Protesters Occupy Kyrgyz Administrative Building

RFERL.org Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty ^ | Wednesday February 23, 2005 | RFE/RL

[Bald Eagle777]

Bishkek, 23 February 2005 (RFE/RL)-- Supporters of an opposition candidate occupied a district administration office in Kyrgyzstan's northeastern Issyk-Kul Province today, demanding that authorities allow the politician to run in the country's parliamentary elections on 27 February.

Also today, the International Helsinki Federation (IHF) accused Kyrgyz authorities of violating their OSCE commitments by interfering with the democratic process in the run-up to the February elections.

The protesting occupants of the local administrative building are some of several thousand people participating in demonstrations in the Tong district of Issyk-Kul Province.

A protester told RFE/RL that demonstrators also want the head of the local administration to be sacked.

"Our demand is to restore the candidacy of deputy [Arslan] Maliev and to remove the head of the district administration [Nurbek Aliev, a brother of the pro-government candidate] from his position," the protester said.

Meanwhile, protesters continued to block roads in several parts of Kyrgyzstan, demanding opposition candidates recently barred from competing in the elections be put back on ballots.

Protesters in the village of Kochkor are blocking the Bishkek-Torugart highway in eastern Naryn Province.

Demonstrators in Kochkor also want to see the resignation of the province's governor, whom they accuse of interfering in the election process.

Media Cutoff

Meanwhile, a printing house that prints opposition publications today had its power supply cut off for a second day in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

Andrei Miyasarov, director of the International Printing Office, said that power was suspended on 22 February.

Miyasarov said that officials from the State Energy Agency are refusing to sign necessary documents, without which the power supply to the office cannot be resumed.

Miyasarov said the problem has been brought to the attention of the office of Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev.

The printing house produces some 15 publications, including some by the main opposition political parties as well as international nongovernmental organizations operating in Kyrgyzstan.

International Outrage

The IHF released a statement saying that "the government of President Askar Akaev appears to be betraying its responsibilities as a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] to ensure free and fair elections."

The IHF said it is also "deeply disturbed" by pressures against what it says are the few remaining independent media in Kyrgyzstan.

The statement calls on the Kyrgyz government to abide by its OSCE commitments.

(with additional reporting by AKIpress, ITAR-TASS, and Interfax)

[Bald Eagle777]

This is an interesting little situation.

[GVnana]

Old Soviet powers getting the heave-ho?

[flashbunny]

Are they demanding the right to buy a vowel?

[Lukasz]

Unfortunetly all Kyrgyz neighbors are undemocratic countries. It will be very hard to build real democracy in such region especially when Russia supporting ruling regime.

[eyespysomething]

snarf

[eyespysomething]

Hey, at least they're trying.

[Bald Eagle777]

Nice neighborhood, eh?

[Bald Eagle777]

It doesn't hurt if they get a little "help" also...

[Lukasz]

I wish them all the best

Even if Soros is one of their only hopes.

[Lukasz]

Nice neighborhood, eh?

Yeah, the leading democracy in this region is Afghanistan… :)

[eyespysomething]

Gah!!!

[kingsurfer]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1349511/posts

Here is a thread I did earlier about their neighbour Tajikistan. Apparently they are really sad that Russia has left as they cannot control the border with Afghanistan.

I saw a BBC programme called Adventures in the Danger zone or something like that. They showed a Kryzyg Holiday destination and the people who worked there complaining that no one would visit. the camera crew then found out that there was an old russian nuclear waste dump there.

[Lukasz]

He is everywhere but I would like to live under Soros much more than under pro-Russian Kyrgyz mafia. Beside that I think that other foundations are also involved.

[zoyd]

Kyrgyz

I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat.

[kingsurfer]

Apparently the Kyrzyg people are the friendliest in the area, mainly because they have little to offer foreigners except common courtesy and friendship. I would not mind to go there one day.

[Lukasz]

Wait 10 years then they should be in EU and you would not need visa :)

[kingsurfer]

They would probably be a better choice than Turkey.

[Lukasz]

I would argue, you obviously didn’t knew about Hizb Ut-Tahrir popular in Central Asia terrorist organization. I think that there isn’t something similar in Turkey.

Kyrgyz Police Arrest Alleged Hizb Ut-Tahrir Leader

15 February 2005 -- Kyrgyz police have arrested an alleged leader of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic party. Zamir Sydykov, a police spokesman is the eastern city of Osh, said police arrested the man for possessing explosives and extremist literature. He said the man was detained on 13 February. Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned in several Central Asian countries and Russia. It seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate, or independent Islamic state, in Central Asia. It claims to be a moderate, nonviolent organization. However, two political groups that have their origins in Hizb ut-Tahrir -- Hizb-an-Nusra and Akrimiya -- do have more radical platforms. Thousands of Hizb ut-Tahrir members and supporters have been arrested and imprisoned for alleged extremist activities in Central Asia and Russia.

[kingsurfer]

They are probably about the same. Many British assets have been attacked in Trukey. They blew up a bank building and our embassy. They killed a few people and caused millions in damages.

I am happy for the 5% of Turkey that is in Europe to join with us. The other 95% can go jump.

[Bald Eagle777]

Here's an update.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1425443,00.html