Parliamentary Election Campaign Kicks Off

A Report Preapared by the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights

A preelections campaign to Kyrgyz Parliament has been launched with the Decree of President Akaev of 13 November, 1999 which set the elections for February 20, 2000. The Decree was signed on November 13, but appeared in media only on November 20 on the pages of governmental "Kyrgyz Tuusu" and "Erkin-Too" . There were talks on the dates of elections, but most of the public officials were awaiting the Decree. That was also a trick of powers, since on the spots they already long before began preparations to the elections, to identify candidates suitable for the current powers.

The similar situation was with the recent elections to self-administrations held on October 17, 1999 when authorities already nominated their candidates and only after that, 2 weeks later they announced in media on elections and the opposition failed to nominate their candidates to be included as members of election commissions who organize and run elections, account votes and make protocols. Thus 90% of those who won the elections were the people whom the current powers are interested in , including the criminals. According to "Delo No" weekly (with reference to ITAR-TASS) in its issue of Nov.17,1999 published that out of 1200 deputies every 5th elected are the persons with criminal past. The delayed publication of the Decree of resident also aimed to benefit certain interested persons.

In this connection it is worth emphasizing that President Akaev in his statement during the OSCE Summit in Istanbul, November 18, officially declared his invitation of international observers from OSCE and other international organizations. Now the OSCE officially can participate as observer and evaluate the course of elections. People of Kyrgyzstan generally, including the political parties do centre their hopes on international observers since they do not trust that any fare elections are possible in Kyrgyzstan, they even do not believe in that the results of elections would depend on their participation.

Parliamentary and presidential elections in 2000 will run in accordance with the new Elections Code (adopted in spring 1999). The new Elections Code was produced for the money allotted by UNDP and elections to self-administration passed on October 17, 1999 showed many of the shortcomings. The most important is that according to the law authorities are not eligible to be included into election commissions, but in fact in every commission they were predominant.

According to the new Elections Code in future parliamentary elections for the first time ever 15 seats will be given to political parties. In view of that when opposition parties started to meet with people, their meetings were strictly suppressed with forbidding of such meetings through local authorities. It happened in Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions with the leaders of opposition El Party, some of them were tried for having a meeting with the population. Moreover, they were ejected with the officers of local administrations, militia (police) , prosecution offices, etc.

The similar developments took place on November 10 in Jalal-Abad region. Mr.Dooronbek Sadyrbaev (MP, Legislative Assembly of Kyrgyz Parliament), leader of "Kairan El" Party wanted to report on his activities as a parliamentarian before the electorates of which he informed President's Administration, and local Governor 15 days in advance. When he arrived in Kambar-Ata a club (building where a meeting was supposed to) was closed. All the advertisements on the meeting were torn off. K.Ismanov, Director General of "Kyrgyzneft" (oil refinery) banned opening the doors of the club and warned that for those participating in that peaceful meeting would be fired. Lots of people (reportedly over 500) who came to gathering stood outside. And in Sheidan village people in civil dress were soliciting the local inhabitants with threats to testify that Sadyrbaev was preparing a coup.

Many other obstacles to hold peaceful meetings increased. Kuvanychbek Sadyrbaev - brother of Dooronbek Sadyrbaev who was heading aiyl okmotu (or village administration) of Burgondu, was fired.

Thus, forthcoming elections are promised to be very tough , the current powers are determined to prevent the opposition from the future parliament or at least to minimize their quota to a maximum through exerting of a pressure, firm machination, and falsification. Such a campaign already took place recently when all the judges had to go in for an attestation and they combed out from more or less honest judges abiding the laws. Reportedly, those judges who passed the attestation paid big money and they have what to loose. In addition, the attestation was run in accordance with the Provision on attestation of judges approved by President three years ago, though Kyrgyz Parliament already in summer this year passed the law on the status of judges. But the President delayed signing of this law in order the attestation to pass in accordance with the above mentioned Provision. Again, all this is related to the forthcoming elections.

 

Ramazan Dyryldaev

Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights
Ivanitsin Str, 123 apt 87
Bishkek, 720011, Kyrgyzstan
Fax: 996 (312) 662515; 660211
Ph: 996 (312) 662515