Political crisis in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s government today rejected a move by opposition politicians to pass a new constitution, calling it an attempt to seize power illegally.

“This is an open intention to seize power in an unconstitutional way,” the government said in a statement.

The statement followed five days of anti-government rallies and an extraordinary overnight session of a parliament, in which 38 opposition deputies signed a new constitution that would curtail the powers of the president.

The opposition, which had declared the creation of a constituent assembly to draft the new basic law, claimed that the 38 signatures were enough to make the draft law because it was a majority of the 75-seat legislature.

It was the latest opposition challenge to president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Kyrgyzstan’s deepest political crisis since the March 2005 uprising that brought the current leadership to power on pledges of political reform. The opposition says Bakiyev has not delivered on those promises.

“The opposition forces have chosen the way of radical actions. The use of pressure on the government and provoke a political crisis in the country,” the government statement said. “The parliament has already been split in two halves, its work paralysed.”

Meanwhile, about 3,000 protesters resumed the opposition rally in Bishkek’s central square. About 100 small tents and 15 larger yurts, like those traditionally used by nomads, were set up there.

“Bakiyev wants the Kyrgyz people to collide their foreheads, he wants to sow chaos,” said opposition member Omurbek Babanov. “We are the legal authority and will do anything to avoid a bloodbath.”

The government insisted in its statement that it “fully controls the situation and will act only within the legal framework.”

About 1,000 protesters, mostly men, gathered at the parliament building for a pro-government rally, inside a cordon of armed police officers and soldiers. They were joined by 19 pro-government politicians.

“The new amendments are illegal,” Kamchibek Tashiyev told the crowd. “We support the constitution and the president.”

Several held a big Soviet flag with a hammer and a sickle.

“What the parliament has done is illegal,” said protester Zamir Kolybekov, 47. “A new constitution should not be adopted this way. I am for Bakiyev, peace, order and stability.”

Bakiyev, a former opposition leader, was appointed and later elected president after the 2005 uprising that ousted long-time leader Askar Akayev, but political tension has persisted. His rule has been marred by slayings of prominent people, prison riots, economic ills and battles for control of lucrative businesses.