NEW KYRGYZ OMBUDSMAN SETS THE RIGHT TONE ON HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000312 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - GEHRENBECK E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL KDEM KG SUBJECT: NEW KYRGYZ OMBUDSMAN SETS THE RIGHT TONE ON HUMAN RIGHTS REF: A. BISHKEK 295 ¶B. BISHKEK 198 BISHKEK 00000312 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met March 28 with newly appointed Ombudsman Tursunbek Akun. They discussed a number of human rights issues, including bride kidnapping, public demonstration restrictions, and a proposed religion law that, if enacted, could limit the number of legally registered religious groups in Kyrgyzstan. Akun expressed support for the Manas Coalition Airbase and stressed the importance of its role in the fight against terrorism. Akun made all the "right" remarks on human rights; time will tell if the right deeds will follow. End Summary. The Agenda -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met March 28 with newly appointed Ombudsman for Human Rights Tursunbek Akun, who outlined his office's overall agenda. Akun said that his experience as Chair of the (now defunct) President's Human Rights Commission would help him in his current position. He criticized former Ombudsman Tursunbai Bakir uulu for his lack of productivity and for his staff's dearth of appropriate qualifications. He said that, as a result, his current priority is to replace Bakir uulu's cadre (allegedly his family members) with experienced human rights defenders and lawyers, through a competitive, merit-based hiring process. ¶3. (C) Akun listed a number of issues that concerned him, including the growing number of automobile accidents, the general "incompetence" of the traffic police, and the need to fight criminality at all levels -- though he acknowledged that this was beyond the mandate of his office. Turning to human rights issues, the Ambassador and Akun discussed at length the growing problem of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, and Akun expressed interest in working cooperatively with the Embassy on the issue. ¶4. (C) Akun denounced the City of Bishkek's restrictions on public demonstrations as illegal and unconstitutional. He noted his opposition to the restrictions predated his appointment as Ombudsman, adding that he would continue to speak out against it. Akun then speculated that steps would be taken by the presidential administration to restrict the activities of NGOs in Kyrgyzstan, referring to the government's "incomprehensible" opposition to the recently created "public parliament" (see Ref A) as a case in point. ¶5. (C) Turning to religious issues, Akun said that the Chair of the State Agency for Religious Affairs, Kanybek Osmonaliyev, does not understand the possible repercussions of a draft law on religious organizations that would increase significantly the number of members religious groups would need to register legally (Ref B). Akun said that while the proposed law would make it harder for extremist religious groups to operate in Kyrgyzstan, the law would also defy international standards and the country's own constitution. Akun vowed to address the issue within Parliament. ¶6. (C) Akun, who had previously spoken out against the presence of the Manas Coalition Airbase, but in the last year has moderated his stance, expressed support for the Base and for its role in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Akun enjoys the spotlight, and he has gone to great lengths in the past to draw attention to himself. But he has BISHKEK 00000312 002.2 OF 002 also been active as a "human rights defender" for over fifteen years, and he has not shied away from criticizing the government. When he was Chair of the President's Human Rights Commission, he complained about the lack of resources, and he openly coveted the resources available to the Ombudsman for investigation and advocacy. He enjoys an excellent relationship with Presidential Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov and an apparently positive one with President Bakiyev, which gives him an opportunity to influence events in a constructive manner. Now that he is Ombudsman, we will watch carefully to see if his good words turn into actions that will benefit the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan. YOVANOVITCH