Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA556
2009-03-31 11:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 14-27
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UNCLAS ASTANA 000556
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 14-27
UNCLAS ASTANA 000556
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 14-27
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."
OPPOSITIONISTS RESERVE THE OPTION TO PROTEST
2. On March 17, the leaders of the opposition parties Azat, the
National Social Democratic Party (OSDP),and the Communist Party
issued a statement rejecting the ruling Nur Otan party's "memorandum
on stability" -- a proposal that all parties refrain from public
protest actions until the economic situation stabilizes. The three
opposition parties called the proposal "impractical." Alikhan
Baimenov's Ak Zhol party -- which the other opposition parties
consider to be the government's "pocket opposition" -- previously
signed on to the memorandum.
COMMUNISTS AND ALGA FORM A BLOCK
3. The Communist Party and the unregistered Alga party announced on
March 20 their intention to establish a political block called
"Narodovlastiye" (People's Power). In a statement, they said that
the goal of the block is to unite the resources of both parties and
to raise awareness of urgent problems the nation is facing. The
parties claim that at a time when there is a clear crisis in the
governance of the state, society needs a constructive opponent of
the ruling authorities to protect people from arbitrariness and
lawlessness.
UNITED OPPOSITION?
4. In an interview with the opposition newspaper "Taszhargan,"
Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, the leader of the Shanyrak movement, outlined
his vision for uniting all opposition parties into a single union.
In his view, opposition parties should learn from the ruling Nur
Otan party, which united many pro-government forces, and form their
own block in advance of the country's parliamentary and presidential
elections (which are both scheduled to take place in 2012).
Kozhakhmetov said that he passed a detailed proposal for such a
union to the leaders of Azat, OSDP, and the Communist Party. Asked
for his predictions on whether the proposal will be adopted,
Kozhakhmetov admitted that while "negotiations are underway, it is
difficult to presume that they will lead to an agreement."
AFGHAN WAR VETERANS DEMAND RESTITUTION
5. On March 20, 60 members of the Afghanistan War Veterans Union
picketed the building of an Almaty district court demanding a fair
review of the sale of their organization's property. The
protesters allege that several years ago, the chairman of the
Afghanistan War Veterans Union illegally sold the organization's
property, including a land plot and office buildings. Members of
the Union challenged the deal in the courts, but hearings on the
matter have been continuously postponed.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 14-27
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."
OPPOSITIONISTS RESERVE THE OPTION TO PROTEST
2. On March 17, the leaders of the opposition parties Azat, the
National Social Democratic Party (OSDP),and the Communist Party
issued a statement rejecting the ruling Nur Otan party's "memorandum
on stability" -- a proposal that all parties refrain from public
protest actions until the economic situation stabilizes. The three
opposition parties called the proposal "impractical." Alikhan
Baimenov's Ak Zhol party -- which the other opposition parties
consider to be the government's "pocket opposition" -- previously
signed on to the memorandum.
COMMUNISTS AND ALGA FORM A BLOCK
3. The Communist Party and the unregistered Alga party announced on
March 20 their intention to establish a political block called
"Narodovlastiye" (People's Power). In a statement, they said that
the goal of the block is to unite the resources of both parties and
to raise awareness of urgent problems the nation is facing. The
parties claim that at a time when there is a clear crisis in the
governance of the state, society needs a constructive opponent of
the ruling authorities to protect people from arbitrariness and
lawlessness.
UNITED OPPOSITION?
4. In an interview with the opposition newspaper "Taszhargan,"
Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, the leader of the Shanyrak movement, outlined
his vision for uniting all opposition parties into a single union.
In his view, opposition parties should learn from the ruling Nur
Otan party, which united many pro-government forces, and form their
own block in advance of the country's parliamentary and presidential
elections (which are both scheduled to take place in 2012).
Kozhakhmetov said that he passed a detailed proposal for such a
union to the leaders of Azat, OSDP, and the Communist Party. Asked
for his predictions on whether the proposal will be adopted,
Kozhakhmetov admitted that while "negotiations are underway, it is
difficult to presume that they will lead to an agreement."
AFGHAN WAR VETERANS DEMAND RESTITUTION
5. On March 20, 60 members of the Afghanistan War Veterans Union
picketed the building of an Almaty district court demanding a fair
review of the sale of their organization's property. The
protesters allege that several years ago, the chairman of the
Afghanistan War Veterans Union illegally sold the organization's
property, including a land plot and office buildings. Members of
the Union challenged the deal in the courts, but hearings on the
matter have been continuously postponed.
HOAGLAND