A/DAS SPRATLEN'S MARCH 14-19 VISIT TO BISHKEK:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000282

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: A/DAS SPRATLEN'S MARCH 14-19 VISIT TO BISHKEK:
MEETINGS WITH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION

REF: A. BISHKEK 280

B. BISHKEK 281

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Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) During a busy March 14-19 visit to Bishkek, Acting
Deputy Assistant Secretary Pamela Spratlen led the second
Comprehensive Policy Dialogue with Foreign Minister Karabayev
(Ref A),and she witnessed the signing of Kyrgyzstan's
Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Country Program
assistance agreement and met with government officials
responsible for the Program's implementation (Ref B). This
cable reports A/DAS Spratlen's discussions of the current
political climate with opposition leaders Almaz Atambayev,
Bakyt Beshimov, and Omurbek Babanov of the Social Democratic
Party, and with Temir Sariyev of the Ata Meken Party.

SDPK: Media is the Key Issue
--------------


2. (C) A/DAS Spratlen met March 14 with three senior Social
Democratic Party (SDPK) leaders: party chief and ex-Prime
Minister Almaz Atambayev; current MP and leader of the SDPK
faction in parliament, Bakyt Beshimov; and former MP Omurbek
Babanov. Atambayev said the Bakiyev administration was
"following the model of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan" in
consolidating power. Atambayev also criticized the "radical
opposition" (meaning the Ata Meken party) for missed
opportunities. Referring to his appointment last April as
Prime Minister, Atambayev said that the country then had been
ready to adopt a "normal constitution," but the opposition
did not take advantage of the "unique situation." Beshimov
suggested that the Bakiyev government was pursuing only a
strategy for control of political power, not a serious
program for reform. He cautioned that if the government did
not produce "results," there could be problems. Atambayev
noted that rising prices and planned tariff increases would
also stir public dissatisfaction.


3. (C) All three of the SDPK leaders said that independent
television was the most important issue for political
development. Atambayev said that most of the country gets
only the state channel, and Internet does not have the market
penetration necessary to have the same influence as
television. Babanov, who previously ran NTS television, had
been forced by his Russian partners to sell his stake
following NTS's non-stop coverage of the November 2006
anti-government demonstrations in Bishkek. He estimated it
would cost $10-15 million to set up an independent channel,
and all three urged the U.S. to support such an effort.

Sariyev: Government Continues Pressure
--------------


4. (C) On March 17, A/DAS Spratlen met with Ata Meken member
and former MP Temir Sariyev, who unsurprisingly criticized
the government for using strict tactics to keep opposition
groups at bay. He speculated that more radical methods could
be adopted by the opposition, should the government continue
to block all of the "legal and peaceful" avenues preferred by
opposition groups. Sariyev dismissed the notion that the
people are tired of public demonstrations, characterizing it
as disinformation from the government and "a few" local
political analysts. He admitted that the "public parliament"
does not have a clear mandate, but said that could change
with time. He predicted that 20,000 people would attend the
March 29, public parliament-organized "kurultai" in Bishkek,
and hoped that government officials would accept their
invitation to attend. When asked about the venue, Sariyev
said the public parliament's organizers were refused use of
the central sports stadium and the philharmonic, but would
continue to search for an appropriate meeting place.


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5. (C) Sariyev said that he would take a more honest approach
to governing, if given the chance. He lamented the Bakiyev
administration for fighting corruption unambitiously, and
called for investigating all individuals potentially involved
in corrupt practices, including the president. He said that
the state is losing a large amount of potential revenue due
to corruption. Sariyev then referenced bribes paid by
Chinese truck drivers to border and customs officials to
circumvent weight restrictions and extra charges, amounting
to an estimated $6 million per month. He added that respect
for authority will only come about when people begin to see
that their government is working openly and in opposition to
corruption. Sariyev forecast that mass demonstrations could
take place only if someone would be "willing to take
responsibility for the consequences." He added that the
opposition could wait until the presidential elections in
2010 before taking action.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Opposition and civil society leaders have repeatedly
cited the lack of independent media as the main impediment to
democratic development in Kyrgyzstan. They have also asked
repeatedly for financial assistance to establish a television
channel or network, but none has put forward a clear
proposal.


7. (U) S/DAS Spratlen has cleared this cable.
YOVANOVITCH