Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA380
2009-03-03 07:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, FEBRUARY 17 - 27
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UNCLAS ASTANA 000380
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI KDEM CH KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, FEBRUARY 17 - 27
UNCLAS ASTANA 000380
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI KDEM CH KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, FEBRUARY 17 - 27
1. The "Almaty Notes" series from U.S. Office Almaty focuses on
developments in civil society, the media, and the opposition in
Kazakhstan's "southern capital."
OPPOSITION PARTIES CRITICIZE THE ELECTION LAW
2. On February 18, four opposition parties -- Azat, the National
Social Democratic Party (OSDP),Alga and the Communist Party of
Kazakhstan (CPK) -- issued a joint statement criticizing the
recently-amended election law, claiming that it is a step backwards
from democratic norms. Communist Party leader Serikbolsyn Abdildin
said that the new legislation would clear the path for "further
usurpation of power" and limitations on the rights and freedoms of
the citizenry. He predicted that only President Nazarbayev's Nur
Otan party and other pro-presidential parties will be able to get
into parliament under the amended law. Alga head Vladimir Kozlov
argued that the law "nullified" the development of political parties
and democratization and was aimed primarily at placating the
international community.
DOLSHIKI AGAIN PICKET THE AKIM'S OFFICE
3. On February 16, several dozen Almaty "dolshiki" -- i.e.,
individuals who paid money upfront for apartments which have not
been completed -- picketed the office eof the Almaty Akim (mayor)
demanding their apartments. The picket was a reaction to a
statement by the Akim's press spokesman, Sergey Kuyanov, who claimed
on February 14 that individuals who made contracts with the Verniy
construction company would not receive their apartments or their
investments back. In response to the picket, a Deputy Akim said
Kuyanov's statement was his own opinion and did not reflect the
position of the Akim's office. The Akim's office subsequently
released a statement reassuring Almaty residents that the city
administration had the situation under control and will continue to
provide legal assistance to "dolshiki" who have filed civil suits
against the Verniy construction company.
SCIENTISTS AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF RESEARCH
4. On February 17, several members of the National Academy of
Sciences held a press conference to announce their opposition to the
privatization of research institutions. The academicians claimed
that the government's recent reorganization of research institutions
has ended in failure and has led to the "disappearance" of such
research facilities as the Institute for State and Law, the
Institute of Oil and Natural Salts, the Institute of State Research,
the Astrophysics Institute, and the Kazakh Institute of Mineral
Resources. Kazakhstan's researchers have been driven out, and
research in the basic sciences has been severely crippled, claimed
the scientists. The group addressed a letter to President
Nazarbayev, asking him to look into the situation. The scientists
also planned to hold a protest rally on February 20, but the city
administration did not grant them the appropriate permit.
POLICE CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL LABOR
5. Almaty law enforcement authorities announced that since the
beginning of the year, almost 3,000 foreign laborers have been
apprehended, and 276 migrants have been deported. According to the
head of Almaty Migration Police, Marat Kezembayev, the police have
been taking tough measures against illegal foreign labor. Most of
the migrants come from near-by CIS countries, specifically
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
CHINESE LANGUAGE AT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
6. China's Consul General in Almaty, Sun Linjiang, opened the
Confucious Institute at the Kazak National University in Almaty.
The Institute will train students in the Chinese language, in
accordance with a program created by the University of Lanzhou,
China.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI KDEM CH KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, FEBRUARY 17 - 27
1. The "Almaty Notes" series from U.S. Office Almaty focuses on
developments in civil society, the media, and the opposition in
Kazakhstan's "southern capital."
OPPOSITION PARTIES CRITICIZE THE ELECTION LAW
2. On February 18, four opposition parties -- Azat, the National
Social Democratic Party (OSDP),Alga and the Communist Party of
Kazakhstan (CPK) -- issued a joint statement criticizing the
recently-amended election law, claiming that it is a step backwards
from democratic norms. Communist Party leader Serikbolsyn Abdildin
said that the new legislation would clear the path for "further
usurpation of power" and limitations on the rights and freedoms of
the citizenry. He predicted that only President Nazarbayev's Nur
Otan party and other pro-presidential parties will be able to get
into parliament under the amended law. Alga head Vladimir Kozlov
argued that the law "nullified" the development of political parties
and democratization and was aimed primarily at placating the
international community.
DOLSHIKI AGAIN PICKET THE AKIM'S OFFICE
3. On February 16, several dozen Almaty "dolshiki" -- i.e.,
individuals who paid money upfront for apartments which have not
been completed -- picketed the office eof the Almaty Akim (mayor)
demanding their apartments. The picket was a reaction to a
statement by the Akim's press spokesman, Sergey Kuyanov, who claimed
on February 14 that individuals who made contracts with the Verniy
construction company would not receive their apartments or their
investments back. In response to the picket, a Deputy Akim said
Kuyanov's statement was his own opinion and did not reflect the
position of the Akim's office. The Akim's office subsequently
released a statement reassuring Almaty residents that the city
administration had the situation under control and will continue to
provide legal assistance to "dolshiki" who have filed civil suits
against the Verniy construction company.
SCIENTISTS AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF RESEARCH
4. On February 17, several members of the National Academy of
Sciences held a press conference to announce their opposition to the
privatization of research institutions. The academicians claimed
that the government's recent reorganization of research institutions
has ended in failure and has led to the "disappearance" of such
research facilities as the Institute for State and Law, the
Institute of Oil and Natural Salts, the Institute of State Research,
the Astrophysics Institute, and the Kazakh Institute of Mineral
Resources. Kazakhstan's researchers have been driven out, and
research in the basic sciences has been severely crippled, claimed
the scientists. The group addressed a letter to President
Nazarbayev, asking him to look into the situation. The scientists
also planned to hold a protest rally on February 20, but the city
administration did not grant them the appropriate permit.
POLICE CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL LABOR
5. Almaty law enforcement authorities announced that since the
beginning of the year, almost 3,000 foreign laborers have been
apprehended, and 276 migrants have been deported. According to the
head of Almaty Migration Police, Marat Kezembayev, the police have
been taking tough measures against illegal foreign labor. Most of
the migrants come from near-by CIS countries, specifically
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
CHINESE LANGUAGE AT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
6. China's Consul General in Almaty, Sun Linjiang, opened the
Confucious Institute at the Kazak National University in Almaty.
The Institute will train students in the Chinese language, in
accordance with a program created by the University of Lanzhou,
China.
HOAGLAND