Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK634
2007-05-30 06:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ CIVIL SOCIETY SPLIT, BUT SEEKS COHESION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000634
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USEU - COURTNEY NEMROFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL SOCIETY SPLIT, BUT SEEKS COHESION
BISHKEK 00000634 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000634
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USEU - COURTNEY NEMROFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL SOCIETY SPLIT, BUT SEEKS COHESION
BISHKEK 00000634 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A widening schism has formed in the Kyrgyz
NGO community, according to two of its main activists.
Seeking to reunify, civil society leaders are reaching out to
others -- including the EU, OSCE, and the U.S. -- for help,
and both activists said they considered U.S. action in
Kyrgyzstan to be the model for assistance. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on May 24, civil
society activists Cholpon Jakupova and Asiya Sasykbayeva said
that the government has successfully split civil society over
the issue of whether NGOs should participate in "political
activity." The two said they are virtually isolated, since a
difficult March meeting when most of the NGO community
declared that NGOs should not be "political." They noted,
however, that there is a highly subjective metric to what
their counterparts consider political; demonstrating against
the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, for
example, was not considered "political," whereas
demonstrating against President Bakiyev in April was
considered political.
3. (C) Jakupova and Sasykbayeva said that the split in civil
society mirrors the split in opposition. However, they were
concerned that, whereas before a united civil society was
able to successfully take on former President Akayev, now no
force exists in Kyrgyzstan to counter the increasingly
totalitarian tendencies of the Bakiyev government.
EU TAKES A BACKSEAT TO U.S. ON DEMOCRACY PROMOTION
-------------- --------------
4. (C) During a recent trip to Germany, to discuss the EU's
new strategy on Central Asia, Jakupova and Sasykbayeva
perceived a lack of European interest in addressing issues of
human rights and democratic development in Central Asia.
Rather, according to them, EU interlocutors were focused only
on the growing energy markets in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
They urged EU representatives to focus on human rights and
democracy, and cited the U.S. as an example to model. They
explained that it is especially urgent to support civil
society now, as democratic rights are being undermined just
at the point when NGOs are losing unity and the ability to
fight back. Ambassador noted that she would convey their
thoughts to Washington regarding the EU strategy as U.S.
officials meet frequently with EU representatives.
FEARS OF SEPARATION AND PERSECUTION
--------------
5. (C) Jakupova and Sasykbayeva said that the State Security
Service (GKNB) has continued harassment of those implicated
for their involvement during the April demonstrations. Both
Jakupova and Sasykbayeva were questioned by the GKNB upon
their return from Germany, and feared additional persecution.
6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's request for ideas on
how the U.S. could play a helpful role, both activists
emphasized the importance of creating better coordination
between civil society groups. The need for constructive
dialogue was highlighted, in addition to augmenting programs
focused on developing political party leadership. Ambassador
suggested that USAID's new civil society project and new
political party project could help. She also noted that
like-minded Ambassadors in Bishkek meet frequently and she
would convey their concerns and seek coordinated actions,
although the latter was often difficult to do, she warned.
BISHKEK 00000634 002.2 OF 002
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) While we are not as pessimistic about the situation in
Kyrgyzstan as Sasykbayeva and Jakupova, we, too, have noticed
a split in the NGO community. Working through our contacts
and assistance programs, we will seek ways to shore up our
NGO counterparts, but the hard work of reuniting on the
issues is something only the Kyrgyz themselves can do.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USEU - COURTNEY NEMROFF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL SOCIETY SPLIT, BUT SEEKS COHESION
BISHKEK 00000634 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A widening schism has formed in the Kyrgyz
NGO community, according to two of its main activists.
Seeking to reunify, civil society leaders are reaching out to
others -- including the EU, OSCE, and the U.S. -- for help,
and both activists said they considered U.S. action in
Kyrgyzstan to be the model for assistance. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on May 24, civil
society activists Cholpon Jakupova and Asiya Sasykbayeva said
that the government has successfully split civil society over
the issue of whether NGOs should participate in "political
activity." The two said they are virtually isolated, since a
difficult March meeting when most of the NGO community
declared that NGOs should not be "political." They noted,
however, that there is a highly subjective metric to what
their counterparts consider political; demonstrating against
the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, for
example, was not considered "political," whereas
demonstrating against President Bakiyev in April was
considered political.
3. (C) Jakupova and Sasykbayeva said that the split in civil
society mirrors the split in opposition. However, they were
concerned that, whereas before a united civil society was
able to successfully take on former President Akayev, now no
force exists in Kyrgyzstan to counter the increasingly
totalitarian tendencies of the Bakiyev government.
EU TAKES A BACKSEAT TO U.S. ON DEMOCRACY PROMOTION
-------------- --------------
4. (C) During a recent trip to Germany, to discuss the EU's
new strategy on Central Asia, Jakupova and Sasykbayeva
perceived a lack of European interest in addressing issues of
human rights and democratic development in Central Asia.
Rather, according to them, EU interlocutors were focused only
on the growing energy markets in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
They urged EU representatives to focus on human rights and
democracy, and cited the U.S. as an example to model. They
explained that it is especially urgent to support civil
society now, as democratic rights are being undermined just
at the point when NGOs are losing unity and the ability to
fight back. Ambassador noted that she would convey their
thoughts to Washington regarding the EU strategy as U.S.
officials meet frequently with EU representatives.
FEARS OF SEPARATION AND PERSECUTION
--------------
5. (C) Jakupova and Sasykbayeva said that the State Security
Service (GKNB) has continued harassment of those implicated
for their involvement during the April demonstrations. Both
Jakupova and Sasykbayeva were questioned by the GKNB upon
their return from Germany, and feared additional persecution.
6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's request for ideas on
how the U.S. could play a helpful role, both activists
emphasized the importance of creating better coordination
between civil society groups. The need for constructive
dialogue was highlighted, in addition to augmenting programs
focused on developing political party leadership. Ambassador
suggested that USAID's new civil society project and new
political party project could help. She also noted that
like-minded Ambassadors in Bishkek meet frequently and she
would convey their concerns and seek coordinated actions,
although the latter was often difficult to do, she warned.
BISHKEK 00000634 002.2 OF 002
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) While we are not as pessimistic about the situation in
Kyrgyzstan as Sasykbayeva and Jakupova, we, too, have noticed
a split in the NGO community. Working through our contacts
and assistance programs, we will seek ways to shore up our
NGO counterparts, but the hard work of reuniting on the
issues is something only the Kyrgyz themselves can do.
YOVANOVITCH