EURASIA INSIGHT
3/09/05
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Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan faced criticism on several fronts, as parliamentary-election-related protests continued to unsettle the southern and eastern sections of the country. Meanwhile, in neighboring Tajikistan, opposition initiatives to challenge that nation’s recent legislative election results appeared to be losing steam.
On March 9, anti-government protests took place in the southern Kyrgyz cities of Jalal-Abad and Uzgen. In both locations, opposition supporters continued to occupy government offices. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The same day, a demonstration involving several hundred people occurred in the Osh -- southern Kyrgyzstan’s main population center – featuring calls for President Askar Akayev’s resignation and the conduct of free-and-fair parliamentary run-off elections on March 13. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
In eastern Naryn Province, opposition supporters are maintaining a blockade of a highway connecting the capital Bishkek to China. However, protesters were reportedly unsuccessful in their attempt to occupy the regional administration’s offices on March 9.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which criticized the Kyrgyz government’s behavior during the campaign leading up to the first round of parliamentary voting on February 27, expressed disapproval on March 8 of the opposition’s protests methods. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In a written statement, OSCE Ambassador Markus Muller, acknowledged the opposition’s right to protest the first-round results, but he emphasized that "election shortcomings may not be a reason for occupying government buildings and blocking roads."
Opposition leaders also were rebuked by the chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission, Sulaiman Imanbayev. On March 7, opposition leaders called for early presidential elections and the extension of the sitting parliament’s mandate for one year. They additionally revealed that they sought to convene a special session of the current parliament, aiming to get the second-round of voting postponed. Imanbayev insisted on March 9 that there was no legal basis for any of the actions advocated by opposition leaders. He went on to describe the opposition’s position as "incorrect," and called on Kyrgyz citizens to disregard it, the official Kabar news agency reported.
In Osh, Mayor Satyvaldy Chyrmashev hinted during a news conference that local officials were losing patience with the protesters, describing the recent protest as unlawful and warning that authorities were willing to take "all necessary" measures to maintain public order in the city, the AKIpress news agency reported.
Political conditions in Tajikistan, which also held parliamentary elections on February 27, are markedly different from those in Kyrgyzstan. While Tajik opposition leaders, like their Kyrgyz counterparts, complained bitterly about voting irregularities, efforts to protest the results in Tajikistan have fallen flat. In the days immediately following the vote – which according to OSCE monitors featured ballot-stuffing and other improprieties – leaders of the main opposition political parties spoke of organizing public protests and a parliamentary boycott. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Tajiks greeted the protest trial balloon with a decided lack of interest. Given that the country is still recovering from the effects of the 1992-97 civil war, an overwhelming majority appear anxious to avoid any type of disturbance that could provoke internecine violence. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Concerning the possible parliamentary boycott, a key member of the opposition coalition – the Communist Party -- appears to be having second thoughts. Iranian radio quoted party leader Shodi Shabdolov on March 4 as saying the party’s three MPs were "obliged to participate" in legislative sessions.
Because only one other opposition party – the Islamic Renaissance Party – gained representation in the new parliament, (winning two seats) the failure of the Communists to participate in a boycott would render such a protest effectively meaningless. President Imomali Rahmonov’s People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan will have a solid majority when the new parliament is scheduled to convene on March 17.
Rahmonov’s administration has also taken action to defuse opposition anger. On March 4, the Tajik Central Election Commission announced that it would review election complaints filed by opposition parties before the new parliamentary session meets. Officials had initially seemed reluctant to address the complaints. CEC head Muhibullo Dodojonov appeared to reject many of the opposition complaints out of hand, telling the Avesta news agency that the documentation submitted by opposition parties was vague and "did not define where, and by whom, these [election] violations were committed."
Posted March 9, 2005 © Eurasianet
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