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Former Kyrgyz President's Supporters Take Over Government Buildings In South

13.05.2010 15:25

By RFE/RL

The situation in Kyrgyzstan has turned volatile once again, after supporters of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev staged protests and occupied provincial government buildings in all three southern provinces -- Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh.

The developments came a month after Bakiev was toppled and the new interim government was formed in Bishkek in the wake of bloody antigovernment protests.

In the biggest of the protests, RFE/RL correspondent Rysbai Abdraimov in Jalal-Abad said several thousand people gathered this afternoon in front of the provincial government headquarters in the city, chanting pro-Bakiev slogans.

Abdraimov said they chanted slogans like "Kyrgyz people are with Bakiev," "We consider only Bakiev the legitimate president," and "The end of an era for the interim government." He said they "surrounded Governor Bektur Asanov for a while but then let him go, and he left in his car."

Our correspondent said about 50 of the protesters, mostly women, then forced their way into the local government building.

He said police refrained from getting involved and none of the protesters appeared to be carrying any type of weapon.

A crowd of Bakiev supporters also surrounded the local government building in Batken, demanding the dismissal of the new governor, Karamat Orozov.

Dozens of the protesters then entered the building and called for the former governor, a Bakiev loyalist, to be returned to his post. Orozov's whereabouts remain unclear.

Unconfirmed reports also say opponents of the interim government have taken over the airport in another southern city, Osh.

Osh Protests

Earlier today, some 300 protesters gathered in front of the local government headquarters in Osh, demanding Bakiev's return. After a scuffle with guards, protesters entered the building, forcing the provincial governor to flee.

RFE/RL correspondents at the scene say Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who was appointed Osh provincial governor by Kyrgyzstan's interim government last month, left the building surrounded by his guards.

Our correspondents say former Osh Governor Mamasadyk Bakirov and his deputy then entered their "offices."

Later, both Bakirov and Jeenbekov addressed the crowd outside the government building, where supporters of the interim government also gathered.

Bakirov called for the restoration of legality and the return of Bakiev. Jeenbekov called for calm and promised that the interim government would meet people's social demands and carry out reforms.

Kursant Asanov, the head of the Osh city police, told RFE/RL that police were maintaining order in the city.

"First, we will protect the public order, secondly, we will not allow any provocation for ethnic tensions, etc.

Asanov said the police would safeguard public order and prevent any outbreak of ethnic tensions. He also said that the police force was "out of politics," and urged city residents to avoid "provocations."

The south, Bakiev's native region, is where support for the ousted president has been strongest.

Bakiev's 'Revenge'

As yet there is no official reaction by the interim government to developments in Jalal-Abad and Batken.

However, earlier today, in the wake of the Osh demonstration, interim leaders said they would take measures to restore authority in the southern city. They also sent interim Defense Minister Ismail Isakov to Osh.

Roza Otunbaeva, the head of the interim government, said it would not allow the ousted government to try to "take revenge."

Interim government deputy leader Azimbek Beknazarov, too, described the latest developments in Osh as an intensified attempt by "counterrevolutionary forces" to take revenge.

Beknazarov said there were indications that opponents of the interim government had been joining forces. He told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that any such attempt was doomed because the interim cabinet enjoyed support among the people.

Separately, Omurbek Tekebaev, another Otunbaeva deputy, told Reuters that opponents of the interim government had been plotting a coup.

On May 12, "they planned to storm the parliament" where the interim government resides and "declare a new government," Tekebaev told the news agency.

Bakiev is now based in Belarus on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's invitation.

AFP quoted a spokeswoman for Bakiev as saying the former president and his relatives were not involved in the events in Osh.

The interim authorities have asked Belarus to extradite Bakiev to stand trial in Bishkek in connection with the deaths of protesters and for abuse of office. Some 85 people were killed during the April uprising.

Kyrgyz local media reported today that relatives of the victims staged demonstrations in front of the Belarus Embassy in Bishkek demanding Minsk hand over Bakiev to Kyrgyz authorities.

written by Farangis Najibullah based on RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service material and agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Bakiev_Supporters_Take_Over_Government_Building_In_Osh/2040630.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.