One year after the bloodbath of oil workers and their families in Zhanaozen, we remembered the violence and protested against continuing repression and brutality, at the Kazakh embassy in Brussels. A delegation of LSP/PSL and MEP Paul Murphy were in front of the embassy. This protest was stopped by the local police led by the local mayor Armand De Decker of the liberal MR. Earlier this year it became known that De Decker played a dubious role in a negotiation between Kazakh dictator Nazarbayev and his French colleague Sarkozy.
At the embassy nobody even bothered to speak to us. But they did know who was coming and used their local contacts with the mayor to use the police to stop the protest. The police threatened to give all present a fine of 250 euro each. They arrived almost immediately after we got at the embassy.
In the Uccle area of Brussels protesting against a dictatorship is only allowed if the mayor gives his permission 8 days beforehand. After embedded journalists, more and more authorities now also want to limit protest to embedded protest! It is possible to protest, but only if sanctioned from above. The senior police official at the protest justified his argument as follows: “Children also have to ask permission before they can do something.” This is how democratic rights are treated in these circles.
The decision to stop our protest came from local mayor Armand De Dedecker, probably carrying out the wishes of his friends in the embassy. The close links between De Decker and the Nazarbayev regime were revealed earlier this year. The satirical French paper ‘Le Canard Enchaîné’ then published an article about ‘Kazakh-gate’ with De Decker in a prominent role.
According to the French paper, Nazarbayev wanted to conclude a lucrative business deal with the French company EADS for 45 helicopters. For this, Nazarbayev put forward conditions to the French president Sarkozy. The prosecution of three friends of Nazarbayev in Belgium, including billionaire Patakh Chodiev, had to be stopped. The three were subject to a criminal investigation because of links with organised crime and corruption. Putting pressure on the Belgian courts didn’t help so the laws had to be changed.
‘Le Canard Enchaîné’ stated that advisors of Sarkozy contacted Armand De Decker to make sure that the legal changes would be rushed through parliament to ensure that the friends of Nazarbayev could benefit. The proposal of law was introduced in the Lower House on 11 February 2011 and made applicable on 16 May 2011. De Decker denies that he intervened in the procedure, but it is remarkable how quickly the proposal became law. A small detail: in his function as a lawyer, De Decker also participated in the defence of Chodiev. In June 2011, Chodiev and his two friends were the first ones to make use of these changes: they paid 23 million to get rid of the criminal investigation and prosecution. A few days later Nazarbayev signed a contract to order 45 helicopters from EADS.
The same Armand De Decker now stops protest action at the Kazakh embassy in Brussels. While the rich and corrupt get protection, any protest against the most brutal elements of this club of super rich has to be stopped. The rich and powerful get new rights and possibilities, while our democratic right to protest get more and more limited.
The corrupt dictator of Kazakhstan can count on the solidarity of his friends in the political establishment in Western Europe. The former British prime minister Tony Blair became an advisor of Nazarbayev. The former French president Sarkozy was involved in lobbying to get Belgian legislation changed to help billionaire friends of Nazarbayev. The ruling classes however are not the only ones who know what class solidarity means. One year after the bloodbath of Zhanaozen, we have not forgotten the violence and the bloodshed. We continue to build our solidarity with the Kazakh workers and their families against repression and oppression. This solidarity will not be stopped by the opposition of the local friends of Nazarbayev.
