Opposition Makes New Demands
Opposition Makes New Demands
A Kurultai, or congress, organised by the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan was convened in the village Baitik, in the Bishkek suburbs, on May 5.
The 600 delegates from over the country called for the immediate resignation of the cabinet headed by Almazbek Atambaev and for the formation of a new coalition government. They also urged the authorities to condemn those who, in the opposition’s view, provoked trouble at the opposition rally on April 19, which resulted in police stepping in to disperse the crowd. Finally, they urged the government to stop persecuting the opposition leaders.
The resolution produced by the Kurultai warned that if the authorities fail to accede to these demands by May 20, the opposition may hold another rally, gather the 300,000 signatures needed to launch impeachment proceedings against President Kurmanbek Bakiev, and seek the dissolution of parliament.
The next Kurultai will take place in October, and according to United Front leader Felix Kulov, demonstrations could take place from October 20.
The 600 delegates from over the country called for the immediate resignation of the cabinet headed by Almazbek Atambaev and for the formation of a new coalition government. They also urged the authorities to condemn those who, in the opposition’s view, provoked trouble at the opposition rally on April 19, which resulted in police stepping in to disperse the crowd. Finally, they urged the government to stop persecuting the opposition leaders.
The resolution produced by the Kurultai warned that if the authorities fail to accede to these demands by May 20, the opposition may hold another rally, gather the 300,000 signatures needed to launch impeachment proceedings against President Kurmanbek Bakiev, and seek the dissolution of parliament.
The next Kurultai will take place in October, and according to United Front leader Felix Kulov, demonstrations could take place from October 20.
