[Reader-list] Kyrgyz Government uses surveillance and wiretap on ordinary citizens

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2009/5/3/25344/84106/Diary/Kyrgyz-Government-uses-surveillance-and-wiretap-on-ordinary-citizens

Kyrgyz Government uses surveillance and wiretap on ordinary citizens

Email Print posted by Ryskeldi Satke

On military electronics deal between US and Kyrgyz Government



Jetigen.org

In the summer of 2008 majour kyrgyz media outlets reported a military
equipment purchase deal in the amount of USD 20 million between US
Government and Kyrgyzstan for 2007. Particularly the reports
highlighted a transaction with highly sophisticated weaponry with
reference to the Washington Profile agency out of Washington DC which
published a statistics from US State Department's data for Fiscal Year
2007 .

Further, the head of Kyrgyz Government Igor Chudinov responded
negatively on purchase deal reffering to the incorrect information
with intent to apply to the US Embassy in the Kyrgyzstan to disprove
information on procurement. Chudinov continued that Kyrgyzstan indeed
received assistance from US saying "our country has received american
military - technical assistance for USD $ 20 million 694 thousand, but
I can responsibly state that no weapons were bought ", - explaining
that assistance funds were spent on construction projects for Kyrgyz
Ministry of Defence, cadet school, military helicopter repairs,
electronic communications equipment, fuel expenses, spare parts and so
on.

According, to his words there was no majour arms deal made with US but
Chudinov gave out some information on electronic equipment with no
specifics. American reports indicate that Kyrgyzstan received
assistance at a much larger amount than USD 20 million 694 thousand in
various military programmes from 2001 to 2008 which was published by
the Center of Defense Information.

http://www.cdi.org/pdfs/Kyr gyzstan.pdf

By the data in 2004, US provided Kyrgyzstan with 2 military MI – 8
helicopters in support of the kyrgyz armed forces to combat Islamic
movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) on the southern border of the Republic
but this does not fall for Chudinov's helicopter repairs spending .

The focus of press was placed on the military electronic equipment.
The Pentagon provided 193 units of special electronics of which 1 unit
is a computer designed for military applications in the amount of $
USD 1 million and 192 units of electronic systems and devices for use
in surveillance in the amount of USD 19 million 8 thousand which
totals to USD 20 million 8 thousand. In addition, the Kyrgyz
Government had purchased night vision devices in the amount of USD 34
578.

http://fas.org/programs/ssp /asmp/factsandfigures/gover
nment_data/State_Dept_rpt65 5_FY07.pdf

 These devices designed to intercept, process and analyse the
information from cable and cellular lines as well as e-mail, internet
and hosting servers . The surveillance can be launched 100 to 500
meters away from the target. Technical characteristics of electronic
systems indicate their function on the principle of electromagnetic
waves emitted by interception with any electronics including the
computer screen electromagnetic field. The Siemens Corporation - one
of the largest German enterprises, producing electronic equipment
conducted experiments to restore data on the basis of reading computer
screen electromagnetic field, taken at a distance of 100 meters found
that the maximum distance at which the interception possible, is more
than 2 kilometres.

Such devices are classified in Category XI – Military Electronics of
US Munition List which are sold only with license of the United States
Government. The issue of hightech “toys” has become a legitimate
concern for ordinary citizens especially if they fall into the hands
of wrong individuals who could use it against kyrgyz population
without its knowledge. Given the persecution of opposition parties by
the authorities as well as President Bakiev's surrounding you can only
guess on the size of illegal surveillance and wiretap activities
around members and leaders of United Opposition Movement.

Accordingly, sharp negative reaction of the Prime – Minister Chudinov
on the purchase of "special products" is a logical explanation because
such actions are illegal and against the freedoms and rights of
citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. The recent assassination of Medet
Sadyrkulov (former head of the President Bakiev administration) and
his colleagues had brought opening statements from Elmira Ibraimova
(ex vice Prime-Minister) that surveillance was placed in those days
when Sadyrkulov has been actively engaging in negotiations with
opposition leaders as well as in the very fateful day prior to his
Almaty trip (City in Kazakstan) which was his last day. The official
investigation of his death had produced a version with falsified
collision accident which by most of the opposition leaders described
as unwillingness of the Government to solve the case.

There is an obvious strengthening role of control methods for
independent media followed by recent attacks on journalists and
closing "Lizza", "Alibi" and "De facto" newspapers with trailing
"Azattyk" radio coming to visible shutdown. Bakiev regime as it
appears won't stop with achieved with overlooking  ordinary free
citizens of Kyrgyzstan who do not suspect that they are under active
surveillance. That's how present Government uses hightech progress
contributing to the establishment of a controlled society.



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