email alert from "the company"

we received this email notice today at work. nablus is looking pretty good at this point! as mentioned before... jen, baby conover and myself will be returning from india the day after the scheduled protest. if things reach the level that they did in 2005 or 2007 (meaning if things get violent and last for several days) we will hole up in almaty, kazakhstan (where we fly into from delhi) for a couple of days. qsi (the organziation we work for) has a school in almaty and we will just crash with folks there. life here is so benign and peaceful that i have a hard time imagining anything violent happening...

Kyrgyzstan: Opposition calls for nationwide anti-government protests from 27 March Six opposition parties have announced plans to participate in an anti-government rally on 27 March in the capital Bishkek, and similar demonstrations are probable in other cities around the country. . The protests have been called to press for the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the death of the former presidential chief of staff Medet Sadyrkulov. Comment and Analysis The opposition call for protests is likely to receive widespread support due to growing discontent with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's government. Simultaneous counter-protests by government supporters are possible and there is a credible risk of clashes between rival political activists or between the police and protesters. Although foreigners are unlikely to be targeted by angry demonstrators , potential skirmishes pose incidental risks of exposure to violence for bystanders. Travel delays in and around the urban area should be anticipated because of increased security measures and associated traffic disruption during the events. Mass protests in early 2005 culminated in the removal of long-standing former president Askar Akayev in March of that year, after which Bakiev was elected to the power. Violent anti-government demonstrations in April 2007 lasted for nine days in Bishkek; about 34 protestors were arrested while 15 people were injured in the unrest. The opposition movement in the country, which is usually splintered, gathered momentum last week after a government critic was arrested for his alleged involvement in a murder in 2007, a charge the opposition claims is politically motivated. Moreover , discontent over the country's economic downturn is becoming increasingly widespread, and the government has recently faced accusations of political intimidation. Travel Advice Personnel should avoid all protests and public gatherings gatherings as a routine precaution in order to mitigate the risk of incidental exposure to violence. Monitor the local media for specific information on the locations and timings of upcoming demonstrations. Plan overland routes through the city that avoid the vicinity of protests wherever possible and allow extra time to complete journeys on days when demonstrations are being held.