New video shows riot police shooting unarmed protesters in Zhanaozen
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Campaign Kazakhstan demonstrates in Berlin and Cologne
Campaign Kazakhstan activists, Germany
Berlin
Yesterday, around 50 people protested in the centre of Berlin, criticising torture, repression and murder in Kazakhstan. Trade unionists including, metalworkers, teachers and health workers were joined by activists from the international “CampaignKazakhstan”, as well as members of the German LINKE (LEFT) party, SAV (CWI in Germany) and other left organisations, informing passers-by and tourists at Brandenburg gate of the events since last friday around the oil workers’ strike in western Kazakhstan.
The protesters shouted, “stop the slaughter in Kazakhstan!” and in several speaches demanded an independent investigation of the events, an end to repression in Mangistau region, the end of German collaboration with the dictatorial regime and the recognition of the independent union the strikers have set up. Furthermore, they called on all trade unionists to increase the international solidarity work, helping to break the information blockade and refuting the lies of the Kazakh state.
The passers-by reacted positively to our demands for solidarity and in less than an hour we collected 50 Euros for the solidarity campaign.
Cologne
Around 20 people left-wing organisations including LINKE, Linksjugend ['solid] and SAV (CWI) participated in a protest action in front of the ESSO gas station in Cologne. They protested against the Kazakh regime’s massacring of oil workers last weekend. We had good feedback from people driving by. Many thanks to everyone who participated.
Paul Murphy MEP (Member of the European Parliament), recently in Kazakhstan to support the Oil-workers in their struggle against KazMunaiGaz and the Nazarbayev regime, sends the following video message to the oil-workers in Zhanaozen.
Below we carry a report from The Moscow News about the continuing emergency in Kazakhstan. We appeal to all trade unionists, human rights activists, journalists and socialists to publicise this atrocious attack on trade unionists their families and their supporters.
Please send protest and solidarity messages, including points of the workers programme, to campaignkazakhstan@gmail.com
- An end to the massacre and withdrawal of all troops and riot police from the Mangystau region
- An immediate inquiry under the full control of the workers and local residents
- The implementation of all the demands of the striking workers
- Freedom for all political prisoners, including Natalia Sokolova
- The formation of a mass workers’ party that fights to end the rule of Nazarbayev
Up to 70 peaceful protesters and supporters of striking oil workers killed.
500 injured.
***BREAKING NEWS***
10:15am GMT, TODAY, reports of tanks and military forces used in battles in Kazakh city of Zhanaozen to crush protests and break strikes.
Today, on Kazakhstan’s Independence Day, more than 3,000 people assembled peacefully in Zhanaozen, to promote the demands of the oil workers who have been on strike since May. Police and special forces attacked the meeting and opened fire on the strikers and their families.
By around 10 a.m., London time, 50 had already been killed, with at least 500 more wounded. Reports show
1,500 marines and troops have gone in and the death toll mounting.
Administrative buildings and the Christmas tree in the central square have been set on fire. One of the buildings of the oil company, Uzenmunaigaz, was blown up. An information blockade has been set up, with all social media and mainstream media blocked.
Members of Campaign Kazakhstan in Britain are holding a protest TODAY at 12 noon outside the Kazakhstan Embassy at 33 Thurloe Square, London SW 7 2SD.
They want to know why former Prime Minister, Tony Blair supports this dictatorial and murderous regime.
They also support the call for the OSCE to expel Kazaklhstan from its organisation.
The campaign demands today:
Stop the killing; withdraw the troops!
Give the strikers their demands and their jobs back!
An immediate official inquiry into this atrocity by workers, their lawyers and their elected representatives!
Free all political prisoners, including the oilworkers’ lawyer, Natalia Sokolova
The immediate end to the regime’s repression against opposition activists
An end to the support given by European and international governments, politicians, diplomats and cultural figures to the authoritarian Nazarbayev regime
Press release by Campaign Kazakhstan in response to an appeal by Zhanartu (All-Kazakhstan Independent Trade Union Federation).
For up to date news, phone Paul Murphy, Member of European Parliament, who recently visited the striking oilworkers at: 00353861688050
Or his representative in London on: 89888797.
For news from the picket contact mobile number: 07745 834887.
For more information about the campaign contact: Ken Douglas, PO Box 24697, London E11 1HH
Telephone 0208 9888762 or 07745 834887
We are not dumb slaves – end the lies and humiliation!
The following appeal had been widely distributed by the Organising Committee made up of strikers and residents in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstancalling for a day of protest on the 16th December.
The oil-workers in Mangystau, West Kazakhstan, have been battling with their employer for more than six months now. “Negotiations” at the end of November demonstrated once again that neither the government nor the company had any intention of taking any serious steps towards discussing the real issues leading to the strike.
Campaign reporters, Kazakhstan
In the lead up to the negotiations, the strikers from all the companies involved in the strike reformulated their demands. They presented six altogether:- a review of the collective agreement; the introduction of coefficients (additional payments) for dangerous work and work in remote regions; the sacking of the director of “Ozenmunaigaz”, Eshmanov; the reinstatement of all those sacked to their previous jobs; payment of wages lost during the strike and, of course, the release of their lawyer, Natalia Sokolova. (See details in previous material on this site).
Although the workers were represented by ten people, they were not properly elected and did not report back on the course of discussions. But it soon became clear that neither the employer nor the government were intent on serious talks. It was revealed, for example, that despite a statement by the government side during the previous week that strikers could be reinstated, what was being offered was less than 300 jobs at another workplace on significantly lower wages. (There are over 2,500 sacked strikers).
