Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK434
2007-04-19 00:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
ONE WEEK ON, KYRGYZ DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE
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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
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
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