Kyrgyz Opposition Threatens Protests If Constitution Amended

Protests against the HIPC program in Bishkek early this month (RFE/RL) BISHKEK, December 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's opposition For Reforms Movement today threatened to hold massive protests if pro-presidential lawmakers try to amend the new constitution, adopted last month, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Pro-presidential parliamentary deputies have tried to introduce proposals that would give back to the president some of the powers lost when the new constitution was adopted.

Opposition lawmaker Muratbek Mukashev said demonstrations would be held early next year if there are further attempts to amend the constitution and if deputies vote for Kyrgyzstan to join the World Bank-sponsored Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program.

"In January or February 2007, we plan to begin a political action, not limited in time, in defense of the current constitution and against Kyrgyzstan's joining the [HIPC] program," Mukashev said. "We are against khan-like authority in Kyrgyzstan and against joining countries that are unable to govern themselves independently. The time has come for each of us to come to the defense of our country and the new constitution."

The new constitution was pushed through amid a huge demonstration in the capital in Bishkek in early November.

Relations between the president and parliament were further strained after the adoption of the new constitution. Prime Minister Feliks Kulov and the government resigned last week in part as a response to the political battling caused by the adoption of the new constitution.