Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK968
2007-07-30 09:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON JULY 30 DEMONSTRATION AT

Tags:  ASEC CASC PGOV PREL PINR KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5683
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHEK #0968/01 2110957
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 300957Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9972
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2241
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0677
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2646
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2026
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000968 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPT FOR DS/IP/SCA-NEA - M.HIPP AND S.GALLO
DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER
DEPT FOR DS/ITA - K.SOPPONEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON JULY 30 DEMONSTRATION AT
EMBASSY


BISHKEK 00000968 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000968

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPT FOR DS/IP/SCA-NEA - M.HIPP AND S.GALLO
DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER
DEPT FOR DS/ITA - K.SOPPONEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON JULY 30 DEMONSTRATION AT
EMBASSY


BISHKEK 00000968 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Charge chaired an EAC meeting at 09:00 am on July 30
to discuss precautions for a possible demonstration at the
Embassy. In attendance were RSO, POL/ECON, POL/RA, DATT,
MGMT, CONS, USAID, MSG, RLEA, MED, and Peace Corps. At 11:00
am on July 30, a small demonstration supporting the U.S.
airbase took place without incident at 11:00 am.


2. (C) On Saturday, July 28 at approximately 10:00 am, Post
One received a telephone call informing that there would be a
demonstration in front of the Embassy at 11:00 on July 30.
The caller did not specify a reason for the demonstration,
nor did he identify himself or any group sponsoring the
demonstration. RSO personnel contacted Kyrgyz law
enforcement authorities; Kyrgyz authorities had no
information about any planned demonstration at the Embassy.


3. (C) On Monday, July 30 at 00:57 am, Post One received a
telephone call warning that there would be a "terrorist act"
at the "meeting" on Monday. It was not established whether
this was the same caller who contacted the Embassy on July

28. RSO alerted Kyrgyz law enforcement authorities about the
threat. RSO personnel also contacted local telephone
companies to attempt to trace the calls.


4. (C) RSO said that it was highly unusual for the Embassy to
receive a telephoned threat or threat warning. While there
was no corroborating information regarding the demonstration
or threat, RSO advised taking extra security measures for a
period prior to and following the supposed demonstration.


5. (C) RSO outlined the security measures already taken on
July 30. RSO had arranged for the Interior Ministry (MVD)
SWAT Team personnel in front of the Embassy to be increased
to six instead of the usual two; in addition, MVD had a
second team of six personnel on standby near the Embassy.

The Embassy Surveillance Detection Team would deploy to the
large paved field across the road from the Embassy. A local
guard team in a vehicle would be deployed at the both entry
gates to the Embassy compound, and additional local guards
would patrol the interior perimeter of the Embassy compound.


6. (C) As a precaution, RSO recommended, and EAC concurred,
that from 10:00 to 13:00 all meetings involving outside
visitors to the Embassy and consular services to the public
be cancelled. RSO recommended, and EAC concurred, that the
RSO Office would send out a Security Notice to all Embassy
personnel and the Consular Section would send out a Warden
Notice immediately advising of the possible demonstration and
that American citizens and other visitors should stay away
from the Embassy from 10:00 to 13:00 on July 30. Text of the
message is below in paragraph 9.


7. (C) Charge informed the EAC that he had cancelled the
weekly Country Team meeting scheduled for the morning of July
and that he had told Manas Coalition Airbase personnel not to
travel to the Embassy for the meeting that morning.


8. (C) Embassy Nurse suggested informing Manas Coalition
Airbase medical personnel about the possible demonstration so
that they could be on standby in the event there was an
incident at the Embassy; Charge instructed the nurse to do
so. RLEA asked about procedures for the Embassy cafeteria
and health unit, which are housed in a separate building on
the compound. RSO said that roving local guards, in addition
to patrolling the perimeter fence, would regularly check the
cafeteria and health unit around the time of the possible
demonstration.


BISHKEK 00000968 002.2 OF 002



9. (U) On July 30, the Embassy sent out the follow Security
Notice and Warden Message:

The Embassy received a telephone call about a possible
demonstration at the Embassy on Monday, July 30. As a
precaution, the Embassy is asking American citizens and other
visitors to stay away from the Embassy from 10:00 to 13:00 on
July 30. All meetings planned at the Embassy during this
time should be rescheduled.


10. (C) Following the EAC, at 11:00 local, a group of
approximately 15-20 demonstrators gathered in front of the
Embassy. Approximately 10 journalists observed the
demonstration. The demonstrators carried a U.S. and a Kyrgyz
flag, and they carried signs in Russian and English
expressing support for the presence of the U.S. airbase in
Kyrgyzstan. The group, claiming to represent the human
rights organization "Democracy," presented a letter to the
Embassy criticizing earlier anti-base protests and supporting
the base as a "guarantor of security in Central Asia against
terrorism." The demonstration, which lasted less than half
an hour, was peaceful and took place without incident.
LITZENBERGER