Human Rights Activists Again Protest in Front of White House

Today four leading HR activists, namely Tolekan Ismailova, Aziza Abdirasulova, Gul’nara Dzhurabaeva and Asiya Sasykbaeva, protested in front of the White House, the government’s seat in Bishkek. Their protest was against the illegal arrest of demonstrators who had accused the president of electoral fraud in past days. Being arrested and accused of violations of the law of right to assemble, the four ladies also gathered to protest the provisions of this law which in their opinion violates international norms. It restricts the space for demonstrations and makes protests dependent on administrative approval. The HR activists chose a new form to stage their protest, chaining themselves up to the fence of the White House. Within minutes the militia arrived and, managing to free the ladies, took them to the police station of Pervomayskii Rayon. Their they wait to be charged with disturbing public order. One should mention that the four activists had been arrested already yesterday for staging another protest in front of the White House!

Anleitung zum Freien Meinen in Kyrgyzstan

Der Independent Human Rights Group Fund hat dieser Tage eine Handreichung veröffentlicht (sie wurde über die E-Mail Liste von KelKel verteilt), in der potentielle Protestler über Rechte, Strategien, Vorsichtsmaßnahmen und Taktiken aufgeklärt werden. Interessantes Teil! Wäre es nicht so tragisch – - man könnte sich beim Lesen köstlich amüsieren.

Die Broschüre, in etwa ein ‘Protesting for Beginners’, klärt auf über Vorbereitungen für die Teilnahme an einer Demo. Freunde und Familienmitglieder müssen vorab verständigt werden, es muss dafür gesorgt sein, dass Zurückbleibende auch abgesichert sind, sollte man nicht wie geplant nach einer Veranstaltung nach Hause zurückkehren. Ein Fall der gerade in diesen Tagen  im Anschluss an die Wahlen vermehrt eintritt. Gestern als auch heute wurden Demonstranten, die gegen die Wahlmanipulationen auf die Straße gingen, verhaftet mit dem Hinweis auf Verletzung der gesetzlichen Bestimmungen über das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung. Das Gesetz und eine Verordnung der Stadt Bishkek sehen nämlich vor, dass allein an drei (weniger günstigen) Orten in der kyrgyzischen Hauptstadt demonstriert werden darf. Da, wo es eigentlich Sinn macht, nämlich im Zentrum auf dem Platz Ala-Too, ist es verboten.

Bishkek Mayor Tuleev relocates Protest Site

The Bishkek mayor Nariman Tuleev on 24 July decided to relocate one of the sites reserved for public protest and meetings. The decision was taken after the reconstruction of Gorkii Park had gone underway. The City’s local self government refers to complaints from nearby inhabitants allegedly being fed up with noise and disorder. Taken together Tuleev decided to substitute a spot near the Bishkek Hippodrom for the Gorkii park location. This spot is far away from the City’s center and makes sure that nobody will ever hear the ‘noise’ of protesters, trying to raise their political voice.

The Kyrgyz Human Rights organization Kylym Shamy has published a statement, condemning the repressive approach of the state and local self administrations towards the right of freedom to  assemble and freedom of expression. It points out that the Kyrgyz  law on the freedom to assemble from 2008 violates international norms and that the resolution of Tuleev violates even national law (not to mention international norms):

To download the full text (pdf) follow the link:  Statement Kylym Shamy

Declaration of the United People’s Movement

The United People’s Movement, the main opposition organization in Kyrgyzstan issued a press release today, a declaration in which it calls on every citizen to start protesting the falsified results of the election. In the text the UPM correctly summarizes the main facts of manipulation, cites the OSCE statement and the statement of the Union of Civil Organizations and gives a short interpretation of the current leadership of the republic. According to the declaration Bakiev ruined the country during in his years of reign, established the rule of one family and now turns the power system into a totalitarian dictatorship.

Besides fulfilling its duty the text lacks new ideas and concepts. Best example: in the end it calls for demonstrations, meetings, protests and the like, all within a campaign for ‘Fair Elections’. Clear instructions on what exactly to do and where and when are simply missing. The organizational question is not addressed. Once again the opposition showed its inability to develop a strategy with which to approach the frustrated average citizen of Kyrgyzstan, who turned his back on politics a long time ago. The opposition in Kyrgyzstan seems to be in dire need of creativity.

To download the declaration follow the link:

Declaration of United People’s Movement

A much more sophisticated report on recent developments and processes of falsification and manipulation is provided by the Council for Protection of the Rights of Youth and Students. The organization presents a detailed description of different means of pressure used by state administrators to force students to campaign for Bakiev or to sign declarations of support. In view of the need to create a public memory for electoral fraud in Kyrygzstan I add this statement to my data base.

To download the report follow the link:

Announcement of the Council for the Protection of the Rights of Youth and Students

Решение кыргызских судей по всемирной акции в поддержку демократии в Иране показательно

Pdf- Version: Court Decision against Protesters