By BB Govinda Swami
Hare Krishna,
Please help support devotees in Kazakhstan through a peaceful demonstration.
When:
Wedhesday September 13, from 11:30 to 2 pm
Where:
Kazakhstan embassy.
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Getting There:
This is at the corner of 16th and “O” Street, just off Massachusetts Avenue and Scott Circle. Parking is in the area, on the street.
The closest metro stop is Dupont Circle, it is a 5-10 minnutes walk from there.
We are asking all devotees to come and show their support for devotees in Kazakstan.
Mapquest Directions:
http://www.mapquest .com/maps/ map.adp?formtype =address&addtohistory=&address=1401% 2016th%20St% 20Nw&city=Washington&state=DC&zipcode=20036% 2d2201&country=US&geodiff=1
Background:
Kazakhstan Hare Krishna Temple Website:
http://www.palaceof thesoul.com/ pressrelease_ 1.php
More info on the Kazakstan crisis:
http://www.dandavat s.com/?p= 831
http://www.krishnat emple.com/ homepage_ extras/KHAZAKHST ANPACK.pdf
Brief History:
The temple and multiple homes owned my devotees were threatened with confiscation and destruction by the local government in the Karasai District Kazakhstan. A bulldozer was sent by the local govt to demolish the buildings last April and was only stopped by the civil disobedience of the devotees (they blocked the bulldozer) and the presence of the media and human rights organizations.
That demolition attempt due the attention of additional human rights organizations, national governments (including the US, UK and India) and international media, who have been putting pressure on the Kazakh government.
Human rights organizations, legal experts and even the local Kazakh neighborhood association have confirmed that whatever charges the local govt has made against the devotees are unsubstantiated, and their aggression is simply an attempt to seize the land and is clear harassment of a religious minority.
Last month there was held the first of two recent conferences in Kazakhstan about religious liberty. ISKCON devotees attended that conference, and our case was brought to the attention of the whole convention by scholars and other delegates from the UK and the USA–who pointed out that religious freedom principles were being violated by the hosts of the conference– the Kazakh government.
On September 12-14, a second conference on religious liberty will be held and we are timing our demonstration to coincide with that.
Representatives of the national government have told devotees they want to find a solution to the situation, but nothing in writing or conclusive has been done. In the meantime, local govt officials refuse to meet with devotees to work out a solution and continue to threaten the devotees that they will take their homes and land—although no action has been taken since the bulldozer attempt.
The fear is that the government is just waiting for public concern to quiet down before they make their next attempt to seize the land, and bulldoze the homes of innocent devotees.
The devotee leaders in Kazakhstan have appealed to devotees in the UK, USA, Canada, and India to hold demonstrations next week to draw attention to the plight of the Kazakh devotees–prior to this conference.
In the US, we will be organizing chanting demonstrations on Wednesday, September 13, from noon until 2 pm in front of the Kazakhstan Embassy at 16th and “O” Street NW.
There will be no attempt to violate any law. This will be a peaceful
demonstration to draw attention to the plight of Hare Krishnas in Kazakhstan and to appeal to the central government, through their consulate in NY and embassy in Washington DC. to uphold the Government’s stated support of religious freedom and diversity.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE PLAN TO COME AND SHOW YOUR RESOLVE TO SUPPORT THESE INNOCENT DEVOTEES. MORE DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TEMPLE SUNDAY FEAST.
Dear Rishi Prabhu,
We would like to update you on the situation surrounding ISKCON in Kazakhstan after the OSCE Conference of June 11 ? 13, 2006
Court cases:
1. On 19/06/2006 5 cases regarding Summer Cottages were lost in the Provincial Court, which was a court of second instance, with a decision to evict the defendants from land, demolish illegally constructed buildings, declare records in the horticultural books null and void.
Defendants:
Igor Golous (cottages No.No. 180-181)
Victor Golous (No.No. 59, 61)
Sergei Kornilov (No.No. 130, 137, 139)
Bibinur Tumabayeva (No. 35)
Bibisara Bukibekova (No.No. 48, 90)
2. On 23/05/2006 5 more cases were opened in the Karasay District Court, court of first instance. The hearing of the case is postponed for indefinite time, no explanation is given.
Defendants:
Galina Golous
Kairat Koibagarov
Farida Bayanova
I.F. Lelchuk
Zinaida Ustmanova
3. On July 26, 2006 an appeal was sent to the Supervisory Department of the Supreme Court for review of two cases of A.N. Minin and A.V. Markin.
4. On 25/05/2006 I.S. Zaharchuk, Chief of CC Ptitsevod (Summer cottages cooperative), brought a claim against CC Priozyrye (actual successor of the Summer Cottages Society) to the Economical Court of Almaty City to consider the registration of CC Priozerye null and void. Karasay District Hakimat unlawfully entered the trial as a third party and brought a separate claim with the same demand.
5. On 19/06/2006 the Economical Court of Almaty City issued a decision to leave the claims of Hakimat and I.S. Zaharchuk without trial.
6. On 14/07/2006 I.S. Zaharchuk brought a claim against CC Priozyerye to the Karasay District Court to consider the registration of CC Priozerye null and void. The claim was accepted by judge Bidildanov despite the fact that this claim falls under the jurisdiction of the Economical Court of Almaty City, not the Karasay District Court. The Chief of the CC Priozyerye sent complaints in this regard to General Prosecutor of RK, Chairman of the Supreme Court, Anti-Corruption Committee of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of RK, Chairman of the Almaty Province Court and Chairman of the Karasay District Court.
7. On 15/08/2006 judge Bidildanov of the Karasay District Court issued a decision to transmit the claim to the Economical Court of Almaty City. (The Economical Court of Almaty City has already issued a decision (dated 19/06/2006) to leave the claims of Hakimat and I.S. Zaharchuk without trial.)
Meetings with officials
On 02/07/2006 BB Govinda Swami and Rati Manjari met E.L. Tugzhanov, the Chairman of the Religious Committee of RK. The meeting was unproductive at all. Mr. Tugzhanov expressed his disappointment that we are trying to bring our issue to a political level. He rejected any of our statements and arguments by replying that the Government would deal with us only in legal sphere, meaning in courts. Thus there was no discussion or dialogue found at this meeting. The head of the Expert Department of the Religious Committee said on the meeting that ISKCON is the only religious organization in Kazakhstan which has so much land and what if all the ROs would want to have land. We said that there is so much land in Kazakhstan, but the Chairman replied that all the land in Kazakhstan is priceless and sacred as it was protected by the ancestors. The real question is who will protect the rights of private property in Kazakhstan?
On 09/07/2006 BB Govinda Swami and Rati Manjari met B.Zh. Abdraimov, the Director of the Senate of the Parliament of RK and his counselor M.K. Rayev. They said that since our issue has already got into the court system, the only way to solve it is to have decision of the Supreme Court in our favor. Thus they strongly advised us to meet with the Chairman of the Supreme Court. Also they requested our lawyers to come to meet counselor Rayev and explain our issue.
On 19/07/2006 Rati Manjari and the lawyer had meeting with the counselor M.K. Rayev and explained our issue. Rati Manjari made a request to help with arranging a meeting with the Chairman of the Supreme Court as according to his official schedule he meets people once in a quarter, which will be on 2nd of October and would be too late for us.
On 26/08/2006 the counselor M.K. Rayev phoned Rati Manjari and said that he has got an order from B.Zh. Abdraimov, the Director of the Senate, to arrange a meeting for us with the Chairman of the Supreme Court. We got in touch with the Supreme Court and are expecting an appointment.
Annual Hare Krishna Festival:
An application was submitted to the Karasay District Hakimat with a request for permission to conduct the Annual Hare Krishna Festival.
On 8/07/2006 a written answer of the Hakimat was issued stating that “it is outside of the competence of the local executive authority to give permissive documents for conducting such functions. However by the decision of the Karasay District Court of 22/12/2005 all the documents for the land plots at issue are declared to be null and void. In this regard we ask you to follow the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan without deviation.” Having received this answer a decision was made to cancel the Festival not to aggravate tension with the local authorities.
Yoga Week
On 18/07/2006 a letter was sent to the Almaty Provincial Hakimat with a request for permission to conduct a Yoga week. An answer came in Kazak language that it is beyond the jurisdiction of the Almaty Provincial Hakimat to give such permission, instead this comes withing the jurisdiction of the Karasay District Hakimat(?!) To clarify the situation we phoned the Religious Committee in Astana, we were told that this is up to local administration to decide if permission should be given or not. Not having permission from the authorities, the Yoga week was cancelled. Seems like the authorities are confused and do not take responsibility for giving clear answers to our requests.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
ISKCON Kazakhstan