interior
Ministry were seen at points a few blocks from the square.
Businesses around Bishkek generally have remained open, and
earlier reports that some larger stores near the center had
closed proved incorrect.
3. (SBU) There was little apparent movement toward
negotiations between President Bakiyev and United Front
leader Felix Kulov. The United Front has prepared a draft
constitutional law nullifying the December 2006 constitution
and calling for early presidential elections (Ref A),but
there has been no official reaction to this draft law. The
11-member constitutional working group, led by Prime Minister
Atambayev, presented a draft constitution on April 10, which
President Bakiyev immediately sent to parliament for
consideration. Speaker of Parliament Sultanov told the
Ambassador that the working group's draft would be considered
in committee, possibly starting on April 16 (Ref B).
4. (SBU) The United Front's hunger strike continued outside
of parliament, although about 30 (including MP Melis
Eshimkanov) of the 100 participants gave up the strike in
order to join the main protests. There were no reports of
demonstrations in the regions outside Bishkek.
5. (SBU) Embassy teams will continue to monitor the situation
around Ala-Too Square.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ OPPOSITION BEGINS MASS DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. BISHKEK 389
B. BISHKEK 396
1. (SBU) The opposition United Front began its mass protest
on Bishkek's central Ala-Too Square. Throughout the day,
United Front and other party workers erected over 30 yurts
and dozens of tents on the square. As of 17:00 local, the
crowd had grown to approximately 4-5,000 demonstrators. Much
of the crowd appeared to have come from the regions outside
Bishkek, and many were wearing blue United Front scarves or
other political party paraphernalia. Opposition leaders,
including Felix Kulov and MP Melis Eshimkanov, addressed the
crowd. Prime Minister Atambayev also addressed the crowd,
but reportedly was hissed. We expect the crowd to swell in
the evening hours.
2. (SBU) Several streets in the area were blocked to
vehicular traffic, but people were allowed to move freely to
and from the square. Two to three hundred police remained in
a park area between the square and the nearby Kyrgyz White
House (government house),and several busloads of Interior
Ministry were seen at points a few blocks from the square.
Businesses around Bishkek generally have remained open, and
earlier reports that some larger stores near the center had
closed proved incorrect.
3. (SBU) There was little apparent movement toward
negotiations between President Bakiyev and United Front
leader Felix Kulov. The United Front has prepared a draft
constitutional law nullifying the December 2006 constitution
and calling for early presidential elections (Ref A),but
there has been no official reaction to this draft law. The
11-member constitutional working group, led by Prime Minister
Atambayev, presented a draft constitution on April 10, which
President Bakiyev immediately sent to parliament for
consideration. Speaker of Parliament Sultanov told the
Ambassador that the working group's draft would be considered
in committee, possibly starting on April 16 (Ref B).
4. (SBU) The United Front's hunger strike continued outside
of parliament, although about 30 (including MP Melis
Eshimkanov) of the 100 participants gave up the strike in
order to join the main protests. There were no reports of
demonstrations in the regions outside Bishkek.
5. (SBU) Embassy teams will continue to monitor the situation
around Ala-Too Square.
YOVANOVITCH