ONE WEEK ON, KYRGYZ DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000434 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KG SUBJECT: ONE WEEK ON, KYRGYZ DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE REF: A. BISHKEK 405 ¶B. BISHKEK 397 ¶C. BISHKEK 396 ¶D. BISHKEK 391 BISHKEK 00000434 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At the end of the seventh day of anti-presidential demonstrations, opposition leaders struggle to gather momentum and the necessary turnout of demonstrators to succeed in their goals to remove President Bakiyev and achieve constitutional reforms. An increase in frustration and hostilities between the opposition and government has manifested itself in scuffles among parliamentarians and demonstrators. Outside Bishkek, hundreds of opposition supporters blocked a highway to Balykchy and held rallies in Karakol, while in Naryn, investigators probed circumstances related to the suspicious death in custody of a participant of the hunger strikes. End Summary. OPPOSITION BATTLES MOTHER NATURE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Be it blazing sun or torrential downpours, the weather was one of several factors hindering opposition United Front and For Reforms organizers' efforts to reach the lofty goals of gathering 50,000 protesters, but with each day comes renewed calls for the public to join the movement. With weather conditions improving, opposition leaders have promised to gather 100,000 by April 19, the day they pledge the peaceful resignation of President Bakiyev. Recent attendance in the range of 1000-3000 protesters has yet to near the turnout projected by opposition leaders. The opposition continues to demand that President Bakiyev step down and calls for early presidential elections. THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The MVD initiated a criminal case against rally organizers accused of beating and publicly interrogating four alleged "provocateurs" for instigating fights among the UF protesters on April 14. At least twelve protesters sustained injuries, five of whom were taken to the hospital for treatment, during recent fights in front of the White House and State TV station. Parliamentarian Omurbek Babanov was pelted with plastic water bottles and chased several hundred yards by protesters after refusing to shout "Bakiyev resign" with them. MORE SHENANIGANS IN THE PARLIAMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On April 17, during a closed parliamentary session, several pro-government and pro-opposition deputies reportedly "scuffled" following heated discussions about the recent fights among protesters. During statements to the press, Pro-Bakiyev MP Kamchybek Tashiyev said that thirty deputies supported a decision to "ignore all processes related to constitutional reform" -- i.e. to boycott voting on the draft constitution now before parliament, and possibly blocking a vote by preventing a quorum. Babanov has also stated that several deputies are ready to dissolve the parliament in order to diffuse the current situation. In an attempt to proceed with constitutional reforms, Bakiyev vowed to forward two more nominations of judges for the Constitutional court by April 18 and parliament is to consider nominations for all three vacancies in the court the following day. (Note. The vacancies have left the court without a quorum, and unable to BISHKEK 00000434 002.2 OF 002 consider cases, for the past several months. End Note.) DEPUTY INVESTIGATES DEATH OF PROTESTER -------------- ¶5. (SBU) A former hunger strike participant was found dead in his prison cell in Naryn on April 15. Mektemir Akunov, returned to his home town from Bishkek on April 14 and was arrested after an altercation with local government administrators. The next day he was found hung by his own shirt in his cell. MP Karkanbek Samakov and ex-Minister of Public Health Naken Kasiyev conducted an investigation into the incident and concluded that Akunov was beaten, citing numerous bruises and scratches on the victim's body. The lawmaker is awaiting preliminary reports from the local coroner's office. IN THE REGIONS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) As of 17:00, staff at the Kumtor gold mine and international aid workers confirmed media reports that several hundred United Front supporters blocked the road between Bishkek and Balykchy. Protesters have demanded the resignations of Bakiyev and Issyk-Kul Governor Kydykbek Isayev along with a revision of the Kumtor mining project agreement (REF D). Also in Issyk-Kul Oblast, United Front demonstrators have gathered in the main square of Karakol also demanding Bakiyev and Isayev's resignations and constitutional reforms. There are no further media reports of demonstrations in the other oblasts. YOVANOVITCH