Kyrgyz citizens obliged to sing anthem during its official

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1/10 TASS 280

BISHKEK, October 1 (ITAR-TASS) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament endorsed the
amendments to the law obliging Kyrgyz citizens to sing the national anthem
during its official performance. The overwhelming majority of deputies
attending the parliament meeting voted for the new law. The faction of the
pro-presidential party Ak-Zhol (Fair Way), which has 71 out of 90 deputy
seats in the parliament, initiated the amendments to the law.
The Kyrgyz lawmakers earlier decided to oblige citizens to stand up
and lay the right hand on the left side of the breast at official events
during the performance of the anthem.
The opposition Social Democratic faction, which has only 11 seats in
the parliament, was the only faction to vote against this innovation.
According to faction's member Irina Karamushkina, the feeling of
patriotism "should be raised from the very childhood" and to make the
adults sing the anthem is "a naive and even an authoritarian style."
The parliament approved the amendments for the compulsory performance
of the anthem before and after broadcasting on all TV and radio channels
in the country. Only the state-run TV and radio-broadcasting corporation
was obliged to do it earlier.
The amendments will enter into force after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
signs them.
-0-baz/kud