External Mediators Should Hold Off

Civil activists have suggested bringing in external mediators to end the stand-off between the authorities and the opposition, but NBCentralAsia analysts say both sides are still capable of holding talks and outsiders should keep their distance. On March 29, the head of the Association of Non-Government and Non-Commercial Organisations, Toktayim Umetalieva, called for outside mediation. “Kyrgyzstan has reached a point where international players like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, or the European Union should intervene to preserve the peace," she told the 24.kg news agency. The opposition United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan headed by Felix Kulov is planning mass rallies for April 9-11 to demand the president's resignation and early presidential elections.