Kyrgyzstan Not Vulnerable to Counter-Revolution – Democracy Activist

Despite recent governmental turmoil in Kyrgyzstan, a prominent democracy activist insists that the Central Asian nation is not vulnerable to a counter-revolution.

Squabbling between the executive and legislative branches of Kyrgyzstan's government has intensified since the start of February. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on February 3 accused MPs of obstructionism, saying the legislature had developed into a "place of squabbling, tension and instability." Parliament Speaker Omurbek Tekebayev responded with a verbal tirade against the president, reportedly suggesting that Bakiyev kill himself. On February 10, Tekebayev indicated that he would resign over his "emotional" comments, but parliament declined to consider the matter. The speaker then formally submitted his resignation on February 13, and parliament agreed to consider the matter on February 20.

Topchubek Turgunaliev, head of the Bishkek-based Democratic Congress of Central Asia, said Kyrgyzstan's revolution, which began with the ouster of former President Askar Akayev last March, remains on relatively solid ground despite the political in-fighting. The government's inability to implement much in the way of a reform agenda does not mean that the revolution is susceptible to a reaction on the part of the old regime, he insisted. "I do not see a mobilization of [counter revolutionary] forces," Turgunaliev said at a seminar in New York on February 10, sponsored by the International League for Human Rights.

"There has been a lot of talk these days that a coup could happen in connection with the revolution's anniversary [March 23]," Turgunaliev said. "With these rumors, they [anti-government elements] are escalating [tension]. ... This is wishful thinking."

Turgunaliev described the current parliament as a bastion of pro-Akayev sentiment, and suggested that Kyrgyzstan is unlikely to find political stability until new legislative elections are held. "Parliament has been the most powerful counter-revolutionary force," he said. Turgunaliev, who described Tekebayev's comments concerning the president as "outrageous," noted that he was pressing ahead with a petition drive to force new parliamentary elections. He emphasized that the parliamentary election results of 2005 were tainted by Akayev's manipulation, and thus the mandates of incumbent MPs should not be considered valid.

Overcoming the muddle that is now bogging down the government will also require an overhaul of the constitution, especially the provisions dealing with the separation of governmental powers, Turgunaliev said. "We failed to reform the political system," he said when reflecting upon the post-Akayev period. "We should have done this in the first few weeks of the revolution."

Turgunaliev also downplayed concern over the introduction of government rules in late January that tightens oversight of non-governmental organization activity in the country. Critics worry that the government's intention is to restrict the NGO sector. "If Bakiyev wanted to he would have gotten rid of them [NGOs] already," Turgunaliev said.