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Paris,
5 September 2002
The FIDH
is deeply concerned by the current repression of peaceful demonstrations
in the region of Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan.
On 4 September, a march was organized by several hundred people
from Jalal-Abad to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to ask
for the identification and sanctioning of the persons responsible
for the killings committed on 17 March 2002, when 6 people were
killed and 40 seriously injured in the village of Asky, during
a demonstration to protest against the arrest and detention
of Parliamentarian Beknazarov.
According to the information received, more than 100 people
were beaten yesterday, most of whom have been severely injured.
Five co-ordinators of the march were arrested, in violation
of the Kyrgyz Constitution that provides for the right to peaceful
demonstration: Meder Usenov, Kanat Baijumaev, Mambetaly Kubatov,
Daniar Asanov and Semetei Karabekov.
On 5 September, about 700 police officers from different provinces
gathered in the town of Tash-Kumyr, where approximately 450
people gathered to join the march.
This march takes place in the context of political tension in
Kyrgyzstan, especially exacerbated by the March killings in
Asky. Many demonstrations of hundreds of people, which took
place in the weeks following the Asky events were repressed.
Opposition leaders, members of Parliament and human rights defenders
have been under increased surveillance by Police and intelligence
officers.
The demonstrators ask Askar Akaev, the President of the Republic,
not to ratify the amnesty law voted by the Parliament last June.
This law permits both for those responsible for the killings
and for the demonstrators, which violates the Constitution and
the international human rights instruments that guarantee the
right to peaceful demonstration.
The FIDH calls the Kyrgyz government to immediately release
the five persons arbitrarily detained; to identify, sue and
sanction those responsible for the Asky killings, as soon as
possible; to put an end to any kind of violence against peaceful
demonstrators; to put an end to any kind of pressure against
political opponents and human rights defenders; to conform with
the provisions of international human rights instruments ratified
by Kyrgyzstan.
The FIDH calls the international community to put pressure on
the Kyrgyz government in this regard, in particular the American
authorities, given the fact that President Akaev will visit
the United States on 23 September 2002.
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