John O'Keefe

It is evident that being the US ambassador, Mr. O’Keefe is not pleased with anti-American sentiments among the majority of Kyrgyz people, as well as with the anti-war stance of the official Bishkek. However, as a representative of the democratic country, he recognizes the right of others to have different views. In his interview to a Bishkek newspaper the ambassador said: “I believe it to be very important to give people a chance to assemble and speak out their mind”. “I know, he added using his trump card, that there were some problems when several organizations attempted to hold demonstrations in connection with the tragic events in Aksy … As an individual and official I fully support the right of Kyrgyz citizens to assemble and voice their opinion. And this right should go beyond the anti-war issues: your citizens should have the opportunity to gather and express their opinion on any problem.”

The US ambassador was clearly referring to an incident on March 17 of this year, the death anniversary of six demonstrators killed in clashes with police in the Aksy district in southern Kyrgyzstan a year ago. On that day relatives of the dead and public figures were forbidden to hold a commemorative ceremony on the square in front of the parliament headquarters in downtown Bishkek. Participants in that action had to move to a small deserted spot near the Monument to Maxim Gorky, which the Bishkek city administration has specially designated for a sort of “Hyde Park” public debates in the capital.

At the same time, the Kyrgyz authorities appear not to mind that central squares in Kyrgyz cities are used by thousands of demonstrators against the war in Iraq.