Update Kyrgyz protests

UPDATE 05:29 p.m. London time

I talked to a friend of mine from Bishkek at 4 o'clock p.m. Here are the most important facts from our conversation (as posted on Registan.net before):

• Protests are currently happening in Osh, Jalalabad, Batken, Talas, and Toktogul.
• Tensions are rising in Balykchy (east end of Lake Issyk Kul) and Naryn. The source believes protests will erupt in both
• A state secretary has called for a rally for stability in the capital tomorrow at 2 p.m. The opposition will likely organize its own rally.
• Though information is still somewhat sketchy, it appears that two police officers were in fact killed in Jalalabad
• 3-4 KelKel activists have been arrested
• It is the opinion of the source that the opposition is united, ready to take over, and that Akayev will have to resign.

Also, my friend said, that the reason for Akayev's absence are explained by technical faults. A Russian news show on television has reported that all cameras seem to have mysteriously broken down, hence no President's address.

The United Nations in Kyrgyzstan have made a statement:

United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic Calls for Return to Kyrgyz Tradition of Resolving Conflicts Peacefully

The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic expresses its deep concern at recent events in the country following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Recent events are moving the country into a climate of uncertainty as a response to the outcome of the elections. The only way to address this division is through political dialogue and non-violent means.

The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic calls on all parties to apply the utmost restraint and avoid any escalation of the situation. Kyrgyzstan is rightly proud of its tradition of resolving conflicts peacefully and all sides should respect the principles of human rights and refrain from using force in order to avoid any threat to life.

All sides should resume a political dialogue as the only viable means to overcome dispute and conflict. The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic welcomes the recent offer of the President to begin a dialogue, and the positive response of the Opposition. The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic is ready to provide a platform for any such negotiations.

The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic supports the recent statement of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

Nathan has posted his newsbytes. Lots of interesting stuff, including Russia's reaction to the protests. He will update the post continuously, so I'll take a break.

More in the extended entry.

Earlier speculations about casualties should be treated with caution. No one can verify any such claims:

Reports that four Jalal-Abad policemen were beaten to death could not be independently confirmed. The government has denied that any violence took place.

The RFE/RL story sums up the situation in the South.

Meanwhile, President Akayev finally reacted:

President Askar Akayev on Monday ordered the Central Election Commission and Supreme Court to investigate alleged violations in the recent parliamentary vote that have triggered weeks of opposition protests in Kyrgyzstan, his office said.

Akayev ordered the commission and court "to pay particular attention to those districts where election results provoked extreme public reaction ... and tell people openly who is right and who is wrong,'' his office said.

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Reuters (via CNN) provides the material for journalists not to mix up events in Kyrgyzstan with those in the Ukraine and in Georgia.

Protest pictures from various sources: here, here, here, and here.

On Monday, the situation has somewhat calmed down, even though protests go on, and opposition leader Bakiev still describes conditions in Jalalabad as being explosive.

"The situation is changing rapidly and gradually, and people are becoming uncontrollable. It is alarming," the leader of the opposition said at a press conference in the Kyrgyz capital. (...) "It all depends on President Akayev's decision. If the authorities stop using force, it will be possible to calm the people," said Bakiyev.

Meanwhile, the opposition remains undecided whether to start talks with the government:

Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the Ata-Jurt Movement, one of the main opposition groups, and a former foreign minister, ruled out any talks with Akayev. "We have one aim only: to oust this government,'' he said.

It should of course read 'she said'... However, differing thoughts come again from Bakiev:

But another opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, said talks would be possible if Akayev attends them.

Government spokesman Abdil Seghizbayev urges that someone would take control of the crowd in Jalalabad.

"Neither authorities nor opposition leaders can control the crowd right now," he said. "If an [opposition] leader emerges who can control the protesters, the government will be ready to talk to him."

It is becoming more obvious that protests in Jalalabad are not part of a country-wide opposition movement, but are rather stand-alone events. The scale at which protests take place is unprecedented, 15,000 people protesters in a city of ca. 100,000. In Osh meanwhile, there are only 2,000 people protesting. Osh has 300,000 inhabitants.

I find Otunbaeva's words not very helpful; people have to return to the negotiation table and find a solution to what is happening in Jalalabad. Yesterday's casualties* underline this urgency. The peaceful movement against the rigged elections - dubbed 'pink' revolution by some observers - is in the danger of becoming something ever more red.

*Update: To reiterate, there is no clear evidence that people got killed.

Posted by Ben at March 21, 2005 12:28 PM