07.02.2005
Forum that took place in Osh and was oppressed.

On February 5, a civil forum "The crisis of Democracy in Kyrgyzstan and its causes" took place in Osh. During the forum, an assessment of the political situation in the country and the conduction of free and fair elections were discussed. The attempts of canceling this meeting in Osh were done by the orders of the executive branch.

Some political parties, nongovernmental organizations in Osh, Jalal abad oblasts and regions, citizens and well-known politicians from Bishkek participated the civil forum.

The forum was supposed to take place in Osh oblast library building, but it did not take place there. The organizers of the forum negotiated with the library administration to conduct the forum there three days prior to the date and have paid for service. However, on February 5, the library administration refused later and locked the doors of the conference hall. This was an order of Osh administration and the National security services (KGB).
Since it was cold outside the participants of the forum went into the library, put a table on the second floor and started the meeting. Soon an unknown woman shouted and made mass on the table.

The woman started beating Alisher Toksonbaev in front of the public, who is one of the organizers and a leader of the nongovernmental organization "Development of mass media and protection of journalists' rights". She appeared to be Baktygul Myrzabaeva, a director of the Osh oblast library.

Baktygul Myrzabaeva explained her action stating that the under the oppression from Osh administration and NSS, she is being fired from her work position for letting the organizers of the forum to conduct it in the library:

- Because of you I am being fired from my work. Who will feed my hungry children? Go away from here, she shouted.

The participants of the forum were forced to leave the library. Necessary to note that several law enforcement body staff followed the participants of the forum. About 50 people took part in the forum. They went to the Suzak cafй in Osh, but there also they were refused to enter under the order of Osh administration and NSS. Then they went to a cafй "Ak jol" in Osh city. There they started the forum.
Tolokan Ismailova, a leader of the nongovernmental organization "Civil society against corruption" opened the meeting. Roza Otunbaeva, leader of the "Ata jurt" movement gave a speech and talked about her visit to Ozgon, Nooken and Bazarkorgon regions and about the political situation on the eve of parliamentary elections.

Roza Otunbaeva stated that president Askar Akayev is promoting his daughter, son, relatives to the future parliament and is willing to change the Constitution of the country:

- Actually, Akayev started his presidential campaigns. What kind of people he is recruiting for the parliament? He is recruiting all his relatives and close people. If they come to the parliament, in summer the constitution will be changed in a necessary way and Akayev will come to the power from another door.

Kadyr Koshaliev, a journalist assessed the oppression of the forum participants by the administration as following:
- This contradicts the legislature and even the moral of Kyrgyz people. This is the sign that, as it has been mentioned here, the power is sinking as it goes further.

Samidin Aitykulov, chair of the Karasyy regional affiliate of the "Kyrgyzstan people's movement" said the crisis of democracy is a result of administration's fear from people. There is a necessity to explain the present political crisis to the population.

Then, participants stated that Osh people do not support Askar Akayev and collecting signatures for the support of the president was done under the order of representatives from the administration.

By that time, the managers of the cafй demanded the forum participants to leave the place, because the NSS representatives came and threatened the owners of the cafй. After leaving the cafй "Ak jol" Roza Otunbaeva, Topchubek Turgunaliev, and organizer of the forum Tolokan Ismailova, leader of the nongovernmental organization "Civil society against corruption" made a informational meeting with the journalists and explained the way how the forum was stopped.

Bakyt Amanbaev, Osh