Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK803
2009-07-22 09:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
Kyrgyzstan: Media Reaction to Anti-Transit Center Press
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UNCLAS BISHKEK 000803
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyzstan: Media Reaction to Anti-Transit Center Press
Conference
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000803
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyzstan: Media Reaction to Anti-Transit Center Press
Conference
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 20, 2009, a group of activists who oppose
the Transit Center at Manas International Airport held a press
conference to express their discontent. Press conference
participants included the Chairman of the Coordination Council for
an organization that calls itself "For the Withdrawal of the
American Airbase," Aleksey Tiperov; the widow of the truck driver
who was killed at Manas Air Base in 2006, Marina Ivanova; and the
widow's attorney, Galina Skipkina. The press conference received
limited media coverage. Most notable was that the widow's anger was
mostly directed at the Government of Kyrgyzstan rather than at the
United States. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) AKIpress Information Agency, where the press conference
took place, reported that Tiperov demanded the Transit Center be
withdrawn from Kyrgyz territory. According to him, the only new
point in the Transit Center agreement concerned the Transit Center's
environmental impact. He was particularly outspoken about the
"diplomatic immunity" of the Transit Center's American personnel.
Tiperov accused the Government of lying to its own people and to
Russian President Medvedev. He said that all foreign bases,
including Russian, should leave the country to maintain Kyrgyzstan's
sovereignty. To achieve these goals, Tiperov intends to hold a
number of public protests and initiate a bill "On Foreign Citizens'
Status."
3. (SBU) According to AKIpress, Marina Ivanova, the truck driver's
widow, said that the Kyrgyz Government cannot ensure the safety of
its people. She complained that the investigation of her husband's
death has taken two and a half years with no result. AKIpress also
reported that, according to MP Alisher Mamasaliev, Foreign Minister
Sarbayev reported to the Parliament that the government is
monitoring the investigation, which is close to its end and will go
to court by the end of 2009.
4. (SBU) Internet news agency 24.kg quoted Tiperov as saying that
the American military presence in Kyrgyzstan could drag the country
into the conflict in Afghanistan or put Kyrgyzstan at risk for
terrorist attacks. According to 24.kg, Marina Ivanova said that the
[American] courts dragged the shooting case out until Manas Base was
closed (Note: Though she did not say this expressly, she implied
that the closing of Manas Air Base was intended to avoid legal
action for the death of her husband. End note.) Ivanova's lawyer,
Galina Skripkina, said that Aleksandr Ivanov's death became a
playing card in the Kyrgyz officials' game.
5. (SBU) RFE/RL Kyrgyz-language broadcast, Radio Azattyk, aired
Ivanova saying, "Why should we vote for a president who cannot
protect his people?"
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyzstan: Media Reaction to Anti-Transit Center Press
Conference
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 20, 2009, a group of activists who oppose
the Transit Center at Manas International Airport held a press
conference to express their discontent. Press conference
participants included the Chairman of the Coordination Council for
an organization that calls itself "For the Withdrawal of the
American Airbase," Aleksey Tiperov; the widow of the truck driver
who was killed at Manas Air Base in 2006, Marina Ivanova; and the
widow's attorney, Galina Skipkina. The press conference received
limited media coverage. Most notable was that the widow's anger was
mostly directed at the Government of Kyrgyzstan rather than at the
United States. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) AKIpress Information Agency, where the press conference
took place, reported that Tiperov demanded the Transit Center be
withdrawn from Kyrgyz territory. According to him, the only new
point in the Transit Center agreement concerned the Transit Center's
environmental impact. He was particularly outspoken about the
"diplomatic immunity" of the Transit Center's American personnel.
Tiperov accused the Government of lying to its own people and to
Russian President Medvedev. He said that all foreign bases,
including Russian, should leave the country to maintain Kyrgyzstan's
sovereignty. To achieve these goals, Tiperov intends to hold a
number of public protests and initiate a bill "On Foreign Citizens'
Status."
3. (SBU) According to AKIpress, Marina Ivanova, the truck driver's
widow, said that the Kyrgyz Government cannot ensure the safety of
its people. She complained that the investigation of her husband's
death has taken two and a half years with no result. AKIpress also
reported that, according to MP Alisher Mamasaliev, Foreign Minister
Sarbayev reported to the Parliament that the government is
monitoring the investigation, which is close to its end and will go
to court by the end of 2009.
4. (SBU) Internet news agency 24.kg quoted Tiperov as saying that
the American military presence in Kyrgyzstan could drag the country
into the conflict in Afghanistan or put Kyrgyzstan at risk for
terrorist attacks. According to 24.kg, Marina Ivanova said that the
[American] courts dragged the shooting case out until Manas Base was
closed (Note: Though she did not say this expressly, she implied
that the closing of Manas Air Base was intended to avoid legal
action for the death of her husband. End note.) Ivanova's lawyer,
Galina Skripkina, said that Aleksandr Ivanov's death became a
playing card in the Kyrgyz officials' game.
5. (SBU) RFE/RL Kyrgyz-language broadcast, Radio Azattyk, aired
Ivanova saying, "Why should we vote for a president who cannot
protect his people?"