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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000373 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN - GEHRENBECK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KG
SUBJECT:  KYRGYZ OPPOSITION KURULTAI CALLS FOR UNITY, CHANGE 
 
BISHKEK 00000373  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  The April 12 kurultai, or "people's gathering," 
delivered few surprises, as presentations focused on the 
government's "poor" performance since the March 2005 "revolution." 
Issues of concern included rising unemployment, the "illegal" 
October 2007 constitutional referendum and December 2007 
parliamentary elections, the "opaque" energy sector privatization 
process, and Kyrgyzstan's overall "lack" of economic and political 
development.  Over 1500 political party delegates, mostly pensioners 
representing Ata Meken, NGOs, and non-party-affiliated citizens 
participated; none of the invited government officials attended. 
The kurultai's resolution called for the government to meet nine 
demands "soon," ranging from declaring the parliamentary elections 
illegal, to stopping the privatization of energy firms -- or there 
would be public disobedience and protests.  End Summary. 
 
The March of the Pensioners 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Prior to the kurultai, approximately 400 political party 
delegates, mostly pensioners representing the main opposition Ata 
Meken party, assembled peacefully at a park adjacent to Bishkek's 
central sports stadium.  Other political parties present at the 
pre-meeting included Ar Namys, Ak Shumkar, Asaba, and the Greens.  A 
handful of onlookers, who may have simply been enjoying a beautiful 
Saturday morning in the park, surrounded the gathering.  The 
assembly was treated to patriotic hymns and free opposition 
newspapers, but there were no speeches.  Poloff counted less than 30 
uniformed officers around the park, directing traffic away from the 
area. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The group moved en masse to the stadium's main entrance, 
where they joined at least 1500 additional delegates, NGO 
representatives, and invited guests inside the stadium's main hall. 
While taking their seats, musicians sang politically charged solos 
on stage, apparently unrehearsed.  Once seated, former Foreign 
Minister, opposition For Justice coordinator, and kurultai moderator 
Alikbek Jekshenkulov opened the meeting, noting that most of the 
people expected came, except for the invited government officials. 
He then read out a list of the political parties represented, 
amounting to far more than the number observed voting for 
unification towards the end of the kurultai. 
 
Grim Reports 
------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) All four of the main speakers -- Ata Meken's Omurbek 
Tekebayev and Temir Sariyev, public parliament "speaker" Abdygany 
Erkebayev, and Jekshenkulov -- addressed the Bakiyev 
administration's "disappointing" performance since the March 2005 
"revolution."  In his speech, Tekebayev focused on increasing 
external migration, as Kyrgyz workers seek better opportunities 
abroad, despite the potentially life-threatening risks involved.  He 
also noted the sense of despair felt by most, claiming that the 
number of suicides has risen over the past three years.  Both 
Tekebayev and Sariyev pointed to corruption as the main obstacle to 
development, with Tekebayev blaming government mismanagement for the 
country's energy problems.  Tekebayev further insisted that the 
individuals who caused the energy "crisis" now have leading 
positions in the government, likening PM Chudinov, Bishkek Mayor 
Usenov, and Speaker of Parliament Madumarov to "merchants in a 
bazaar" interested only in short-term financial gain.  He finally 
called for systemic change in the government, in addition to 
replacing Kyrgyzstan's leaders with more "honest" and "competent" 
people. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Sariyev added that economic development has been slow 
because of government interference in private business.  He said 
that Kyrgyzstan currently faces a $2 billion trade deficit, with 
imports vastly exceeding exports, and claimed that 30% of the state 
budget was stolen by corrupt officials each year, according to 
"experts."  Sariyev promised that the "public parliament" would 
develop an economic development plan that would increase state 
 
BISHKEK 00000373  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
support to farmers, establish strong public control over the state 
budget, create business-friendly tax policies; and commoditize water 
resources.  He warned that, if such measures aren't taken 
immediately, inflation would surpass GDP growth exponentially. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Both Erkebayev and Jekshenkulov addressed generally the 
government's "inability" to expand Kyrgyzstan's democratic 
potential.  Erkebayev specifically noted that none of Bakiyev's 
promises were upheld after the "revolution," and that the country is 
now "worse off" than it had been under former President Akayev.  He 
lambasted the consolidation of the legislature and judiciary under 
Bakiyev's "full control," and claimed that the ruling Ak Jol party 
was created too quickly, and illegally.  Erkebayev also criticized 
Bakiyev for not relinquishing control of state media outlets to the 
public, and called for further revisions to the constitution to 
ensure political stability. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Jekshenkulov, focusing on Kyrgyzstan's growing 
"demoralization," claimed that a "culture-less" society has 
developed, and that people have been forced to tolerate corruption, 
criminality, and unchecked "hooliganism."  He charged that the 
privatization of universities would drive teachers to seek menial 
jobs or leave the country altogether, creating a country that would 
resemble a "rootless tree."  Jekshenkulov claimed that the 
government has ignored areas outside the capital, especially the 
impoverished South, which was inciting regionalism and a growing 
North-South divide.  He then called for all citizens to unite under 
a national development plan that would exploit advantageously the 
country's "abundant" resources. 
 
Open Mic 
-------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Following the four main presentations, the floor was given 
to political party representatives who similarly focused on energy 
sector privatization, rising unemployment, the "false" referendum 
and parliamentary elections, and the parliament's April 11 
ratification of the agreement on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh state border, 
originally signed by both countries in 2001.  The impassioned 
presentations ranged from the serious to the outrageous, with one 
delegate making the assertion that increased homosexuality ("even 
amongst ethnic Kyrgyz") exemplifies the ongoing demoralization of 
the country, initiated after Bakiyev took office.  Others called for 
unification of the opposition, governmental decentralization, and a 
renewed focus on curbing corruption.  The biggest applause came 
whenever a speaker questioned the legality of the sitting parliament 
and the Bakiyev administration's ability to develop the country 
successfully. 
 
The Ultimatum 
------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The kurultai ended with ex-MP and opposition Asaba party 
leader Azimbek Beknazarov calling all political parties represented 
to vote for unification, and reading aloud the organizers' final 
resolution.  Nine demands were listed, to be met by the government 
"soon," or else face acts of public disobedience and demonstrations. 
 The resolution demanded the government take immediate measures to 
address rising food prices; declare the government's performance 
unsatisfactory; declare the constitution and election code, passed 
via the October 2007 referendum, illegitimate; pronounce the sitting 
parliament illegitimate, hold new parliamentary elections, and 
declare all laws and decisions passed by the current parliament 
illegal; bring criminal charges against members of the Central 
Election Commission (CEC), and its Chair, for their roles during the 
referendum and elections; disband the CEC and install a new 
commission with political party and opposition representation, 
before the upcoming municipal and "early" parliamentary elections; 
stop the privatization of energy firms and educational institutions, 
and the sale of Kyrgyz land; refrain from signing into law the 
previously agreed transfer of land to Kazakhstan, which was ratified 
by Parliament on April 11; and lift all restrictions on public 
 
BISHKEK 00000373  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
demonstrations, in addition to stopping the pressure exerted on the 
media. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The government and security forces largely ignored the 
gathering, and the meeting proceeded peacefully.  The kurultai 
offered few surprises, and opposition leaders have voiced these and 
similar demands previously.  Kurultai organizers understand that the 
government is not likely to meet their demands, but it remains to be 
seen whether they can follow through with their threats of later 
public disobedience and demonstrations. 
 
YOVANOVITCH