Protesters Overrun Kyrgyzstan City-Gov't Loses Control of Region

[chlamor]

Protesters overrun Kyrgyzstan city

Want leader out; government loses control of region

By Kadyr Toktogulov, Associated Press  |  March 22, 2005

OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- Thousands of protesters, some armed with clubs and Molotov cocktails, overran Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city yesterday, prompting police to flee as the government lost control of the impoverished southern region of the former Soviet republic.

Demonstrators burned and stomped on portraits of President Askar Akayev and seized control of the airport. The army did not intervene despite the chaos. No casualties were reported.

The opposition occupied government buildings in five cities and towns across southern Kyrgyzstan, Interior Ministry spokesman Nurdin Jangarayev said. The capital, Bishkek, cut off from the south in winter by an impassable mountain range, remained calm, but the opposition vowed to press on until Akayev resigns.''Power in Osh has been taken over by people!" opposition member Anvar Artykov told the crowd. ''I congratulate you . . . and urge you to maintain order."

The protests, involving more than 17,000 people in the affected cities, won the first concession from Akayev -- an investigation into allegations of widespread vote-rigging in two rounds of parliamentary elections since Feb. 27. The allegations, backed by European observers, have led to demands for Akayev's resignation and to weeks of violent protests.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/03/22/protesters_overrun_kyrgyzstan_city?mode=PF

[CottonBear]

1. Good for them. Times like these call for drastic actions. n/t

[tom_paine]

2. Wow, even KYRGYSTAN Citizens have more balls and desire to be free

than the Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

Is there ANY nation where the people are more sheepish, cowardly, and unquestioningly obediant to Tyrants than Imperial Amerika.

There MUST be still a few remaining, but I can;t think fo one of them.

[billyoc]

3. Now THAT is freedom on the march,

quite different than imperial wars for oil.

[Wilms]

4. That's Funny! n/t

[paineinthearse]

5. Discussion on the Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, Monday, March 28

Discussion on the Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, Monday, March 28

3/25/2005 5:02:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Jane Riley Jacobsen of the National Endowment for Democracy 202-293-9072 or [email protected]

News Advisory:

-- Discussion on the Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, Monday, March 28, 4 p.m.

On Monday, March 28, the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) will host and informal discussion on the "Revolution in Kyrgyzstan" featuring Ms. Yulia Savchenko, a Kyrgyz Television Journalist and current Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at NED. Dr. Michael McFaul, Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and a visiting fellow at NED will comment on Ms. Savchenko's remarks.

On March 24 2005, in the wake of mounting protests and calls for his resignation, Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev fled into exile, following a month-long battle over contested parliamentary elections widely deemed to be unfair. The embattled Akayev, once considered a symbol of hope for democracy and political reform in Central Asia, had come under increasing criticism over the rampant corruption and growing repression of civil liberties under his regime. The recent rounds of parliamentary elections, held in February and March, had seen opposition leaders banned and several of Akayev's relatives installed. Weeks of protest, which many analysts feared might trigger a civil war in Kyrgyzstan, seem to have culminated in a largely peaceful revolution. Despite the euphoria inspired by Georgia and Ukraine, most analysts had remained skeptical about the possibility of a democratic breakthrough in any of the Central Asian republics. Prominent Kyrgyz journalist Savchenko will offer her analysis of the dramatic events unfolding in Kyrgyzstan, and their implications for democracy in that country and Central Asia as a whole. Her presentation will be followed by comments by McFaul.

Savchenko is a television anchor and journalist who has achieved public recognition for her talk show on Pyramid TV in Kyrgyzstan. Her show, "No Edits," features perspectives and debates on issues of political and social interest and is a unique feature of Kyrgyzstan's media landscape. Dr. McFaul is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, associate professor of political science at Stanford University, and a visiting fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy.

This event is open to the media. To register please send an email to [email protected] by 2 p.m. on Monday, March 28.

What: Discussion: Revolution in Kyrgyzstan with Yulia Savchenko and Micahel McFaul

When: Monday, March 28 4 to 5:30

Where: National Endowment for Democracy, 1101 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 7th floor


Contact: Jane Riley Jacobsen 202-293-9072 ext. 232, [email protected]

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[Robbien]

9. National Endowment for Democracy?

A fellow at NED is going to tell us what is going on there? Yeah right, should be interesting if nothing else.

[seemslikeadream]

6. IS BISHKEK MOVING TOWARD RUSSIA AHEAD OF ELECTIONS?

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov said yesterday that American AWACS reconnaissance planes will not be deployed at the Ganci air base outside the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Aitmatov made the statement after a trip to Moscow. Some observers say the Kyrgyz government’s decision was made to please Russia, with the aim of gaining the Kremlin’s support ahead of February 27 parliamentary elections and the presidential election in October.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov’s visit to Moscow resulted in two decisions.

The first -- announced on February 11 -- was to send more Russian military equipment and weaponry to the Russian Kant air base near the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. The other decision was to deny the U.S. request to deploy the AWACS reconnaissance planes at the U.S. Ganci air base, which is also near Bishkek.

"It has been decided that the deployment of planes of this type (AWACS) would not quite fit the mandate of the Ganci air base, which is to provide support to the operation in Afghanistan," Aitmatov said yesterday. "We hope our Western partners and friends will accept Kyrgyzstan’s position with understanding."

Aitmatov said the second decision was a result of negotiations with the United States and consultations with the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Russia is a member of both organizations, and Aitmatov made the statement denying the request to base the AWACS in Kyrgyzstan two days after his Moscow trip.

The United States opened the Ganci air base -- which is at Bishkek’s Manas airport -- in late 2001 to conduct antiterrorism and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. Russia’s Kant military base, about 20 kilometers east of Bishkek, was opened in October 2003.
more
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp021505.shtml


http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=5331

[reorg]

8. Hi seemslikeadream

Thanks for the link - Justin Raimondo's article puts it all together, and I think he is probably right with his conclusion.

And I'm also grateful - as always - for your comprehensive list of DU threads on the topic!




:yourock:

[seemslikeadream]

11. Must see - Kyrgyzstan video

from 2004 Election Results and Discussion

garybeck (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-25-05 02:04 AM
Original message
Must see - Kyrgyzstan video

Anti-Government Protesters Storm Palace in Kyrgyzstan

Guess what motivated these folks to take over their government?

A STOLEN ELECTION

"anti-government protesters have stormed the government palace... thousands of protesters... security forces fled the complex ... there have been days of demonstration ever since the opposition accused the government of RIGGING THE PARLIMENTARY ELECTION ...

You must watch this video of the taking over of the building. It's all in the first 10 minutes of today's Democracy Now! broadcast.

At about 2:30, Amy Goodman does a brief story on it

at about 7:00 they show the video

http://democracynow.org/streampage.pl?show=2005-03-24

could this happen in USA?

what if our opposition actually accused the government of rigging the election? we seem to be missing that key item.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x348522





:hi: reorg

[reorg]

15. watched it

- and also the Donahue interview about dissent or lack thereof in the MSM.

As to the complaints about the election in the Kyrgyz Republic I consulted the website of the OSCE observer mission.

The complaints look (un)surprisingly familiar ...

BISHKEK, 14 March 2005 - The 13 March second round of the parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic showed some technical improvements over the first round, but significant shortcomings remain, confirming the need to address the issues identified, concluded the Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. A total of 82 short-term observers from 17 OSCE participating States observed the second round, which was held in 42 of the 75 single-mandate constituencies.

"The Mission noted that some areas of concern remained unchanged from the first round, including lack of effective voter access to diverse sources of information, bias in the media, continued de-registration of candidates on minor grounds, which are within national law but restrict genuine competition, and inaccurate and poorly maintained voter lists. On the positive side, the right to assembly was more fully respected in the period between the two rounds of elections," said Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, Head of the Observation Mission. ...

http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?id=4776

Maybe some other countries could use a few foreign funded NGOs (in Kyrgyzstan 3000 = about one NGO per 1000 adults) to drum up support against such undemocratic practices? I'll be rooting for this to happen worldwide :-)

[seemslikeadream]

7. I'm trying to play catch up

in case someone else wants to


Russia To Beef Up Air Fleet at Kant Base in Kyrgyzstan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1291984
New Russian Nuclear Missiles Unstoppable — Defense Minister
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1292519
Protests in Kyrgyzstan after runoff elections marred by alleged abuses
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1315404
Myers: U.S. Weighs Long-Term Afghan Bases
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1317274
About 10,000 Pro-Democracy Protesters Riot in Krygystan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1328329
Petrol bomb mobs seize Kyrgyzstan's second city
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1329697
Kyrgyz FM: Protesters Trying To Destabilize The Country
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1321413
Kyrgyzstan Protesters Hold Towns, Talks Awaited
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1330834
New Kyrgyz Minister Threatens Force to Quell Protests
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1335045
Kyrgyz government HQ 'stormed'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1337657
Kyrgyzstan Turmoil Doesn't Faze Rumsfeld
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1338760
In wake of popular uprisings, concern in Russia
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1340152
Kyrgyz Lawmakers Pick Interim Leader
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1339206

[DemoTex]

10. And what, may I ask, is the reaction of Rummy-the-Dummy?

Seems to me that just days ago Rummy copped the DILLIRGAF attitide toward Kyrgyzstan (DILLIGAF = does it look like I really give a fuck?). What a jerk.

[bemildred]

12. Kyrgyz unrest triggers global concern

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that Moscow would be able to live with the new Kyrgyz leadership, even though it was regrettable that "in a post-Soviet country the conflict was resolved in an illegitimate way and was accompanied by pogroms and human victims."

---

Belarus denounced the events in Kyrgyzstan.

---

Turkey, which cultivates close relations with the Turkic-language Central Asian countries, sent a delegation to Kyrgyzstan with the message that "we support the improvement of democracy and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F1CFE13F-F8A0-43D6-9374-083BE54CBA68.htm

[seemslikeadream]

13. Thousands Head for Bishkek Against Kyrgyz Coup

Michael Steen
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan's ousted interior minister led thousands of demonstrators toward the capital on Saturday to protest against the coup that overthrew President Askar Akayev, warning there was a risk of civil war.

The new leadership, which swept to power in the lighting coup Thursday after mass protests, declared it was firmly in control of the mountainous ex-Soviet state.

But acting President Kurmanbek Bakiev had to switch the venue of a news conference because officials heard word of a possible plot to kill him.

Ignoring the exiled Akayev's refusal to resign, parliament set June 26 for a new presidential election in the central Asian nation. Bakiev said he would run in the election.

more
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8006185

[seemslikeadream]

14. Turkey sends warm signals on Kyrgyz revolution

Turkey sends warm signals on Kyrgyz revolution
Saturday, March 26, 2005

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News


Turkey sent yesterday a delegation to Kyrgyzstan for talks with Kyrgyz authorities after the former Soviet republic's government was toppled following street protests. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said those who apparently led the revolution were friends of Turkey.

The same plane carrying the Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation will bring Turkish citizens who want to flee from chaos on the streets that erupted along with the revolution on the way back.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=9269

Evacuation of Turks from Kyrgyzstan gets underway
Saturday, March 26, 2005

Foreign Minister Gül signals readiness to work with leaders of the revolution in the former Soviet republic, saying they are friends of Turkey

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Turkey sent a plane carrying members of an official delegation to Kyrgyzstan a day after the former Soviet republic's government was toppled at the end of widespread street protests for talks with Kyrgyz authorities. On the way back, the plane will bring Turkish citizens who want to flee from the chaos that ensued the revolution in Kyrgyzstan.

“We have closely followed developments there from the outset. There is no problem concerning the situation of our citizens,” Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül told reporters yesterday.

Approximately 3,500 Turks are living in Kyrgyzstan, comprising students studying in private universities, academics teaching in Kyrgyz universities, businessmen and workers, said Turkish officials.


http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=9179