| Kyrgyzstan election aims to bring democracy to central Asian nation Polls open as country strives to become most open society in region largely ruled over by authoritarian regimesKyrgyzstan was today holding a landmark election that is likely to establish the country as the first parliamentary democracy in authoritarian central Asia. Thousands of Kyrgyz voters went to the polls to elect a new parliament following a violent year that saw a street revolution in April and savage ethnic riots in the south of the country in June.International observers today described the election as largely free and fair – a remarkable feat in a region run by democracy-averse super-presidents all apparently in the job for life.In an address to the nation yesterday, Kyrgyzstan's interim president, Rosa Otunbayeva, called it a "new page" in Kyrgyzstan's 20-year history. "We are not just choosing a new parliament. We're ushering in a new system of government – a parliamentary republic," she said.Today's historic vote follows a referendum in June.Otunbayeva said the disastrous misrule of her two predecessors – who presided over inefficient and corrupt presidential regimes stuffed with their relatives – had necessitated the change in the constitution. After casting her ballot in the capital, Bishkek, she praised the "whole election process" as "transparent and open".It remains to be seen, however, if the election will bring about the stability that has so far eluded Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished, landlocked nation of 5.4 million, or instead set off another bout of political feuding and vicious inter-ethnic violence. Some 29 parties were taking part, with 3,000 candidates competing for 120 mandates. The election has been a genuinely vibrant contest, with streets plastered with rival campaign posters and endearingly amateurish party political statements — some with leaders kissing babies — broadcast on Kyrgyz TV.In Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second city, voting was lively with almost a third of voters turning out by early afternoon. Some, however, said they found the country's new political pluralism bewildering, and were clueless which party to back. Many Uzbeks — the overwhelming victims of June's ethnic violence in which 2,000 people died – said they wouldn't bother to vote at all. Asked whether the election would be fair, one Social Democratic candidate joked: "We don't have money to bribe anybody. And nobody is financing us from abroad."Despite some minor infringements, western diplomats said the vote "had a lot of positives". "It's been peaceful. It's been lively. People have been engaged," one said. He went on: "Kyrgyzstan is trucking along OK. It's not left the rails."Speaking in Osh, Janez Lenarcic, who heads the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's election monitoring arm, said he was encouraged by the peaceful conduct of the election, but added that there was a risk that losing parties may refuse to address their electoral grievances through legal channels, but instead take to the streets."It is important that [the voter's] will is reflected in the results and, ultimately, it is extremely important that everybody accepts such results," Lenarcic told the Associated Press.The election is certain to result in a new coalition. Four parties are likely to win seats. They include Ar-Namys, headed by the ex-prime minister Felix Kulov, who is backed by Russia, and supports a strong presidential model; the liberal-orientated Ata-Meken, led by former speaker Omurbek Tekebayev; the Social Democrats; and the Kyrgyz nationalist Ata-Dzhurt or fatherland party.Hammering out a new coalition government could be tricky, one analyst said. "The problem in Kyrgyzstan is that there are many charismatic leaders with gigantic aspirations, compared with Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. It's a huge cauldron of ambition," Andrei Grozin, a professor at Moscow's Centre for the Study of Post-Soviet Countries, said.Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were all unhappy at the prospect of a genuine democracy taking root next door, he added. "They are all authoritarian regimes. For them it is a threat. At the moment Kyrgyzstan is the most free country in post-Soviet central Asia."Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, warned in June that the move to a popularly elected parliament could see Kyrgyzstan "broken up" or being "run by extremists".The country is of strategic importance to Russia and the US, who both have an airbase in the country near Bishkek. Its most influential, and often overlooked neighbour, however, is China.KyrgyzstanLuke Hardingguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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Letters: WikiLeaks restores trust in journalism For almost a century the media in Britain have deferentially swallowed the D notice system, under which "advisory notices" are sent to editors warning against the publication of stories that might embarrass the Ministry of Defence or our so-called security services (No 10's warning to editors, 27 November).D notices, issued periodically by the defence, press and broadcasting advisory committee, amount to self-censorship by media companies who collude with Whitehall to suppress information.The notices have no force in law, yet they subvert honest journalism and mock the very idea that the media act as a watchdog on behalf of the people.The D notice committee meets in private, is not accountable to parliament although paid for out of public funds, is based in the MoD, and is chaired by a retired senior military officer. The press representatives on the committee are, without exception, management appointees rather than working journalists.If WikiLeaks helps to destroy this nasty mechanism of government spin, our media will be less craven, our journalism more reliable and our society better able to hold politicians to account.Jacob EcclestoneDiss, Norfolk• I write to commend the Guardian for taking such an active role in publishing the WikiLeaks information (250,000 leaked files that lay bare US view of world, 29 November). WikiLeaks should become a role model for restoring trust in modern journalism. This fearless form of public accountability needs acknowledging and supporting. This will expose the war‑makers and their apologists too.Dr Kailash ChandStalybridge, CheshireThe US embassy cablesWikiLeaksPress freedomNewspapers & magazinesNewspapersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |