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3.30.2005 ||> Kyrgyzstan FAQ part three: The party is jumpin'
The third part in the Kyrgyzstan FAQs. You can get the Tulip FAQ and the Players FAQ for the Kyrgyzstan Tulip Revolution as well. These are just basic questions answered.
Who are Kyrgyzstan’s opposition parties?
There are about 40 political parties in Kyrgyzstan. Most of the parties have decided to combine into separate election blocs. They include:
The People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan was created by Kurmanbek Bakiev on September 22, 2004 from nine parties and movements. These include the Party of Communists and the Communist Party, the Republican Party, Asaba (which is the political party of interim general prosecutor Azimbek Beknazarov), the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Kairan El, New Kyrgyzstan, Erkin Kyrgyzstan, and Erkindik.
The "For Fair Elections" election bloc was formed on May 20, 2004. It includes Ar-Namys (the political party of security leader Felix Kulov), El, Ata-Meken, and Social Democratic parties.
Other political parties of importance are:
KelKel means "New Epoch" and is a student movement committed towards democracy. They say that if liberty doesn't carry on after the revolution, then they will continue to protest until they live in a free society.
Alga, Kyrgyzstan! (Forward, Kyrgyzstan!): This is the pro-government party, in which former president Akayev’s family ran. Also sometimes confused as the "family party," one could assume this was less about values and more about nepotism.
Ata Jurt (Fatherland) is the political party of the interim foreign minister, Roza Otunbaeva.
Muratbek Imanaliyev is a former Kyrgyz foreign minister and is a leader of Jany Bagyt.
What are the orange and rose revolutions?
The Orange Revolution refers to the bloodless revolution in Ukraine. It started as a protest after the fraudulent elections in November 2004. In January 2005, new elections were held because of protests and the winner was favorite Viktor Yushchenko. It was called “orange” for the color showed solidarity with Yushchenko’s campaign.
The Rose Revolution happened a year earlier in Georgia under much the same circumstance. In November 2003, the presidential elections were rigged by then-president Eduard Shevardnadze. Massive protests ensued until Shevardnadze tendered his resignation. Opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili won in January 2004. Protesters wore roses, which gave the revolution its name.
Are there other protests going on in the former Soviet Union?
Yes. Protests happened on March 25th in Belarus against President Alexander Lukashenko. They were violently put down. There were also protests in Mongolia, although they seem to be more like democratic demonstrations than revolts.
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