Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK669
2008-06-27 05:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ AUTHORITIES RAID NORWEGIAN HELSINKI
how-toVZCZCXRO4648 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0669 1790521 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 270521Z JUN 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1133 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2563 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0949 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2958 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2343 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 BISHKEK 000669
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ AUTHORITIES RAID NORWEGIAN HELSINKI
COMMITTEE'S BISHKEK OFFICE
REF: A. BISHKEK 198
B. BISHKEK 143
Classified By: P/E Chief Robert G. Burgess, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000669
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ AUTHORITIES RAID NORWEGIAN HELSINKI
COMMITTEE'S BISHKEK OFFICE
REF: A. BISHKEK 198
B. BISHKEK 143
Classified By: P/E Chief Robert G. Burgess, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) On June 9, Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
officers conducted a raid on the Bishkek office of the
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC). The MVD questioned head
of the office, Ivar Dale, about the organization's activities
in Kyrgyzstan and threatened to deport him. (Note: The NHC
has unsuccessfully attempted to register with the government
since the office opened in 2006 and blames the Kyrgyz
authorities for the delays in the process. End note.) The
MVD officers did not present a search warrant but claimed
that the raid was a "standard procedure" for all
international NGOs. During the raid, officers sifted through
the organization's files and photographed or filmed countless
documents. At the request of NHC staff, several local human
rights defenders, heads of international organizations,
parliamentarians, and the Ombudsman arrived at the office to
witness the MVD's actions.
2. (C) The NHC office in Norway immediately issued a press
statement denouncing the raid as a "clear violation of
international norms." However, in the days following the
raid, we understand that NHC requested international
representatives and other human rights activists not to raise
the issue publicly. On June 25, the MVD issued a press
statement which quoted the NHC as saying the MVD officers had
acted within their legal jurisdiction and did not tread upon
the rights of the NHC staff. The statement also noted that
the NHC would not continue operations until it had completed
the registration process with the Ministry of Justice.
Despite the statement, the NHC office continues to operate,
and a local partner to NHC told PolOff that the office has
resumed all activities.
3. (C) One international human rights representative, who
herself favored raising the issue publicly, told PolOff that
Dale struck a deal with the MVD. Matilda Bogner, Regional
Representative of the United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the NHC had
threatened to file charges against the MVD officers for the
illegal raid but offered to drop the charges and forget about
the event if the office could remain open and Dale could stay
in Kyrgyzstan. Bogner said that she disagreed with Dale's
decision to strike a deal with the MVD instead of holding the
ministry accountable for the illegal and unwarranted raid.
She was further disappointed in NHC headquarters' request for
the international community to refrain from raising the issue
publicly.
4. (C) While the MVD claim that the raid was a "standard
procedure," many local human rights workers speculate that
the raid was conducted because of Kyrgyz sensitivity to Uzbek
political issues or possibly as the result of pressure from
the Uzbek government. The NHC office had recently announced
a small grants program to fund human rights projects in
Uzbekistan. Regardless of the apparent resolution of the
situation, the bold raid sent an intimidating signal and is
another sign of the government's increasing sensitivity to
the activities of international human rights organizations.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ AUTHORITIES RAID NORWEGIAN HELSINKI
COMMITTEE'S BISHKEK OFFICE
REF: A. BISHKEK 198
B. BISHKEK 143
Classified By: P/E Chief Robert G. Burgess, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) On June 9, Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
officers conducted a raid on the Bishkek office of the
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC). The MVD questioned head
of the office, Ivar Dale, about the organization's activities
in Kyrgyzstan and threatened to deport him. (Note: The NHC
has unsuccessfully attempted to register with the government
since the office opened in 2006 and blames the Kyrgyz
authorities for the delays in the process. End note.) The
MVD officers did not present a search warrant but claimed
that the raid was a "standard procedure" for all
international NGOs. During the raid, officers sifted through
the organization's files and photographed or filmed countless
documents. At the request of NHC staff, several local human
rights defenders, heads of international organizations,
parliamentarians, and the Ombudsman arrived at the office to
witness the MVD's actions.
2. (C) The NHC office in Norway immediately issued a press
statement denouncing the raid as a "clear violation of
international norms." However, in the days following the
raid, we understand that NHC requested international
representatives and other human rights activists not to raise
the issue publicly. On June 25, the MVD issued a press
statement which quoted the NHC as saying the MVD officers had
acted within their legal jurisdiction and did not tread upon
the rights of the NHC staff. The statement also noted that
the NHC would not continue operations until it had completed
the registration process with the Ministry of Justice.
Despite the statement, the NHC office continues to operate,
and a local partner to NHC told PolOff that the office has
resumed all activities.
3. (C) One international human rights representative, who
herself favored raising the issue publicly, told PolOff that
Dale struck a deal with the MVD. Matilda Bogner, Regional
Representative of the United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the NHC had
threatened to file charges against the MVD officers for the
illegal raid but offered to drop the charges and forget about
the event if the office could remain open and Dale could stay
in Kyrgyzstan. Bogner said that she disagreed with Dale's
decision to strike a deal with the MVD instead of holding the
ministry accountable for the illegal and unwarranted raid.
She was further disappointed in NHC headquarters' request for
the international community to refrain from raising the issue
publicly.
4. (C) While the MVD claim that the raid was a "standard
procedure," many local human rights workers speculate that
the raid was conducted because of Kyrgyz sensitivity to Uzbek
political issues or possibly as the result of pressure from
the Uzbek government. The NHC office had recently announced
a small grants program to fund human rights projects in
Uzbekistan. Regardless of the apparent resolution of the
situation, the bold raid sent an intimidating signal and is
another sign of the government's increasing sensitivity to
the activities of international human rights organizations.
YOVANOVITCH