Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BISHKEK114
2010-02-16 08:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ DEMOCRACY, OR POLITICAL THEATER: PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES A NATIONAL KURULTAI
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000114
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ DEMOCRACY, OR POLITICAL THEATER: PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCES A NATIONAL KURULTAI
BISHKEK 00000114 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000114
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ DEMOCRACY, OR POLITICAL THEATER: PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCES A NATIONAL KURULTAI
BISHKEK 00000114 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: President Bakiyev announced that a
&Kurultai of Accord8 would be held in March, with
nationwide representation from several different social
sectors. (A kurultai is a traditional Kyrgyz decision-making
assembly, roughly akin to an Afghan loya jirga.) Opposition
groups dismissed the announcement as another example of
shadow-puppet theater, and announced that they would hold a
genuine kurultai to discuss the nation's interests the day
after the President's kurultai. End Summary.
A National Meeting
--------------
2. (U) In a January 21 speech, President Bakiyev announced
that a national Kurultai of Accord would be held on March 23.
(A kurultai is a traditional Kyrgyz decision-making
assembly, roughly akin to an Afghan loya jirga.) Bakiyev
said that the meeting's objective will be "to ensure civic
unity and the balance of interests in the state's
decision-making." The Kurultai will have 750 participants,
who are supposed to be the most respected members of society:
545 of these will represent geographical regions, 150 will
be nominated by the President, 35 will represent labor
migrant organizations, and 20 will represent religious
organizations. Members of Parliament and government
employees are specifically disallowed.
3. (SBU) The process for selecting representatives to the
Kurultai has not been publicly announced, but appears to vary
across the different sectors. Geographic districts are
selecting their 545 representatives through local kurultais.
The names of delegates from Bishkek were announced on
February 11. The list does not contain any known activists
from the President,s Ak Jol party, but also, curiously for
representatives from the national capital, does not contain
any well-known persons. According to the State Agency for
Religious Affairs, of the 20 seats allocated to religious
organizations, ten will be allocated to Muslim organizations,
three to Russian Orthodox, five to Protestant Christian, and
one each for Jewish and Buddhist organizations.
4. (SBU) The opposition's reactio to the idea of a
Presidential kurultai was predictably negative, and
questioned the sincerity of the President's desire for
dialogue. They announced that they would have a kurultai of
their own, scheduled for the day after the President's.
Kyrgyzstan Needs A "Real" Opposition
--------------
5. (SBU) The national kurultai appears to be the brainchild
of Sergei Masaulov, the Director of the Institute for
Strategic Analyses and Studies, a think tank that reports to
the President. In an interview with Akipress, he said that
he envisions the kurultai as a means for the government to
consult with the people. He also said that it will be an
arena for the most respected citizens of the country to
discuss vital issues, such as relations among different
religions, and the administrative structure of the government.
6. (C) Masaulov's public comments are in line with what he
told the Embassy in an October meeting. He said that he was
searching for a way to bring together the diverse parts of
Kyrgyz society, and build on historical Kyrgyz traditions of
tribal democracy. He also said that he wanted to create a
"real" opposition that could engage constructively with the
government. He dismissed the thought that current opposition
groups are capable of playing that role, saying that they do
nothing but complain, and offer no constructive alternatives
to government policies.
Comment
BISHKEK 00000114 002.2 OF 002
--------------
7. (C) Hosting a traditional Kurultai may be a shrewd
political move to garner legitimacy for the President and
build on his populist base by linking him with Kyrgyz
traditions of tribal democracy. In a one-on-one
conversation, Masaulov comes across as a sincere believer in
the need for a broader social dialogue and a stronger
political opposition. It is unlikely, however, that the
Government would allow the development of any "real"
political opposition groups that actually oppose the Bakiyev
Government and question its legitimacy.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ DEMOCRACY, OR POLITICAL THEATER: PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCES A NATIONAL KURULTAI
BISHKEK 00000114 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: President Bakiyev announced that a
&Kurultai of Accord8 would be held in March, with
nationwide representation from several different social
sectors. (A kurultai is a traditional Kyrgyz decision-making
assembly, roughly akin to an Afghan loya jirga.) Opposition
groups dismissed the announcement as another example of
shadow-puppet theater, and announced that they would hold a
genuine kurultai to discuss the nation's interests the day
after the President's kurultai. End Summary.
A National Meeting
--------------
2. (U) In a January 21 speech, President Bakiyev announced
that a national Kurultai of Accord would be held on March 23.
(A kurultai is a traditional Kyrgyz decision-making
assembly, roughly akin to an Afghan loya jirga.) Bakiyev
said that the meeting's objective will be "to ensure civic
unity and the balance of interests in the state's
decision-making." The Kurultai will have 750 participants,
who are supposed to be the most respected members of society:
545 of these will represent geographical regions, 150 will
be nominated by the President, 35 will represent labor
migrant organizations, and 20 will represent religious
organizations. Members of Parliament and government
employees are specifically disallowed.
3. (SBU) The process for selecting representatives to the
Kurultai has not been publicly announced, but appears to vary
across the different sectors. Geographic districts are
selecting their 545 representatives through local kurultais.
The names of delegates from Bishkek were announced on
February 11. The list does not contain any known activists
from the President,s Ak Jol party, but also, curiously for
representatives from the national capital, does not contain
any well-known persons. According to the State Agency for
Religious Affairs, of the 20 seats allocated to religious
organizations, ten will be allocated to Muslim organizations,
three to Russian Orthodox, five to Protestant Christian, and
one each for Jewish and Buddhist organizations.
4. (SBU) The opposition's reactio to the idea of a
Presidential kurultai was predictably negative, and
questioned the sincerity of the President's desire for
dialogue. They announced that they would have a kurultai of
their own, scheduled for the day after the President's.
Kyrgyzstan Needs A "Real" Opposition
--------------
5. (SBU) The national kurultai appears to be the brainchild
of Sergei Masaulov, the Director of the Institute for
Strategic Analyses and Studies, a think tank that reports to
the President. In an interview with Akipress, he said that
he envisions the kurultai as a means for the government to
consult with the people. He also said that it will be an
arena for the most respected citizens of the country to
discuss vital issues, such as relations among different
religions, and the administrative structure of the government.
6. (C) Masaulov's public comments are in line with what he
told the Embassy in an October meeting. He said that he was
searching for a way to bring together the diverse parts of
Kyrgyz society, and build on historical Kyrgyz traditions of
tribal democracy. He also said that he wanted to create a
"real" opposition that could engage constructively with the
government. He dismissed the thought that current opposition
groups are capable of playing that role, saying that they do
nothing but complain, and offer no constructive alternatives
to government policies.
Comment
BISHKEK 00000114 002.2 OF 002
--------------
7. (C) Hosting a traditional Kurultai may be a shrewd
political move to garner legitimacy for the President and
build on his populist base by linking him with Kyrgyz
traditions of tribal democracy. In a one-on-one
conversation, Masaulov comes across as a sincere believer in
the need for a broader social dialogue and a stronger
political opposition. It is unlikely, however, that the
Government would allow the development of any "real"
political opposition groups that actually oppose the Bakiyev
Government and question its legitimacy.
GFOELLER