The Global Encirclement of America

Key areas that will be covered: US led global war on terror (BLUE) Ideology of the international islamist movement (GREEN) Economic and military rise of China (RED) Threats to democratic nations and institutions throughout the world (PURPLE) Transnational threats i.e. organized crime, proliferation of WMD, etc. (ORANGE)

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I am a National Security specialists who currently works in Washington D.C. (insert your own joke here). For myself individual and national sovereignty is sacrosanct, populist, neo-marxist or fascist trends and ideologies despite espousing democratic rhetoric are anything but democratic and represent a threat that must be dealt with. – In addition, democracy must be modeled on the respect for individual liberty, personal sovereignty, with its accompanying political-rights, which when combined with free-market economic principles, represents a good for society. If you have stumbled across this blog and think that you are going to convert me to either respecting or accepting other systems as just different do not waste yours, or more importantly my time.

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Thousands Head for Bishkek Against Kyrgyz Coup

Reuters

Mar. 26, 2005 - Kyrgyzstan's ousted interior minister led thousands of demonstrators toward the capital on Saturday to protest against the coup that overthrew President Askar Akayev, warning there was a risk of civil war.

The new leadership declared it was firmly in control of the mountainous ex-Soviet state, but acting President Kurmanbek Bakiev switched the venue of a news conference because officials said they had information of a possible plot to kill him.

Ignoring the exiled Akayev's refusal to resign in the face of what he called a coup, parliament set June 26 for a new presidential election in the central Asian nation.

Bakiev said he would run in the election.

About 3,000 people set off from Akayev's home region of Chym Korgon, some 90 km (55 miles) outside Bishkek, two days after the president was swept from power in mass protests.

"They may get there today. They may get there tomorrow, but the important thing is they will go there," Keneshbek Dushebayev, appointed interior minister by Akayev just before he was ousted, told Reuters.

Dushebayev, who is leading the protesters whom he predicted could eventually number 10,000, said: "The country is virtually split and everything is in place for a civil war."

But there was confusion over the aims of the protesters, some of whom expressed support for the new leadership.

Some carried posters saying "No to the coup!" and "The people of Kyrgyzstan are one nation!." Other placards read: "We support general Kulov," referring to opposition leader Felix Kulov.

One man in the crowd, Rustam Ibraimov, 24, said: "Our demand is to stop this lawlessness in Bishkek. The seizure of power is illegal. We do not support President Akayev, but the change of power should have been carried out according to the law."

Kulov, put in charge of security just days after crowds freed him from jail, insisted the country was now orderly after lawlessness followed the popular revolt.

"The situation is fully under control. We do not need a curfew," said Kulov, who was prominent in opposing Akayev.

Bishkek was quiet Saturday with little sign of the violence, looting and destruction that swept the city after Thursday's mass protests brought a sudden end to Akayev's 14-year rule of the mainly Muslim country of 5 million.

OPPOSITION SEEKS HELP

Crucially for the opposition, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have given his blessing to the new leadership.

"He was very interested in what sort of help is needed. We are very grateful to the Russian leadership," Bakiev told parliament after speaking to Putin by phone Friday.

Putin had earlier offered sanctuary to Akayev. Russian media reported he had already arrived in Moscow and Bakiev said he also believed this was the case.

Bakiev has criticized Akayev -- who has ruled since 1990 and said in a statement emailed to a news agency that he was still president -- for abandoning his country at such a difficult time but said he would try to ensure his safety if he returns.

"Akayev is a citizen of this country and has the right to return at any time," he said.

Bakiev said Kyrgyzstan, where most people have to manage on no more than a dollar a day, desperately needed assistance from the international community.

"We need help from the outside. Soon, we will have nothing to feed the people with," he said, adding that he hoped Russia would help with fuel supplies.

The United States said it supported "a peaceful outcome to the political future of Kyrgyzstan."

The overthrow of Akayev, a relative liberal in a region of mainly autocratic leaders, followed weeks of protest throughout the country, especially in the poorer south.

LOOSELY UNITED OPPOSITION

The new leadership is made up of a loosely united opposition that includes many former government officials who have been at odds with one another in the past.

Bakiev, an opposition leader who played a central role in the protests that brought down Akayev, has appointed key interim ministers.

One of his immediate challenges is how to operate in a country with two sets of members of parliament -- from an outgoing assembly, which says it is still in charge, and a second, more strongly pro-Akayev group elected in polls in February and March which the opposition said were fraudulent.

Kyrgyzstan, bordering China, lies in an energy-rich region where Washington and Moscow vie for influence. Each has a military base outside Bishkek.

posted by Global Encirclement | 10:32 AM

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