Kyrgystan: new information on harassment to human rights defenders

New Information 

KGZ 001 / 9810/ OBS 070.02
Harassment of activists
Kyrgystan
4 December 1998

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an 
FIDH and OMCT venture, requests your URGENT intervention in 
the following situation in Kyrgystan.

Brief reminder of the situation:

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was 
informed by reliable sources  of increasing acts of harassment the 
Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR).

On Thursday 1st October, pro-governmental newspapers reported 
that the registration of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights 
had been 
revoked by the authorities. 

The deregistration came in the  context of a number of acts of previous 
harassment. These acts have included accusations of financial 
mismanagement of funds donated by foreign donors and verbal threats 
to activists and leaders of the KCHR. It was further alleged that people 
who live and work near the offices of the organisation are regularly 
questioned on the movements of the workers of the Committee.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was 
subsequently  informed of further  intimidation of  members  of the 
KCHR. According to the information received, on October 8, 1998. 
Niyazbekova Azimhan, an activist of the KCHR was approached on the 
street by a man wearing militia uniform. The man (later identified as Bolot 
B. Taabaldiev) warned her to stop her human rights activities. 

As a result of the de registration the KCHR is facing serious restrictions 
on its activities. On October 9, 1998 Judge Omorova  of the Pervomaisky 
district court prohibited the Chairman of the KHCR from 
defending Bermet Bukasheva (chief-editor) of the "Litsa" newspaper.  
Bermet Bukasheva is accused of defaming Mr Talaibek Koichumanov, 
the Minister of Finance. 

In a further update the KCHR informed the Observatory that it received a 
response from the authorities on its legal status that gives rise to 
continued concern for the group.

On November 19 the KCHR received two letters from the  Ministry of 
Justice. In a letter dated November 9 1998, the Ministry  stated that to 
obtain  full legal status the Committee should bring the documents 
relating to its establishment to the Ministry.  In a second letter dated 
November 19,1998 the Ministry of Justice demanded these same 
documents, threatening the discontinuation of the Committee's activities 
via court action.

Of particular concern is that the second letter appeared after the return of 
the Kyrgyz governmental delegation to a recent  OSCE meeting.  During 
the meeting in Warsaw the Chairman of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human 
Rights, Ramazan Dyryldaev, the Director of the KCHR made several 
speeches on human rights in Kyrgystan fiercely critical of the 
Government. 

The Supreme Court has not responded to the  KCHR's  case filed the 
court on October, 6, 1998 which questions the legality of the Ministry's 
of Justice decision to revoke KCHR 's registration. 

The regulations state that a response should be given in a month after a 
claim is filed. This is crucial as the law states that any actions including 
decisions made by the Ministry of Justice  are not to be 
effective until the court has ruled on them.

The Observatory is particularly concerned by sources from within the 
government who have alleged that  orders have been given to certain 
members of the authorities to  trace workers of the Committee, to find 
compromising materials against them, and to pressure their family 
members and relatives.

New Information :

On December 3rd 1998  at 10 a.m.,  around 10 persons entered the office 
of the KCHR and attempted to remove  office furniture,  computers, and 
other equipment. The people stated that they were taking the equipment 
as part of a legal suit being carried out by an ex employee. They failed to 
show any proof of their identity.

However amongst the ten people KCHR workers recognise an member of 
the intelligence services (KGB) Isakov Azamat  who was apparently there 
to "witness "  the events.  During the events Mr Azamat used the 
opportunity to look through documents of the KCHR.

The KCHR is concerned that the dismissal suit being brought against 
them by an  ex employee, a Mr A.V. Eliseev is being manipulated by the 
authorities to further hamper their work in defence of human rights.  
These concerns appear to be confirmed as the  ex employee in question  
apparently visited the Ministry of Security and met with  a senior 
Minister  the day before the events.

The KCHR resisted the attempts to remove their equipment and the 
people left the office at about 3 :30 p.m. KCHR have expressed concerns 
that during these events their communications system was tampered 
with.

The Observatory believes that these events are part of a concerted and 
deliberate attempt on the part of the authorities to harass and intimidate a 
legitimate and renowned human rights organisation with the 
aim of stopping their work in defence of human rights. 

Action requested:

Please write to the Kyrgys Authorities demanding that they:

i.  put an end to all forms of harassment of human rights defenders and 
their organisations, in particular the KCHR
 
ii.  immediately reinstate the registration of KCHR;

iii.  immediately take all appropriate measures to guarantee the necessary 
conditions for non-government all human rights organisations and 
their members to carry out their human rights work;

iv. in general abide by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights and the international Pacts and Conventions ratified 
by Kyrgystan.

Addresses:

The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Askar Akayev, Kyrgyzskaya 
Respublika, 720003 g. Bishkek, Prospekt Chuy, 205 Fax: +733 
1221 86 27

Geneva, Paris, 4 December  1998.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.