Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 13:46:33 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Britt Elliott <[email protected]>

Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights



Britt Elliott wrote:

The following message was distributed last month by the Observatory
for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.  If anyone has any
background information or updates on this case, would he/she be so
kind as to send it to me?

Many thanks,

Britt Elliott
Human Rights Internet
Ottawa, Ontario
[email protected]


Kyrgyzstan - Harassment of Activists
Geneva, Paris, 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 Kyrgyzstan.


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registration of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights had been revoked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 Kyrgyzstan 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.

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

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken, quoting the reference
number given above.

The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the
protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete
support in their time of need.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency Line:
Fax: 33 (0) 1 40 39 22 42
Tel.: FIDH 33 (0) 1 48 05 82 46
OMCT: + 41 22 733 31 40
E- mail: [email protected]


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