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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BISHKEK 001518 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: DAS FEIGENBAUM DISCUSSES ISSUES OF STABILITY IN 
SOUTHERN KYRGYZSTAN 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1506 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1333 
 
BISHKEK 00001518  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  On October 19 and 20, SCA Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Evan Feigenbaum, together with Ambassador 
 
SIPDIS 
Yovanovitch, traveled to southern Kyrgyzstan to discuss 
issues of social and political stability, as well as the 
impending demonstration on November 2, with local government 
officials, international organization representatives, and 
NGOs.  During the two-day trip to Osh, Jalalabad, and 
Karasuu, Embassy contacts expressed hope that Kyrgyzstan 
would be able to resolve its political and economic debates 
peacefully, but cautioned that poverty, a porous border with 
Uzbekistan, rising religious extremism, the lack of a truly 
independent media, and a distancing from the north were all 
issues that remained a concern for the country as a whole. 
Despite such concerns, most seemed optimistic about 
Kyrgyzstan's future and believed that nothing significant 
would happen during the planned demonstration on November 2. 
Several warned that relations with the government could 
worsen, however, if the Bakiyev administration continues to 
crack down on alleged extremists in the south and interferes 
in the activities of NGOs throughout the country.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
BORDER, SOCIAL PROGRAMS MORE IMPORTANT THAN NEW REVOLUTION 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (C) In Jalalabad, Governor Iskender Aidaraliyev told DAS 
Feigenbaum and the Ambassador that although the south was 
"ripe for foreign investment" due to the "calm social and 
political climate,"  he was concerned about the long border 
Kyrgyzstan shares with Uzbekistan.  Recognizing that U.S. 
border assistance programs have been active in Osh, 
Aidaraliyev said that more could be done in other oblasts, 
including Jalalabad, to secure the porous Kyrgyz-Uzbek 
border.  (Note:  After visiting the Dostuk border post in Osh 
(septel), DAS Feigenbaum was informed that the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) plans to renovate, using 
U.S. assistance funds, at least one post in Jalalabad.  End 
note.) 
 
¶3. (C) When asked about possible unrest in the south 
connected to the opposition's November 2 rally in Bishkek 
(ref A), Aidaraliyev said that he was certain the opposition 
would not be able to garner the country-wide support needed 
to achieve their "revolutionary" aims.  Aidaraliyev said that 
southerners were geared more towards effecting change from 
within the current system, rather than through consecutive 
revolutions.  Citing the limited support the opposition 
received during the September 17 Kurultai (ref B), 
Aidaraliyev predicted that November 2 would also see equally 
limited participation by southern residents.  Governor 
Aidaraliyev added that successive revolutions would only 
serve to destabilize the country.    Aidaraliyev said he had 
been able to stay in office following the March 2005 events 
due to strong constituent support, and similarly the 
President should be able to stay in office unless he is voted 
out democratically after his five-year term.  Aidaraliyev 
reasoned that forcibly removing him from the White House 
would damage not only Kyrgyzstan's development and stability, 
but also its image internationally. 
 
¶4. (C) Separately, Osh Deputy Governor Kushbak Tezekbayev 
concurred with Aidaraliyev's analysis that nothing concrete 
would happen on November 2.  He believed that the opposition 
seeks to divide the south from the north.  Despite the fact 
that "For Reforms" (Za Reformi) co-Chair Omurbek Tekebayev is 
originally from the south, living in Bishkek for over twenty 
years has limited his credibility in the eyes of many 
southerners, according to Tezekbayev.  Tezekbayev also 
 
BISHKEK 00001518  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
speculated that the Kyrgyz people are "tired" of politics and 
would rather focus on other, more pressing, issues such as 
renovating schools and obtaining textbooks for each student. 
 
¶5. (C) When asked about U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relations, as 
viewed from Osh and the south, as well as Kyrgyzstan's 
relations with its neighbors, Tezekbayev said that too much 
foreign investment had been concentrated in the north, and 
more should be done to improve the economic condition of 
southern Kyrgyzstan.  As an example, Tezekbayev noted that 
trade relations with China have increased significantly, with 
China donating four hundred tractors in the past six months, 
in addition to building factories and supplying Kyrgyz 
markets with fruits and vegetables.  Despite the praise given 
to China and Tezekbayev's intention to go to Beijing by the 
end of October to sign a trade agreement linking Osh with 
Urumchi and Kashgar, the Deputy Governor insisted, that China 
continues to sell inferior products to Kyrgyzstan, with the 
"good stuff" going to the United States. 
 
¶6. (C) As for bilateral relations with the U.S., Tezekbayev 
supported the Manas Airbase and its contributions to the 
security of Kyrgyzstan and the region, but thought that 
Kyrgyzstan's relations with Russia should be strengthened as 
well.  Claiming that Kyrgyzstan is the only democracy in the 
region, Tezekbayev used the fact that the current Governor of 
Osh, Jantoro Satybaldiyev, was a former opposition leader as 
an example of the many liberties that exist in Kyrgyzstan. 
As a comparison to other Central Asian states, Tezekbayev 
alluded to Uzbekistan's "ungrateful" attitude towards the 
U.S., by stating that "if it wasn't for U.S. assistance in 
Uzbekistan after 9/11, there would be no Uzbekistan today." 
DAS Feigenbaum noted that unlike our comparatively consistent 
relationship with Kyrgyzstan, U.S. relations with Tashkent 
have been characterized by sharp swings up and down. 
 
ISLAMIC LEADERS CONTENT, FOR NOW 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) While pleased that the relationship between the 
Islamic community and the state seems comparatively smooth 
and stable, Suyun Kaary, Kazy of Osh Oblast, cautioned that 
growing Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) adherence could damage relations 
as the possibility of heavy-handed government crackdowns 
against alleged HT members continues.  Citing the inadequate 
education of Imams and their constituents on how best to 
dissuade potential HT and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan 
(IMU) adherents, Kaary said that religious leaders and 
followers alike would benefit from more exchanges with the 
West, as well as an increase in Kyrgyz student enrollments at 
Islamic universities abroad.  Kaary estimated that at least 
1000 Kyrgyz students are studying in Egypt, but could not 
speculate on the number of students attending religious 
schools in Pakistan. 
 
¶8. (C) Kaary cited economic hardships as a source of 
discontent for many in the south.  Because of those 
hardships, said Kaary, there are those who believe they may 
be able to benefit from the foreign assistance that is 
perceived to be funding extremist groups within Kyrgyzstan. 
When asked if Kaary knew where the money was coming from, he 
simply shrugged his shoulders and replied, in Arabic, that 
only God knew.  Despite the possibility that extremist views 
may be filtering into Kyrgyzstan from abroad, Kaary said that 
Kyrgyzstan must manage its problems with HT, IMU and 
non-Muslim extremist religious groups without closing its 
borders.  Rather, noted Kaary, Kyrgyzstan should deal with 
extremists through political means, by the use of dialogues 
and face-to-face interaction.  Kaary said that the late Imam 
Muhammadrafik Kamalov, killed on August 6 possibly because of 
his alleged ties to HT, had been respected by religious and 
community leaders throughout the region because of his 
commitment to dialogue.  He had known Kamalov and respected 
 
BISHKEK 00001518  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
him as a person, but did not consider it appropriate to 
comment on political allegations against the dead.  In light 
of these concerns, Kaary cautioned that there were issues in 
the south that deserved people's attention.  Kaary expressed 
his gratitude to DAS Feigenbaum and the Ambassador for 
visiting the south, inviting a large number of southerners to 
participate in International Visitor (IV) programs, and hoped 
that such exchanges would continue and expand. 
 
IOs, NGOs: WORKING PRODUCTIVELY, FOR NOW 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) During an informal dinner with UNHCR and OSCE 
representatives, discussion turned to Kyrgyzstan's failing 
refugee regime and the Kyrgyz Government's (GOKG) possible 
move to restrict the activities of international 
organizations and NGOs working in Kyrgyzstan, to include a 
possible reevaluation of OSCE's mandate.  As the Head of 
UNHCR's Field Office Mulusew Mamo explained, the GOKG has 
worked cooperatively to help resettle hundreds of Uzbek 
asylum seekers to third countries, but has not been willing 
to take additional steps to grant refugee status to Uzbek 
nationals.  Mamo added that resettlement is usually a last 
resort for UNHCR and, therefore, hoped that their work could 
be reoriented to concentrate more upon refugee determination 
and assistance within Kyrgyzstan.  Immediately granting 
asylum-seeker status in order to initiate the resettlement 
process is not a system, according to Mamo, that UNHCR 
believes would be beneficial for the long-term stability of 
Kyrgyzstan's refugee regime.  Extraditions and disappearances 
of Uzbek nationals seeking refuge in Kyrgyzstan is also a 
concern, said Mamo, in that such events call into question 
the safety of those asylum-seekers remaining in Kyrgyzstan. 
With no concrete assurances provided by the GOKG, Mamo 
speculated that the Kyrgyz would continue working with the 
Uzbek security services to set an example to other Uzbek 
citizens, especially civil society activists, thinking about 
crossing the border into Kyrgyzstan. 
 
¶10. (C) OSCE representatives Jerome Bouyjou and Amanda Wooden 
expressed concern regarding the GOKG's heavy-handed 
crackdowns against alleged religious extremists in the south 
and argued that the national government may be trying to 
increase its control in southern Kyrgyzstan.  Bouyjou said 
that desire for control might extend to OSCE's activities. 
Bouyjou noted that in a meeting in Osh earlier in the day, FM 
Jekshenkulov had asked pointed questions about the OSCE's 
overall mandate in the Kyrgyz Republic, suggesting that the 
Foreign Ministry may be trying to sideline the activities of 
international organizations and NGOs working throughout 
Kyrgyzstan.  Bouyjou and Wooden also said that the GOKG had 
been contacting local NGOs asking about their sources of 
funding as well as the nature of their activities. 
 
¶11. (C) In a separate lunch meeting, Mercy Corps 
representatives said they had a cooperative working 
relationship with local government and that local inhabitants 
appreciated the assistance provided by international 
organizations and NGOs.  Mercy Corps representative, Claire 
Sneed, explained that the group has worked with local 
government officials on a variety of issues, including rule 
of law in business transactions, land allocation, corruption, 
and access to water for farmers.  Given the cooperative 
manner in which southerners have worked with NGOs and local 
government offices, the Mercy Corps representatives were 
surprised at reports that people in Bishkek were discussing 
the possibility of another revolution.  Sneed said that 
southerners generally felt no connection to President Bakiyev 
despite his southern roots, but they were tired of the 
political upheavals in the north.  According to Sneed and her 
colleagues, southerners preferred to concentrate more on 
other issues, such as education and the increased use of 
narcotics by school-aged children. 
 
BISHKEK 00001518  004.4 OF 004 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN VOICES MUTED BY LACK OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶12. (C) Maksuda Aitiyeva, Director of the Osh Media Resource 
Center, together with five IV Alumni journalists, noted that 
people in the south depended on GOKG and NGO assistance to 
improve the situation.  Aitiyeva said that a lack of funds 
limited local media's voice, and dependence on government 
subsidies called into question media independence.  With an 
inadequate amount of revenue generated through 
advertisements, and stiff commercial competition from Russian 
media outlets, the condition of mass media in Kyrgyzstan 
could worsen, said Aitiyeva, in the years to come -- 
especially if the youth remain uninterested in journalism, 
due to lack of professional training and insufficient wages. 
Representatives from online news site Ferghana.ru, who had 
invited themselves to the meeting, added that one of the only 
ways Kyrgyz media could genuinely stay independent would be 
to publish their reports on the web.  Generally cheaper and 
more flexible, online news sites could be a trend that others 
should follow, according to Alisher Saipov, local Chief 
Editor of Ferghana.ru and Voice of America (VOA) stringer. 
This will especially be the case, said Saipov, as more people 
gain access to the Internet either at home or by visiting the 
growing number of Internet cafes spread out across the 
country. 
 
COMMENT: ALL IS RELATIVELY CALM, FOR NOW 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (C) By and large, interlocutors during this visit to the 
south were a lot less alarmist about the political situation 
in Kyrgyzstan than those in the north.  Recognizing that more 
could be done to improve Kyrgyzstan's economic and political 
standing, many, nevertheless, believed that cooperative 
solutions could be realized with the current government. 
Despite worrying signs that the government may be trying to 
meddle in the affairs of international organizations and NGOs 
operating throughout the country, there was a sense of calm, 
confidence, and optimism felt and expressed within each of 
the meetings in Osh, Jalalabad, and Karasuu.  In the run up 
to the planned opposition demonstrations in Bishkek on 
November 2, Embassy will watch closely to see if that quiet 
confidence seeps northward, or if the opposition will manage 
to generate more support for their cause in Kyrgyzstan's 
southern regions.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶14. (U) DAS Feigenbaum has cleared this cable. 
YOVANOVITCH