Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK228
2009-03-17 10:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
OPPOSITION HOLDS RALLY IN MEMORY OF AKSY VICTIMS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000228
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION HOLDS RALLY IN MEMORY OF AKSY VICTIMS
Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000228
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION HOLDS RALLY IN MEMORY OF AKSY VICTIMS
Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Leaders of Kyrgyz opposition parties and
non-governmental organizations gathered in front of the
Kyrgyz White House on March 17 to hold a peaceful rally in
memory of victims of the 2002 Aksy events. More than a dozen
police officers observed the rally, which lasted
approximately one hour. Although the White House is not an
"authorized" location for public gatherings, the
sensitivities surrounding the Aksy events apparently provided
sufficient political cover, and the protest went forward
without incident. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On March 17, leaders of several Kyrgyz opposition
parties and NGOs organized a protest in front of the Kyrgyz
White House in memory of the victims of the 2002 Aksy events.
The protesters demanded that government officials connected
to the tragedy be brought to justice. Opposition leaders,
including Temir Sariyev (Ak Shumkar party) and Topchubek
Turgunaliyev (Erkindik party),ex-Minister of Defense Ismail
Isakov, Social Democrat MP Roza Otunbayeva, and several NGO
leaders were among the demonstrators. Approximately fifty
participants, flanked by fifteen Ministry of Internal Affairs
(MVD) officers and surrounded by local journalists, displayed
placards with the names of the six victims of the Aksy events
while calling for the government to hold officials
accountable for their involvement.
3. (SBU) The "Aksy events" of 2002 remain a particularly
sensitive subject in Kyrgyzstan. Seven years ago, in the
Aksy district of the Jalalabad Oblast, supporters of
then-Member of Parliament Azimbek Beknazarov took to the
streets to protest his arrest on charges of abuse of power.
Protesters believed Beknazarov's detention was politically
motivated, after he had spoken out against the government
handover of land to China. On March 17, 2002, MVD officers
opened fire on the crowd of protesters, killing six and
injuring dozens more. Over the years, protesters have
complained that high-level officials have not been held
accountable for the tragedy. Although several officials,
including the former governor and a prosecutor, were
convicted in connection with the events, all sentences were
subsequently suspended without a single suspect serving time
in prison.
4. (C) Comment: Dubbed one of the "saddest pages in the
recent history of Kyrgyzstan" by President Bakiyev, the 2002
Aksy events continue to be a sensitive subject in the minds
of most citizens. While opposition and NGO leaders likely
would have been swept away by MVD officers for holding a
rally in an unauthorized location, these sensitivities proved
enough protection to allow the protest today at the front
gates of the White House to go forward without incident.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION HOLDS RALLY IN MEMORY OF AKSY VICTIMS
Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Leaders of Kyrgyz opposition parties and
non-governmental organizations gathered in front of the
Kyrgyz White House on March 17 to hold a peaceful rally in
memory of victims of the 2002 Aksy events. More than a dozen
police officers observed the rally, which lasted
approximately one hour. Although the White House is not an
"authorized" location for public gatherings, the
sensitivities surrounding the Aksy events apparently provided
sufficient political cover, and the protest went forward
without incident. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On March 17, leaders of several Kyrgyz opposition
parties and NGOs organized a protest in front of the Kyrgyz
White House in memory of the victims of the 2002 Aksy events.
The protesters demanded that government officials connected
to the tragedy be brought to justice. Opposition leaders,
including Temir Sariyev (Ak Shumkar party) and Topchubek
Turgunaliyev (Erkindik party),ex-Minister of Defense Ismail
Isakov, Social Democrat MP Roza Otunbayeva, and several NGO
leaders were among the demonstrators. Approximately fifty
participants, flanked by fifteen Ministry of Internal Affairs
(MVD) officers and surrounded by local journalists, displayed
placards with the names of the six victims of the Aksy events
while calling for the government to hold officials
accountable for their involvement.
3. (SBU) The "Aksy events" of 2002 remain a particularly
sensitive subject in Kyrgyzstan. Seven years ago, in the
Aksy district of the Jalalabad Oblast, supporters of
then-Member of Parliament Azimbek Beknazarov took to the
streets to protest his arrest on charges of abuse of power.
Protesters believed Beknazarov's detention was politically
motivated, after he had spoken out against the government
handover of land to China. On March 17, 2002, MVD officers
opened fire on the crowd of protesters, killing six and
injuring dozens more. Over the years, protesters have
complained that high-level officials have not been held
accountable for the tragedy. Although several officials,
including the former governor and a prosecutor, were
convicted in connection with the events, all sentences were
subsequently suspended without a single suspect serving time
in prison.
4. (C) Comment: Dubbed one of the "saddest pages in the
recent history of Kyrgyzstan" by President Bakiyev, the 2002
Aksy events continue to be a sensitive subject in the minds
of most citizens. While opposition and NGO leaders likely
would have been swept away by MVD officers for holding a
rally in an unauthorized location, these sensitivities proved
enough protection to allow the protest today at the front
gates of the White House to go forward without incident.
GFOELLER