Urgent message
An attempt upon life of a journalist

On 3 of November 2000 about 20:00 in Bishkek a journalist of the "Eurasia Internews" information and analytical center Leonid Rempel was unmercifully beaten upon his coming back home. According to Mr. Rempel the attempt upon his life was made as a reaction to his professional activity, which was to promptly inform on all cases of arrests and violations of rights of voters’ and opposition candidates for parliament and presidency. He claims that the attempt upon his life was arranged by special services of Kyrgyzstan. Similar attempt was previously made upon life of Lira Baiseitova – editor-in-chief of "Respublica 2000" newspaper (Kazakstan) on the next day after she had published her article on violation of the Kyrgyz constitution by President Akaev of Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Rempel is seriously concerned about his safety in the context of what happens in Kyrgyzstan and his accomplishment of activities in Kyrgyzstan he believes to be unsafe. As a matter of fact previously journalists in Kyrgyzstan were put legal, tax and financial means of pressure upon. Nowadays particularly since the recent presidential election they have been more often exposed to physical harassment and attempts are commonly made upon their lives. For instance shortly after the presidential election editor-in-chief of "Ordo" newspaper Beken Nazaraliev was beaten and arrested but later was released after interference of members of Parliament into the matter.

Human Rights activists are threatened
Today in he morning we received a call from a coordinator of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights for the Issyk Kul Region Mr. Tynaliev who informed that he on 3 of November 2000 handed over some materials (relative to violation of human rights on the day of presidential election on 29.10.00 in Issyk-Kul Region) through an acquaintance of his, who was arrested on his way to Balykchy town (Issyk Kul Region) got searched and deprived of all the documents given by Mr. Tynaliev. He was also given an illegal interrogation that went along threats and was required to testify against Mr. Tynaliev.

Coalition of Non-Commercial Associations (NCA) headed by Mrs. Umetalieva was created with direct involvement of Mr. Ibraimov – Assistant to the President. This coalition was employed before the campaign, on the day of election and afterwards as a tool to discredit independent journalists, opposition related observers and independent NGOs. For instance as instructed by Kyrgyz authorities a coordinator of NCA for Jalal-Abad Region Gulnara Mamatbekova claimed that Beken Nazaraliev (editor-in-chief of "Ordo" newspaper) assaulted and insulted her, which actually never happened. Similar actions are undertaken relative to A. Korgoldoev a KCHR coordinator for the Jalal-Abad Region with the same NCA employed. Authorities intend to fabricate a criminal case against him and initiate fabricated criminal cases against activists of the Coalition of NGOs for Democracy and Civil Society including the head of this organization Mrs. T. Ismailova. Hence the Government of Kyrgyzstan is not satisfied with what it has achieved so far i.e. it ensured a false victory for the existing president Akaev of Kyrgyzstan. It wants to continue the persecution of independent mass media, NGOs and the opposition.

In addition to that I. Yu. Kamarda, who is my lawyer, reported the other day that she had finally succeeded in having a meeting with the investigation officer Mr. Kojonaliev who is involved in the investigation of my criminal case and asked him how he had proceeded with the case. The officer said that irrespective of the statement made by Prosecutor General that the criminal persecution against Mr. Dyryldaev was not carried on, he did not get any instructions to suspend the case. He said that Mr. Dyryldaev would be instituted criminal proceedings against as there had been no instructions to stop the case.

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Posted November 7, 2000 © Eurasianet
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