17.03.2005
President Akayev’s address raised discontent among people.

Bishkek. March 16. President’s address to the people about the results of
parliamentarian elections raised negative reaction among opposition. In his
yesterday address President Askar Akayev stated that those politicians who have
lost elections have taken off their masks of the democrats and are trying to
raise a civil war in the country, by organizing illegal actions of protest and
blocking the road, capture of state buildings.

As it was commented by the leader of the People’s movement of Kyrgyzstan
Kurmanbek Bakiev, this position of the President means that he doesn’t know
what is happening in the country, he doesn’t have the real information about
the situation in the country or he is pretending as if he doesn’t know.

On the other hand there is no real information, all independent mass media don’t
work, this was done in order to deprive people of the objective information
about the situation in the republic. Majority of people in regions are
demanding Akayev’s resignation.

Chairman of the political block “Atajurt” Roza Otunbaeva also commented on
President’s address. She called the President of the country to be concrete
when he states such serious accusations against representatives of the
opposition, she also added, that the majority of those who are going against
him today, yesterday were on his side.

Opposition leaders are not initiators of mass protests, especially in those
regions where elections to the parliament had multiple violations, they are
simply coordinating these actions of protest in order not to let the conflict
occur, the leader of the party “ERK” stated. According to him, if authorities
of Kyrgyzstan will allow to use force against demonstrates this can lead to
unexpected results and the responsibility will be on the authority for this
results.

US stated its position regarding parliamentarian elections in Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek. March 16. Multiple actions of protest in Osh, Jalal-Abad, Naryn,
Talan, Issyk-kul and in other places have become a reaction to the intervention
of authorities into the election process in Kyrgyzstan. Such statement was
stated during the press-conference in the informational agency “AkiPress» by
the ambassador of US in Kyrgyzstan Steven Yang.
According to US ambassador Steven Yang, there is a big cave between the
government and the opposition, they can’t and don’t want to listen to each
other, they are showing that they are not ready to go along in order to build
democratic government together.

Steven Yang also stated that “people who participated in the actions of
protests, were doing everything according to the law on peaceful meetings”.

According to him it is pity that some candidates from the very beginning of the
election campaign didn’t’ have equal opportunities to conduct agitation. Some
candidates weren’t able to participate in elections due to the court decisions,
many of which are still doubtful.

Also during the press-conference it was pointed out that government bodies have
intervened into the election process, when they put forward their candidates.

All these negative tendencies, Steven Yang thinks have hurt the image of
Kyrgyzstan as of a country which was leading in the democracy development
process in Central Asian region.

“We hope to continue our friendly relationships with the government and the
president of Kyrgyzstan in projects which have been already realized in this
country and in those which are being undertaken now”, - Steven Yang said,
commenting on further cooperation with representatives of the government.
However, he pointed out that it is necessary for the government to conduct an
independent and fair investigation of violation of international standards and
the Constitution of KR during the process.

Steven Yang called President’s Press-Secretary Abdil Segizbaev a well-known
joker.

During the press-conference in informational agency “AkiPress” US ambassador
Steven Yang made two harsh statements regarding the political leadership of
Kyrgyzstan. Steven Yang stated that it is not true that the US turned to the
leadership of Kyrgyzstan with request to allow to bring more jets to the
territory of Kyrgyzstan, he stated that this was a lie proposed by the MFA of
Kyrgyzstan.

Ambassador Steven Yang named the following statement made by the press-secretary
of Kyrgyzstan Abdil Segizbaev “the opposition is forcing the president to
conduct one more referendum in order to strengthen his power” as a joke. He
pointed out that A. Segizbaev is a well known joker and that is why he made
this statement about the possible referendum. Steven Yang reminded about the
promises made by President Akayev, that in October 2005 he will leave the post
and he stated that he respects this choice.

Seizures throughout the republic. Chronicle of events. March 16.

The building of Kochkor rayon administration was captured by the demonstrates.
Naryn – Several minutes ago it was found out that after several attempts of
demonstrates to capture the building of Kochkor rayon administration in
Kochkorka village they were able to capture the building.
Let us remind that there are about 3 thousand people in Kochkorka who have
organized the action of protest against the decision of the Pervomaiskyi rayon
court regarding the case of Turdakun Usubaliev.
Demonstrates state that elections are not fair and they don’t’ understand if
they all on February 27 voted “against all” why authorities are forcing them to
vote again.

In Osh, Karakuldgy demonstrates marched in front of the building of oblast
administration.

Osh – in Osh a row of demonstrates from Karakuldgy rayon Osh oblast in the
amount of 200 people marched in front of the building of oblast state
administration on Lenina street. Protestors were shouting anti-governmental
slogans and were carrying posters with demands for President’s resignation.

Representatives of law enforcement bodies were observing the order and didn’t
try to disperse the protestors.

During the capture of Bazarkorgoon rayon administration, akim and his deputy
were taken as hostages.

Jalalabad – as it was found out during the capture of the building of
Bazarkorgoon rayon administration, akim of the rayon Mamarasul Toroev and his
deputy Avasbek Palvanov were taken as hostages. Later A. Palvanov had problems
with his heart and he was taken to the hospital.

According to received information there are 150-200 people protesting.
At 6:20pm with the help of law enforcement bodies akim Mamarasul Toroev was
freed.

In Moskovskyi rayon the actions of protest have been continuing for three days.

Bishkek – for three days in Belovodskyi (Moskovskyi rayon of Chui oblast) the
pickets have been continuing. Around 100 people with posters “No to
corruption, no to poverty”, “The White house – is the house of lie”, “We demand
President’s resignation!” are standing on both sides of the road Bishkek-Osh.

Picketers formed a committee called “People’s union”, Saparbek Argymbaev was
elected as a chairman of this committee. According to picketers, elections to
Jogorku Kenesh were unfair and they are demanding President’s resignation.
According to them they are not representing the interests of any leader or any
political party, they are protecting their rights to normal lie, health and
work.

According to picketers, pickets were peaceful until March 14 when members of law
enforcement bodies intervened. Militiamen are arresting picketers, taking their
passports and taking them to the Rayon Department of Internal Affairs. What
happened to those who were arrested is still not known.

Akim of Moskovskyi rayon Moldobek Ashiraliev refused to meeting with
journalists, he said he is too busy. Also the deputy of the head of
administration Turusbek Sultanaliev also refused to comment on the situation.