Kyrgyz opposition presses for economic and political reforms.

BISHKEK, March 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Kyrgyz opposition leaders who
gathered for a kurultai (congress) here on Wednesday pressed the country's
top officials for economic and political reforms.
The opposition will discuss the authorities' "usurp of the
constitution" and growing pressure on "all the dissenting," said
representative of the Social Democratic Party and one of the leaders of
the 2005 'tulip revolution' Rosa Otunbayeva. The opposition has questions
to the country leaders concerning the recent privatisation of the
joint-stock companies Sevrelektro and Kirgiztelecom it claimed to be
unlawful, and also concerning the "unjustified rise in tariffs" for
electricity and heat supplies.
"I believe the current goal is not just change the persons occupying
the seventh floor (of the presidential administration building). A mere
cabinet reshuffle is not enough. We must make out what we want to build,"
she stressed.
The congress organizers claim it is attended by 5,000-6,000 people
although police cites the figure of 1,500 people.
The gathering is expected to be crowned with a resolution of demands
to be handed over to the country's leaders.
According to the kurultai members, a 3,000-strong rally was staged in
the city of Naryn, one of the Kyrgyz administrative centres. Witnesses say
the rally, which was forbidden by the local authorities, is watched by
special police units.
Meanwhile, on President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's initiative, a congress of
national concord is scheduled for March 23. The congress to be attended by
representatives from all regions and ethnic groups, power branches and
political forces, is expected to agree ways of the country's further
development.
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