long time no see

it is revolting how crazy the month of april has been - i can't believe that there are only a couple of days left in the month.  so much has happened.  the revolution and unrest that followed.  our weekend as refugees in almaty.  school starting back up.  school being closed and americans evacuated again.  school starting back up another time.  my taking up running (to better prepare myself to dodge bullets) and playing tennis in the mornings each day before school.  olive's 8th month birthday and rapid development into a toddler.  jen and i learning how to be better parents and partners.  the city slowly returning to normal.  the school year rapidly coming to a close.

so much yet i feel like i am missing half of what has been going on.

blogger has been blocked more than it has been unblocked for us.  hopefully the new government will remove those restrictions.  while it is up today (keeping in mind i am suppose to be teaching my kids in class) i am going to try to go back and postdate some posts.  much of it will be articles about the revolution and it's aftermath.  i want to save them thought so we can remember what our first (and hopefully last) revolution was like.  i will also try to post some olive photos from our recent sunday picnic in the mountains and from around town.  she is so, so lovely (just like her mother).

thanks for sticking with us...

tuesday

we are back in bishkek.  lots to catch up on with the blog.  but just found this article on nytimes and felt like i should post it.  more life updates to follow.  but this is good news!

April 13, 2010

Kyrgyz Leader Says He Is Willing to Step Down

By ANDREW E. KRAMER and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The ousted president of Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday that he would formally step down if the interim government that took power guaranteed safety for him and his family, according to news reports.

The declaration from the fugitive president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, came as the provisional government stripped Mr. Bakiyev of his immunity and gave him until the end of the day Tuesday to surrender.

Mr. Bakiyev, a leader once close to the United States, fled a bloody riot in the capital last week to take refuge in his ancestral homeland in the south of the country. He told reporters there Tuesday that, "I will go into retirement if security is guaranteed for me and my relatives," according to news reports. Mr. Bakiyev, who has been holed up in his family's home in Teyit, had remained defiant, predicting bloodshed should the provisional government attempt to arrest him. On Tuesday, he led a rally of several thousand people in Jalalabad, a city close to his family's compound.

In another rally on Monday near his home, Mr. Bakiyev appeared to taunt Kyrgyzstan's new leaders to try to arrest him.

"Let them try to come and take me," he told journalists after the Monday rally. "Let them try to destroy me. There will be blood."

The fate of Mr. Bakiyev — openly defiant but apparently powerless — has been a source of tension around the country since he fled the capital last week after riot police officers opened fire on antigovernment demonstrators, provoking a violent backlash. In the last few days, he has been receiving journalists from his refuge at his compound in the southern mountains.

"Of course we would like him to run someplace, anyplace, " but no country has offered asylum, said Almazbek Atambayev, deputy head of the interim government.

The new leaders had at first insisted the police would honor the president's immunity from prosecution under the Kyrgyz Constitution, as he has not formally resigned his post. Roza Otunbayeva, the leader of the interim government, suggested Mr. Bakiyev should face an international tribunal, and she raised the prospect in a meeting Saturday with a United Nations special envoy.

On Monday, the United States Embassy in Bishkek issued a statement, saying, "The U.S. Embassy has no plans to shelter Mr. Bakiyev or help him leave Kyrgyzstan."

The embassy also said that the United States ambassador, Tatiana C. Gfoeller, met Monday with Ms. Otunbayeva to express condolences over the deaths last week.

At the rally near his home, Mr. Bakiyev repeated that he had no intention of surrendering. Still, he said, he was open to negotiations with the interim government and renewed his call for an international commission to come to Kyrgyzstan to investigate last week's unrest.

In a speech that evoked cheers from a crowd of mostly male supporters, Mr. Bakiyev continued to blame his opponents for the violence in Bishkek, which left more than 80 people dead and recalled the largely peaceful coup in 2005 that ushered him into power.

"That which happened in Bishkek was barbaric," he told the crowd. "If I was guilty of this, I would have run away like the last president."

His supporters held blue and red signs saying "Keep your hands off the legitimate president" and "Youth for the legitimate president." They accused the opposition of illegally usurping Mr. Bakiyev's authority and vowed to defend him should any effort be made to arrest him.

"We will never hand over the president," said Pirimrul Sabirhanov, 40, a local businessman, calling the leaders of the interim government "usurpers" and "criminals."

Like others, however, he said he was not prepared to turn to violence. "We won't arm ourselves," he said. "We won't fight."

Mr. Bakiyev's options are shrinking as more and more local leaders either voice support for the interim government or resign, as have some of the top officials in his own home region.

Outside the capital, the American military resumed flying troops to and from Afghanistan through the Manas air base on Monday, after a brief halt because of the uprising, the United States Embassy said in a statement. Refueling flights had continued throughout the disturbance.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from Paris.

friday

we are officially home alone.  although we are hanging out at the apartment of some embassy friends... they are gone.  the embassy is in the process of evacuating all it's staff to the base.  american citizens have been told to fend for themselves at this point.  nice.

the worry is that in the next couple of days when the supporters of the ex prez get their act together they will motor pool (yes... motor pool) from the south to bishkek.  not army types.  worse.  thugs with guns.  that is when the really problems are going to start.  people fighting people in the streets with no way to really tell who is on who's side.

things are calm and quiet today.  people are cleaning up from the looting but there are no shops, no banks, no stores open.  just some folks selling bread and fruit on street corners.  a lot of traffic police out and about but that is the only sign of government.

the word i am hearing from local friends is that all that was planned was a protest.  not a revolution.  but a protest.  police got nervous.  someone fired a shot and full fledged fighting broke out.  all of the opposition leaders where either locked up already or in hiding so no one was expecting an overthrow to happen and no one was ready to step into the power void.  the police and militia for the most part here aren't armed so they had no way to really stop people.  by the time they armed themselves... it was too late to stop the craziness.  opposition people start holding press conferences saying they are in charge but are they really?

all the violence and looting that has happened since then is a result of the typical mob mentality that takes place when stuff like this happens.  not politically or religiously motivated.  the anti-american sentiment that is being spewed by both sides at this point is just rhetoric.  the people and the region tend to be pro whoever gives money... and we have a policy of giving alot of money to the country because of our military base here.

as far as us... we are hanging low until 300pm or so when we are suppose to have our visas for kazhakstan.  we are going to motor pool (that word again) with some other americans and try to cross the border and get to almaty where we have some warm beds and running water waiting for us.  a bit stressed about the border crossing as we hear that it is crazy there right now.  they are not letting krygzs cross over - just third country nationals like us.  so it could get ugly and we might have to bail on our car (which would be painful) and walk across and then catch a ride with the other folks on the other side.

the last note on this long post... bishkek is a really great place and it is really a great country.  what has happened this past three days is not indicative of what a chill, safe, family friendly country kyrgyzstan has been up to this point.  sigh.

evacuation... we think

last night was a mostly quiet night.  the 'good' guys have taken control of the streets and looting was minimal compared to the night before.  friends and family are emailing/facebooking us to evacuate.  it isn't that easy.  we can't just run to the embassy because unless they have ordered a full evacuation for ALL americans - they won't take anyone in.  we can't go to the military base without the order for a full evacuation.  so even thought embassy personnel are being evacuated today - that is not an option for us.  we have been told our best bet is to get into kazakhstan but we have to get a visa first (we might have an in with the ambassador there as his son goes to our school).  it normally takes a week to get a visa but we have been told we could get it in one day.  but the bigger problem is trying to cross the border.  it will be crazy.  kyrgyzs are not being allowed into kazakhstan but we hear they are packed at the border trying to get through anyway.  so we don't even know if we could get our cars through the border.  do we have to ditch them and then walk across because the roads are blocked?  then once across we have to travel 3 more hours to almaty where we think we would stay with teachers from our sister international school there.  another option is flying out... if the airport is open and if we can get a flight.  we are on the move and will try to keep you updated.

update

getting mixed news. police stations being stormed (people trying to get guns) and the major department store tsum supposedly is being looted right now. nelson and i helped a friend make it into our apartment compound which once we went outside we found was being guarded by seven guys with guns... and vodka. our friends had to drive around block a couple of times due to crowds in the streets trying to attack his car.  a bunch of drunk kids. tense moments.  eveyone inside and safe.

turn out the lights

it is going on 1030pm here and while things have quieted down - we are still hearing random explosions and gunfire outside.  peaking out the windows of our apartment you would think the power is out in the city as it is completely dark outside with the exception of several fires burning a couple of blocks from here.  everyone (like us) has their windows covered and lights turned off as to not draw attention to themselves.

reality has sunk in.  especially when i found the photos (posted below) - most of which were taken super close to our apartment - a couple of blocks away at most.  jen and i just had one of those moments once she got olive to bed where we looked at each other and said "are we really sitting here eating brownies and watching a movie while a revolution is going on outside our apartment windows?"

we are up for a while but don't feel like we need to provide news updates all cnn/nytimes/etc know more than we do at this point.  we will just post if something overly personal happens.

you tube video

i just found this online to give a visual of what seems to be going on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1srqYLnu8&feature=player_embedded

i also just went with boone out to our main street heading towards the square and saw literally hundreds of people standing around... three or four overturned cars on fire... and looters running down the street with computers, printers, etc that were apparently taken from a nearby government building.  the sky was filled with smoke and you could hear gunshots being fired.

kind of feels real for the first time.

news from yahoo

Police fire on opposition rally in Kyrgyzstan

AP – In this image issued by Fergana.ru Information Agency, showing demonstrators as they gather in front …

By PETER LEONARD, Associated Press Writer Peter Leonard, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Police in Kyrgyzstan have opened fire on thousands of angry protesters who tried to seize the Central Asian nation's main government building amid rioting in the capital.

Opposition activist Toktoim Umetalieva, who was in the crowd, says 17 people have died. An AP reporter saw 12 with gunshot wounds but could not immediately confirm that anyone had died.

Police in Bishkek at first used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons and concussion grenades to try to control crowds of young men clad in black who were chasing officers, beating them up and seizing their arms, trucks and armored personnel carriers.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — Witnesses saw police in Kyrgyzstan shoot dead at least 12 people and wound another dozen after opening fire on thousands of angry protesters who tried to seize the Central Asian nation's main government building.

An AP reporter saw 12 bodies as the crowd retreated.

Opposition activist Toktoim Umetalieva, who was in the crowd, says 17 people have died.

(This version CORRECTS that AP reporter saw 12 people with gunshot wounds, could not immediately confirm that they died.)

news from the bbc

latest news that i could find on the web.  everything has gotten pretty quiet outside.  dan, a justice department friend who works at the embassy called and asked me if i wanted to go and get a beer at a place called the pitstop (which is right down the street from our homes and right next to the square).  i thought he was joking at first but he was serious saying everything had died down.  another embassy friend, chris, called and said to lay low, cover our windows if our curtains let people see in, and to not answer the door.  lauren and nelson (who are at issy-kul) have also called and said they will keep us updated whenever they hear anything.  bbc tv has had some coverage of what is going on (we don't get the station with our cable package but sasha told us).  phone service is back and working - which is good.  while i was typing this post (which is being sent via email to blogger - a new trick i learned as blogger is down all the time) - both jen and i got text messages saying that the government has issued a curfew from 800pm till 600am. 

so i guess basketball practice is canceled tonight.

Page last updated at 10:08 GMT, Wednesday, 7 April 2010 11:08 UK

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Printable version

Kyrgyzstan clashes 'leave four dead'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8606504.stm

Clashes between police and protesters have led to the deaths of four people in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, witnesses and medical officials say.

Several thousand opposition supporters have been trying to storm the office of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev amid unrest over rising fuel prices and corruption.

The clashes come a day after thousands of people stormed government offices in the north-west city of Talas.

Russia and the US, which have military bases in Kyrgyzstan, appealed for calm.

There are reports police fired into the crowds outside the President Bakiyev's offices after failing to disperse them with tear gas and stun grenades.

Witnesses said at least four bodies were on the ground and a medical official told Reuters news agency that several people had been killed and dozens injured, mostly from firearms.

The protesters in Bishkek appeared to be leaderless, says the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie in the capital, after a number of opposition heads were arrested overnight.

AT THE SCENE Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News, Bishkek There are several thousand people in the protests now, some of them are armed. Police officers have been beaten badly by the protesters - the crowd is angry and most importantly, it is uncontrollable. On Tuesday, most of the opposition leaders were arrested in Bishkek and now it appears that no-one is in control. The Kyrgyz parliament is currently debating whether to impose a curfew in the city of Talas. The country's prime minister said that the government does not have enough forces to bring order in the northern regions.

Earlier, police had used tear gas and stun grenades to break up crowds outside an opposition headquarters but the protesters rallied to march to the presidential offices in the city centre.

Police cars have been overturned and set alight and officers attacked by the crowd, some of whom are reported to be armed.

The unrest began on Tuesday in the north-western city of Talas, where protesters briefly took the local governor hostage while another group surrounded the local police headquarters.

Angry crowds attacked special forces police with rocks and petrol bombs. They reportedly set fire to portraits of President Bakiyev.

Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov said at least 85 people were injured in the unrest - most of the injured were reported to be police officers.

Protests spread on Wednesday to Bishkek and to the northern town of Naryn.

Thousands of people occupied a government building in Naryn and have installed what they are calling a "people's governor".

Several opposition leaders were arrested overnight and journalists attacked, adding to the tensions in the country, says our correspondent.

Late on Tuesday, security forces stormed the home of Almazbek Atambayev, the country's most popular opposition politician and former presidential candidate, in Bishkek.

KYRGYZSTAN FACTS One of the poorest of the former Soviet states Hosts both US and Russian military air bases Population mostly Kyrgyz but 15% are Uzbek and a significant number of Russians live in the north and around the capital Kurmanbek Bakiyev has been president since the Tulip Revolution of 2005, which overthrew the government of Askar Akayev Mr Bakiyev vowed to restore stability but has been accused of failing to tackle corruption Opponents also complain he has installed relatives in key government posts Domestic media have come under increasing pressure from the government in recent months

Another leader, Temir Sariyev, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday morning as he arrived in the country on a flight from Moscow.

In a statement, the US embassy in Bishkek said it would call on "all parties to show respect for the rule of law and call on both the demonstrators and the government to engage in talks to resolve differences in a peaceful, orderly and legal manner".

The US base in Manas, near Bishkek, is used to supply operations in Afghanistan.

Russia's Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has urged the authorities not to use force against demonstrators, the Interfax news agency reported.

Web blocked

In recent weeks, the authorities have clamped down on independent media, and several internet news sources are still blocked in the country.

PRESIDENT KURMANBEK BAKIYEV Came to power after "Tulip Revolution" street protests in 2005 His party won every parliamentary seat in 2007 polls - which observers said did not meet international standards Won re-election again in 2009 - but EU observers again said poll was flawed Opposition accuses him of a media crackdown, nepotism and corruption Profile: Kurmanbek Bakiyev

There has also been rising discontent with the role of President Bakiyev's son who was recently appointed as the head of an important government agency.

Five years ago, mass protests in Kyrgyzstan brought Mr Bakiyev to power.

He promised to fight corruption and promote democracy, but his critics say the country has become increasingly authoritarian under his rule, our correspondent says.

Last week UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Bishkek and called on the government to do more to protect human rights.

On Tuesday, the UN said Mr Ban was "concerned" at events in Talas and urged all parties to show restraint.

another update

Opposition Demonstartions Turn Violent In Kyrgyzstan

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 07.04.2010 09:24

WATCH: Footage from YouTube showing protesters battling with security forces in Bishkek today.

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BISHKEK (RFE/RL) -- Gunfire has broken out between security forces and people within a crowd of demonstrators that surrounded the Kyrgyz presidential building, according to RFE/RL correspondents in Bishkek.

Unconfirmed witness reports said that five people were killed and hospitals report receiving at least six people with gunshot wounds.

The gunfire erupted as demonstrators surrounded the presidential building today and attempted to push their way past police and soldiers deployed around the compound. The demonstrators are calling for the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiev.

The angry crowd reportedly numbering several thousand people attempted to storm the presidential building as protests that started in the northwestern city of Talas on April 6 spread throughout the country.

Earlier today, authorities fired tear gas and stun grenades on a crowd of antigovernment demonstrators outside the offices of the main opposition party.

The opposition last month called for nationwide protests today if the government did not meet a list of demands, including the release of jailed opposition politicians.

In the northeastern city of Naryn, a crowd reportedly numbering more than 1,000 people seized the provincial administration building there.

And demonstrators in the northwestern city of Talas continue to occupy at least some of the provincial administration building there.

Protesters seized the building on April 6, briefly holding the governor hostage before police and commandos retook the building in the evening.

The protesters returned later and reoccupied the building after reportedly beating some of the policemen. Authorities said some 80 policemen were injured, some by stones thrown by protesters.

Coverage From RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

The building remains occupied by protesters today and according to reports, some 7,000 people have gathered near the Talas administrative building and the central police station.

Other demonstrations were reported in the town of Tokmok, near Bishkek, where protesters also reportedly seized the administration building, and in the southern city of Osh.

Opposition Figures Detained

Key opposition figures were detained overnight, including Social Democratic Party leader and former Prime Minister Almaz Atambaev, and Omurbek Tekebaev the head of the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party. Prosecutors said they were accused of "serious crimes."

Opposition figure Bolot Sherniazov, who was at the center of the unrest in Talas on April 6, was also reportedly in police custody.

Another opposition leader, former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva, has reportedly gone into hiding to avoid arrest.

Many independent websites are blocked and local opposition media outlets are being prevented from printing or broadcasting.

A car set alight in the center of Bishkek today

 

The unrest follows weeks of tension between the opposition and the government of President Bakiev, accused by opponents of cracking down on independent media and fostering corruption.

Bakiev came to power after the People's, or "Tulip" Revolution in March 2005 that ousted longtime President Askar Akaev, who many accused of consolidating power in his own hands and helping friends and family members get government posts.

Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov and Prosecutor-General Nurlan Tursunkulov have appealed for calm but warned those responsible for the events in Talas and other cities where disorder is being reported will face charges.

Russia, the United States, and the United Nations have called for calm and urged the Kyrgyz government to avoid resorting to force to restore order.

In a statement today, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek said it was "deeply concerned" about the reports of civil disturbances in Talas and urged all sides to resolve their differences peacefully.

Neighboring countries Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have increased security along their borders with Kyrgyzstan.

The international pressure group Human Rights Watch earlier called on the Kyrgyz government to allow peaceful opposition protests to take place today, and to refrain from force to break up gatherings. 

updates

i am just posting things i find online (surprised that we still have internet at this point - nancy... that is why the phone went out last night... service was being cut).  we are in the dark here (not literally) and not sure what is going on other than finding this news reports.  it was confirmed - what we are hearing (sporadically at this point) is automatic gunfire being shot in the square (which is a block and a half from our apartment... but we are set off of the main street and not in any line of sight).  my embassy friend chris confirmed this and sent me a text saying "don't go to the square".  uh... really?!

we have packed an emergency "get out of dodge" bag mainly with olive stuff but also with our passports, credit cards, and some american cash just in case we decide to relocate later tonight.  but our best and safest bet is to just stay in our cozy, safe, hidden little apartment.

it would be nice to know what is going on though.  we are so close to the action yet so far away.

where is cnn when you need them?

Further Demonstrations In Kyrgyzstan

Protesters rally in Talas on April 6

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 07.04.2010 06:31

BISHKEK (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz riot police today fired tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of hundreds of antigovernment protesters in the capital Bishkek in a bid to disperse the crowd amid ongoing political turmoil.

The crowd had gathered outside the offices of the main opposition party, demanding the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiev just a day after authorities detained opposition leaders Almazbek Atambaev and Omurbek Tekebaev, head of the main opposition Ata-Meten party.

On April 6, thousands of protesters stormed government offices in the northwest town of Talas, demanding the resignation of President Bakiev. 

Riot police, firing tear gas and rubber bullets, kicked the protesters out, but after nightfall, protesters were reported to have retaken the building. 

Internet access is reported down in some areas. 

The clashes have erupted after weeks of tension between the opposition and the government of President Bakiev, which they accuse of cracking down on independent media and fostering corruption.

A doctor at a hospital in Talas told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that at least 30 people were being treated for injuries sustained during the clashes. One person was reportedly shot with a rubber bullet fired from inside a police precinct.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that Omurbek Tekebaev, a leader of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, was arrested at his home in Bishkek.

Reports say that the former governor of Osh region, Anvar Artikov, and the former deputy speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament, Bolot Shernyazov, were also arrested. In Talas, a large crowd outside the police department was demanding the release of protesters who have been arrested.

Protesters defaced a billboard of President Kurmanbek Bakiev.

Detention Sparked Protests

The day's events began with the reported detention of opposition leader Bolot Sherniazov, who had gone to the provincial administration building to obtain official permission for a rally planned for April 7.

Some reports said Sherniazov was detained briefly then released, though officials denied he was ever held.

Whatever the case, the reports of Sherniazov's detention brought people to both the city's administration building and police station.

With several thousand estimated to have gathered at the government office, some then led an attempt to take over the administration building.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that police did nothing to stop the group entering and then occupying the building.

The crowd announced they had selected their own replacements as interim governor and deputy governor. "We have elected our leader," protester Janat Karabotoev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.

"We will hold the first session [of the people's] congress tomorrow," she added. "Our main demand is to get rid of the family-run system of governance. We are not afraid of anything. Nobody was frightened. The people's mood is just perfect. About 3,000 people are gathered there."

Governor As Hostage

The reports of the building's seizure brought the first official denial, with the Interior Ministry saying the building had not been occupied, but that a group of several dozen people, "including many in a state of intoxication," had entered and later left.

However, events quickly proved many protesters had gained entry and were staying inside the building -- as Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov later acknowledged.

At an evening press conference convened to address the situation in Talas, Usenov said the situation was "stable" and denied a claim by opposition representatives -- Sherniazov and Koisun Kurmanalieva -- that Governor Beishen Bolotbekov was being held hostage inside the administration building.

Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongantiev said he was freed when the police temporarily regained control of the building.

Usenov warned that rallies planned for April 7 were illegal and warned people to stay away from them.

Prosecutor-General Nurlan Tursunkulov said a criminal case had already been launched against protesters responsible for the "mass disorder" in Talas. He said it was aimed at what he called a violent seizure of power and change of the constitutional order.

Asanbek Baytikov, the deputy chairman of the parliament's Committee for Defense and Rule of Law, said the protesters went too far and would answer to the law.

"If there are any violations of the law, then those involved in it will be brought to justice. It is unacceptable to do illegal things," Baytikov said, adding that the governor must be appointed, not elected.

International Alarm

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for restraint on all sides. Ban spoke as he wrapped up his first visit to Central Asia as UN secretary-general.

Earlier in the week in Kyrgyzstan, Ban criticized Bishkek authorities for human rights violations.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Kyrgyz government to allow peaceful opposition protests to take place on April 7, and to refrain from force to break up gatherings. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has expressed "concern" over the unrest.

Dissatisfaction with Bakiev and his government has been growing for months.

Bakiev came to power after the People's, or "Tulip" Revolution in March 2005 that ousted longtime President Askar Akaev, who many felt was turning the Kyrgyz government into a family business.

Opposition groups today are making the same claim about Bakiev, who has appointed his brothers to state positions and his 32-year-old son Maksim to head the state agency for economic development.
 

more news

 

Opposition Protesters March Across Kyrgyzstan

Protesters gather in the provincial capital of Naryn

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 07.04.2010 08:24

BISHKEK (RFE/RL) -- Thousands of opposition demonstrators have surrounded the Kyrgyz presidential building as protests against President Kurmanbek Bakiev grow.

RFE/RL correspondents in Bishkek report that Kyrgyz authorites have deployed special police and soldiers to protect the presidential compound.

According to RFE/RL correspondents, the size of the demonstration has grown dramatically as protesters try to push their way through the security cordon and past metal gates that protect the White House building. The demonstrators were not seen to be carrying weapons.

Some were throwing stones at police, who were using tear gas and firing stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Earlier today, authorities fired tear gas and stun grenades on a crowd of antigovernment demonstrators outside the offices of the main opposition party.

In the northwest town of Talas overnight, protesters retook the government building and are demanding Bakiev's resignation. Thousands of demonstrators on April 6 had stormed the government offices in Talas but were forced out of the building by riot police who fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Meanwhile, prosecutors today accused several detained opposition leaders of "serious crimes." Among the opposition leaders detained on April 6 were Almazbek Atambaev of the opposition Social Democrats, and Omurbek Tekebaev of the main Ata-Meten party.

The whereabouts of Roza Otunbaeva -- the only major opposition leader not yet detained -- were not immediately known. Her spokesperson said she is in hiding for fear of being arrested.

More Coverage From RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

Crowds of protesters also have been reported in the city of Osh and the town of Tokmok, while thousands of demonstrators were gathering in the provincial capital of Naryn.

Internet access is reported down in some areas. 

Weeks Of Tension

The clashes have erupted after weeks of tension between the opposition and the government of President Bakiev, which they accuse of cracking down on independent media and fostering corruption.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for restraint on all sides. Ban spoke as he wrapped up his first visit to Central Asia as UN secretary-general.

Earlier in the week in Kyrgyzstan, Ban criticized Bishkek authorities for human rights violations.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Kyrgyz government to allow peaceful opposition protests to take place on April 7, and to refrain from force to break up gatherings. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has expressed "concern" over the unrest.

Dissatisfaction with Bakiev and his government has been growing for months.

Bakiev came to power after the People's, or "Tulip" Revolution in March 2005 that ousted longtime President Askar Akaev, who many felt was turning the Kyrgyz government into a family business.

Opposition groups today are making the same claim about Bakiev, who has appointed his brothers to state positions and his 32-year-old son Maksim to head the state agency for economic

i think they mean it this time

things supposedly are getting a bit crazy here in bishkek.  school was closed down early today as local parents first and then embassy kids were 'evacuated' (a bit dramatic word) from the school as protesters started clashing with militia.  although most of the action is taking place away from the city center at this point - i rushed home (again... rushed is a bit of a dramatic word as the roads are crazy with cars and people both heading to the center and leaving the center) to be with jen and olive.  we sent nina home worried that she would not be able to get home if the military shuts down the streets.  we hear occasional gunfire.  good times.  rumor has it one of the bigger bazaars is on fire, several police cars have been turned over, and a gas station has 'blown up'.  the mobile phone networks are overwhelmed and the internet is off and on.  so our information is fairly limited and we might be hard to get a hold of if things intensify. 

the important news is that we are safe and secure.  nothing going on is directed at americans or westerners.  it is all directed at the corrupt government.  kyrgyz version of tea partiers!  below is an article i found about how everything started yesterday.

EURASIA INSIGHT

KYRGYZSTAN: BAKIYEV CONFRONTS POLITICAL CRISIS
4/06/10

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Updating with report of violent clash in Talas

Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian state that experienced the Tulip Revolution in 2005, is once again going through a bout of political instability, one with uncertain ramifications for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's administration.

Unrest erupted on April 6 in the northwestern Kyrgyz town of Talas, where protesters stormed a government building, eyewitnesses told EurasiaNet.org. Witnesses reported seeing and hearing gunfire in central Talas late at night on April 6, as security forces sought to retake the provincial administration offices. Protesters who had occupied the building were said to be resisting the assault using Molotov cocktails and other improvised weapons, according to an eyewitness. At 10 pm, the administration building was seen to be on fire. The blaze was subsequently extinguished, according to local reports.

In the early evening, roughly 200 police officers succeeded in driving out protesters from the administration offices, but the protesters quickly retook the building, an eyewitness reported. "The opposition is organized," the eyewitness said. "When they [protesters] were pushed out the building, they were able regroup and mount a second assault." The eyewitness also suggested that the protesters might have access to weapons and other equipment. "I just saw a young man carrying riot gear, including helmet and shields, to the demonstrators," the eyewitness said.

Security forces tried to drive protesters out of the administration building a second time, but it was not immediately clear if the clearing operation succeeded. Gunfire reverberated throughout the center of the town but then stopped. One witness said members of the security forces fired live ammunition as they were withdrawing from the center of Talas. Some local sources reported that 30 people had been injured in the violence, including one man with two gunshot wounds. Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported that two protesters had died.

In Bishkek, authorities rounded up opposition leaders, including Omurbek Tekebayev and Almazbek Atambayev. The decision to take opposition figures into custody appeared designed to forestall planned anti-government protests on April 7.

One witness in Talas, a member of the Ak Shumkar (White Falcon) opposition party, claimed the crowd that took control the provincial administration building was 4,000-strong. Other eyewitnesses told EurasiaNet.org the number of demonstrators was closer to 1,000.

At 7:20 pm another eyewitness reported that speakers in Talas' central square were addressing a crowd using a jury-rigged speaker system: "Right now there is a woman talking, and her words echo the language of 2005 for [former president Askat] Akayev, but now it's for Bakiyev. They are shouting 'Down with Bakiyev,'" the witness said, comparing the April 6 events to the popular uprising in 2005 that forced Akayev from power in 2005. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

In the evening, rumors began circulating that two planeloads of special security troops had been dispatched by the government and were preparing to move into the town center. One witness said that, despite the possibility of a clash, the crowd of protesters in Talas was growing. Many intended to stay in the square overnight.

Earlier, an Interior Ministry spokesman asserted that the government remained firmly in control of developments in Talas. "Nobody stormed anything, there was a crowd of drunk people who entered the provincial local government building and they left the building right away," the spokesman told EurasiaNet.org at 5pm. "Now, everything is under control of the law enforcement bodies."

The Talas protest appears to be rooted in popular discontent over recent state-mandated hikes in the cost of heating and electricity. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. However, two recent developments may well have emboldened protesters to take to the streets: the first was a national gathering, or kurultai, held in Bishkek in late March, that turned out to be a political miscalculation for Bakiyev. The president had intended the gathering to serve as a demonstration of his political strength, but, instead, participants aired criticisms of his administration's policies. Second, and more importantly, Bakiyev has come under a withering barrage of criticism from Russia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Overnight on April 6-7, a sense of political uncertainty hovered over the country. Although a heavy security presence could not be detected in Bishkek, the capital, as night fell, police and Interior Ministry forces were reportedly beefing up their presence in provincial centers around the country. Meanwhile, opposition leaders pledged to carry out demonstrations nationwide on April 7, protesting not only the recent price hikes, but also alleged widespread government corruption.

Heightening the sense of uncertainty, Bishkek reported trouble accessing the Internet late on April 6. Earlier in the evening, many news websites were being blocked, and a generally pro-governmental television channel, Kanal 5, went off the air. diesel.elcat.kg, also was difficult for users to access.

facebook

i have been a bit turned off to facebook for the past year or so.  maybe i am getting to old.  but there is way too much going on with news feeds, wall posts, emails, invitations to games, recommendations, and all the other junk that goes along with it.

admittedly it is a great way to track down long lost friends and classmates and an effective (i don't know if that is the right word.  i would almost say ineffective) way to keep track of every little thing your "friends" do.

i used facebook all the time when i worked at csusb and uh.  great social marketing tools.  but since moving to bishkek i am literally almost never on facebook (unlike my facebook crazed wife and mom).  but i decided to go on tonight as i waited for nelson to come and pick me up (i am riding with him to go to the airport in the middle of the night to pick up one of lauren's friends.   jen has been asleep for hours already). 

once i logged on... this is the note i got from humira... one of our bishkek friends:

hi David, have you noticed all the cops on the streets? There are rumors that there will be another revolution or something of that nature...we are not going out tomorrow..i think the city may have good control though.  there are rumors about riots here tomorrow may result in danger..do you know about this? What shall i do?  If something happens can we go to the US Embassy for protection?

 

if you have been following the blog i am sure you realize i have cried wolf before regarding various rumored revolution.  and nothing has happened each time.  i will say that both jen and i noticed traffic police and militia out in force today and on each intersection on the main streets.  i assumed it was because the presidential motorcade was about to drive through and they always clear the streets of traffic for that.  but maybe it is something more.

 

stay tuned tomorrow morning to cnn (conover news network) for any breaking news as we receive it.  of course that is assuming that blogger isn't being censored.  i am not worried.  we have boone and every single kyrgyz i have met has been terrified of him.  now that i think about it...  i could waltz into the presidential offices (about two blocks from our apartment) with boone off leash and take control of the country myself.  who needs to be a central asian professional basketball coach when i could be a central asian dictator?!