Campaign Kazakhstan

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Statement by the trade union, CGT “Pôle emploi” (Employment Service) of the region, on Laurent Fabius’ visit to Kazakhstan

To: Monsieur Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs before his recent visit to Kazakhstan

We have just learned that you are planning to visit Kazakhstan on March 1, 2013, in the context of the development of relations between that country and France.

The political, economic, cultural and scientific relations with this country have intensified in recent years. This intensification that your government keeps and maintains, follows on from the actions of the previous governments under Sarkozy.

We are surprised that representatives of the French state maintain such good relations with the Kazakh state, especially with Nazarbayev, President of the Republic, who is welcomed with great pomp in the Palace of the Republic, while the people and workers of that country, the social movement and its leaders, have been facing bloody repression for several years in a highly disastrous social and economic context.

Do we have to remind you, Monsieur Minister, of the repression of the heroic strike of the oil workers in the city of Zhanaozen, which resulted, on Dec. 16, 2011, in a massacre of about a hundred people, hundreds of people injured and arrested during a peaceful demonstration?

Do we have to remind you of the regular assassination of trade unionists, the arbitrary arrests of activists of social movements and even of lawyers who defend the workers in struggle in this country?

Do we have to remind you of the semi-systematic attacks on strikers and trade unionists by the special forces of the police?

Monsieur Minister, we suppose you will shake hands with the executioners of Kazakh workers, to allow some French multinational companies such as AREVA and TOTAL to continue their business and increase their profits by overexploiting, in the most shameful and detestable way, the working class of this country.

So, instead of meeting with representatives of this criminal State for economic reasons, we ask you to meet the workers in struggle, from French, Kazakh or all other companies located there in order to exploit ’s abundant natural resources – an exploitation from which the workers never receive the fruits.

Go and meet for exaDeclaration_CGT-Pole-emploi-Lorraine_Visite-Fabius-au-Kazakhstanmple Vadim Kuramshin in jail, where he languished just for having been the advisor of the Zhanaozen strikers, and a recognized human rights activist. Go and meet Ainur Kurmanov and Esenbek Ukteshbaev, leaders of the trade union organisation ‘Zhanartu’, who are constantly harassed by the Kazkhstan authorities and constantly threatened with imprisonment and even of State murder, or Berik Zhagiparov, arrested last February in Zhezkazgan.

Monsieur Laurent Fabius, tell us, on matters of diplomacy and international relations, when is the change coming?

Andrej Hunko, who is a member of the german parliament for Die Linke and a member of the parlamentarian assembly of the Council of Europe, issued a press release demanding a fair trial for Vadim Kuramshin tomorrow, 14 february 2013. Hunko says: “The process against Vadim Kuramshin is being monitored very closely on an international level. I am deeply convinced that, if the process is carried through in accordance with the rule of law, it can only end with Vadim’s release.” The german press release can be found at http://www.andrej-hunko.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/1453-vadim-kuramshin-muss-fairen-prozess-bekommen.

Below is a press release from Paul Murphy MEP, on a recent meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan

On 29 January, Members of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Central Asia were invited to meet with Kazakhstan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Erlan Idrissov, who visited Brussels to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the EU.

Minister Idrissov proudly described Kazakhstan as a “success story” and praised Kazakhstan’s achievements in terms of leaps in GDP growth over the past 20 years. He explained that Kazakhstan enjoyed the “confidence and support in society to ensure this growth”.

The Minister invited Members of the European Parliament to “come to Kazakhstan, talk to our people, the young generation in particular.”

Responding to the Zhanaozen killings in December 2011 and the demand for an independent, international investigation into the event, he denounced that demand as “an ‘unpartner’ like approach, a shame and a total mistrust expressed against the Kazakhstan authorities”

He repeatedly referred to Kazakhstan as an “emerging and developing economy that cannot apply the same standards as a fully-fledged democracy.”

Questioned by Paul Murphy MEP about the allegations of widespread torture of defendants in the Zhanaozen trials, the unjustified and long prison sentences of Roza Tuletaeva and other leading strike activists, the subsequent crack down of opposition activists as well as accusations of procedural violations and the denial of a fair appeal trial for Vadim Kuramshin, a well-known human rights defender in Kazakhstan, Mr Idrissov dismissed all those allegations as “empty accusations and speculations, based on information by people who have an interest in destabilising the situation in Kazakhstan”. He continued by saying “someone used the Zhanaozen protest and turned it into violence”

He also explained that “no one has the right to doubt the court system and rulings in Kazakhstan.”

The Minister also justified the recent crack down on opposition media by saying that the crack down was restricted to media outlets supported by the “criminal run away Ablazov.”

When Paul Murphy MEP – who was denied a visa to travel to Kazakhstan at the invitation of the independent trade union Zhanartu twice by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2011- asked the Minister about the possibility to travel to Kazakhstan in the second half of 2012, the Minister explained that Kazakhstan is not obliged to accept every visa application or to explain why a visa was denied.

Commenting on the exchange of views with Minister Idrissov, Paul Murphy commented:

“I fundamentally disagree with the Minister´s perception that discontent and dissatisfaction within Kazakhstan is a result of manipulation from the outside. Many workers, independent trade union activists, human rights defenders and journalists bravely stand up for their rights, often at risk of being imprisoned, threatened, intimidated and even tortured. My experience from talking to them is that they do so because they want their country to change for the better; they want to tell the truth about what is happening, exercise their basic democratic rights and feel that the huge wealth that is present in Kazakhstan should benefit the people of Kazakhstan.

“I will continue to struggle alongside activists in Kazakhstan, in particular, members of Socialist Movement Kazakhstan, to fight for justice and democratic and socialist change. I will be attempting to visit Kazakhstan again in the second half of 2013 to see for myself the conditions of workers in Kazakhstan and to bring international solidarity and support.”

Free all political prisoners!

Kazakhstan is a one man dictatorship. Workers across the country are paid starvation wages whilst a tiny minority become fabulously wealthy. When people stand up for their social, human, workers rights, they face vicious repression. Kazakhstan is constantly ranked amongst the lowest in the world for press freedom, human rights, but amongst the highest for corruption and embezzlement. Tony Blair has acted as an apologist for this regime, speaking on its behalf many times.
But this has not stopped people fighting back. The repression is met with a heroic fighback by many in Kazakhstan. Kazakh president Nazarbayev is preparing the way to become the next Mubarrak or Ben Ali.

Aron Atabek
Aron Atabek, a poet and dissident, has been imprisoned for 5 years now for supporting the struggle of residents of Shanrak. They were evicted with no offer of alternative accommodation. For the ‘crime’ of helping negotiations with the authorities and the residents Aron was sentenced to 18 years. He has been in solitary confinement for 2 years, denied access to his family. This is illegal under international law. We demand his immediate release, along with all those imprisoned as a result of the Shanrak struggle.

Vadim Kuramshin
Human rights activist and lawyer Vadim Kuramshin has recently been sentenced for 12 years in a retrail, after a jury threw out the charges a few months earlier. Getting rid of all pretense of a fair trial, vadim or his representatives were not allowed to attend.
Vadim is in prison simply because he is a throrn in the side of the regime, highlighting the many human rights abuses that occur throughout Kazakhstan. For more details on the campaign for Vadim, see our website below.

Who are Campaign Kazakhstan?
Campaign Kazakhstan fights for democratic, social and workers’ rights in Kazakhstan. Through its campaigning material and its web-site, it highlights the conditions facing workers there and organises international solidarity. Many trade union branches and human rights groups have supported Campaign Kazakhstan internationally. Paul Murphy MEP has raised the campaign’s demands in the European Parliament. Jeremy Corbyn MP, Alan Meale MP and Billy Bragg have all supported the campaign.
Campaign Kazakhstan appeals to human rights and press freedom organisations, trade unionists and all those who support democratic, social, worker and political rights in Kazakhstan to:
a) Add their names to the list of sponsors and supporters of the campaign
b) Send letters of protest about the denial of democratic rights in Kazakhstan
c) Spread the word about the situation in Kazakhstan
d) join protests lobbies and other campaigns
e) Make a donation through the website and ask your colleagues, family and friends to do the same

campaignkazakhstan.org

Commemorating the massacre in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, one year on

Eyewitnesses of Kazakhstan struggle and Zhanaozen aftermath, activist from South Africa on Marikana massacre, documentary films, poetry and music, including Kazakhstan cellist, Alfia Nakipbekova

On Sunday 16 December, Campaign Kazakhstan will hold a cultural commemoration to mark the anniversary of the police massacre in Zhanaozen. The event will take place at the Horse Hospital, Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 1JD. It starts at 3, doors open at 2:30pm.

Mick Whale, recent visitor to Zhanaozen and secretary of Campaign Kazakhstan, said, “The massacre in Zhanaozen of striking oil workers and their supporters still dominates events in Kazakhstan today. Social movement activists, workers and human rights lawyers all face continual harassment – from being followed by special forces, being arrested and fined, right up to imprisonment, torture and death in ‘suspicious circumstances’. When I was in Zhanaozen in November, I met those lucky enough to survive the events of 16 December last year and the families of those who did not.

“Britain has at least £10bn worth of trade with Kazakhstan every year, and former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, pours praise on the regime there. This event aims to highlight the real face of the Kazakh regime and the brutal way all opposition is swept aside.

“As in Marikana, South Africa, those in power think that they can get away with atrocities against workers in struggle. But this event will serve notice that instead of allowing opposition to be quashed we are linking up protests and support around the globe.”

The event on Sunday will coincide with commemorative events inside Kazakhstan. On the following day, Monday 17 December, demonstrations are being organised internationally – in London and other capital cities in their support and to protest against the Nazarbayev regime and all who do deals with it.

Facebook event here - http://www.facebook.com/events/302132619888425/

A CULTURAL COMMEMORATION

On the first anniversary of the notorious massacre in

Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan

of unarmed men, women and children by state forces

Sunday, 16 December, 2012

at

THE HORSE HOSPITAL

Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JD (2 minutes from Russell Square tube station)

Doors open at 2.30pm and close at 6pm

***********

Programme for event from 3pm to 5pm

Introduction

Film: The massacre at Zhanaozen

Alfia Nakipbekova plays Sarabande from Solo Cello Suite no.2 in D by JS Bach

Mick Whale (Secretary Campaign Kazakhstan) reports on recent visit to Zhanaozen

Poems and prose by imprisoned Kazakh poet – dissident Aron Atabek

Speech from Peter Taaffe (Secretary Socialist Party)

Interval 15 minutes

Speaker and unique film on the South Africa Marikana Miners’ Massacre

Weizmann Hamilton for National Strike Committee and DSM

“Trimming Pablo” – a short film by award-winning writer and director Tim Newton

Picasso comes to Sheffield during the Cold War

Live music from ‘Tolerance Manoeuvre’ and Mikey Kirkpatrick ‘Bird Radio’

*************

Entrance £5 waged, £3 unwaged

Light refreshments available

Beer, wine and soft drinks on sale at the bar

Stay on for informal discussion and recorded music

Please let us know if you are thinking of coming via campaignkazakhstan@gmail.com

You can get tickets on-line at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4921581583

CDs of music played by Alfia and the Cellorhythmics donated for sale at the event

Donations to help the families of those killed, injured and imprisoned gratefully received

See Campaign Kazakhstan web-site for articles, petitions and how to donate at: campaignkazakhstan.org

************************************************************************

Plans will be announced for protests the following day, 17 December, outside the buildings of companies that do business in Kazakhstan

End massacres and repression; for workers’ and democratic rights in Kazakhstan now!

Aufruf in deutsch
Appel en français

Video of protest outside the Olympics 2012 British Business Embassy

Campaign Kazakhstan, 26 July 2012
To:
The Kazakh authorities
Judge Samat Tulesbai, presiding over the case of Vadim Kuramshin in the Zhambylskaya oblast
The Head of the Special Court for Criminal Cases in the Zhambylskaya oblast
The Head of the Criminal Court, Mr. Obydov

We have received news that Vadim Kuramshin, the human rights activist and lawyer for prisoners’ rights, falsely accused of bribery and corruption in Zhambylskaya Oblast, Kazakhstan, has started a hunger strike. This is a desperate and valiant attempt to get justice and insist on his basic democratic rights after being held in jail for six months already.
We demand that the court re-convene immediately with the jury in order to bring this case to a close.
We demand the immediate release of Vadim Kuramshin and the dropping of all charges against him.
We demand that those who have tried to sentence him to years in prison on the basis of false evidence and trumped up charges should themselves be held to account for their actions.
Please inform us on progress with these demands.
There are supporters of Campaign Kazakhstan in fifty countries on all five continents. It will make even more noise internationally if these demands are not immediately acceded to.
It will also continue to campaign against any government entering talks or any business or political relations with the Kazakhstan regime until genuine democracy is established in that country.

Yours in protest,

Mick Whale
Assistant Secretary,
Campaign Kazakhstan
07894 027 754

Please use these emails and phone numbers and also e-mail the Kazakh embassy of your country

Head of Regional Court

+7 7262 451219

hc-1@h.sud.kz

Specialised regional Court for Criminal Cases

+7 7262 43-12-04

hc-16@h.sud.kz

Please send copies to: kazakhstansolidarity@gmail.com and campaignkazakhstan@gmail.com

Protest_Vadim_Kuramshin_July_26_Hunger_Strike

Aufruf in deutsch

Vadim Kuramschin seit Montag im Hungerstreik
Sofortige massive Proteste notwendig!

Wie wir aus sicherer Quelle erfahren haben, ist der kasachische Menschenrechtsaktivist und -anwalt Vadim Kuramschin vor drei Tagen in einen unbefristeten Hungerstreik getreten. Er sah sich zu diesem verzweifelten Schritt veranlasst, weil sein Prozess seit Monaten verschleppt wird (Absetzung der Jury, Festhalten an nachweislich fabrizierten “belastenden Beweisen”, Frist zur Wiedereröffnung des Verfahrens verstreichen lassen etc.).
Vadim Kuramshin setzt sich seit Jahren sowohl für die Menschenrechte in Kasachstan allgemein als auch für die sozialen und gewerkschaftlichen Rechte der ÖlarbeiterInnen ein und war schon mehrmals im Gefängnis. Diesmal droht ihm aber eine mehrjährige Haftstrafe in den Fängen des für Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Folter bekannten kasachischen Justizsystems. JedeR GenossIn und jedeR aktive GewerkschafterIn sollte die Protestkampagne unterstützen!

Ihr könnt den obigen Muster-Protestbrief (in englischer Sprache) verwenden. Bitte schickt diesen mit euren Namen / gewerkschaftlichen Funktionen an folgende Adressen:

Botschaft der Republik Kasachstan in Deutschland: berlin@mfa.kz

Vorsitzender des Regionalgerichtshofes: hc-1@h.sud.kz bzw. 007 7262 451219

Regionaler Sondergerichtshof für Kriminalfälle: hc-16@h.sud.kz bzw. 007 7262 431204

Bitte schickt Kopien eurer Schreiben an kazakhstansolidarity@gmail.com sowie campaignkazakhstan@gmail.com.

Unsere Proteste machen wirklich einen Unterschied und können durch den gemeinsam aufgebauten Druck dafür sorgen, dass diese tödliche Attacke auf den Menschenrechtsanwalt, der dem Nasarbajew-Regime ein Dorn im Auge ist, beendet wird.

Zusätzlich bitten wir alle UnterstützerInnen von Campaign Kazakhstan, sich in die Online-Petition zur Freilassung Vadim Kuramschins einzutragen: http://campaignkazakhstan.org/index.php/free-vadim-kuramshin-immediately-e-mail-protest-and-online-petition/petition-for-the-release-of-vadim-kuramshin/

Appel en français

Vadim Kuramshin est entré en grève de la faim !

Aux autorités du Kazakhstan
Au Juge Samat Tulesbai, qui preside le procès de Vadim Kuramshin dans l’Oblast de Zhambylskaya
Au chef de la Cour Pénale de l’Oblast de Zhambylskaya
Au Chef de la Cour Pénale Mr. Obydov

Nous avons appris que Vadim Kuramshin, le militant des droits de l’Homme et avocat des droits des prisonniers, faussement accusé de corruption dans l’Oblast de Zhambylskaya au Kazakhstan, a commencé une grève de la faim. C’est une tentative désespérée et courageuse d’obtenir que justice soit faite et d’insister sur ses droits démocratiques de base après déjà 6 mois d’emprisonnement. Nous exigeons que le tribunal soit immédiatement re-convoqué avec son jury afin de terminer ce procès.

Nous demandons la libération immédiate de Vadim Kuramshin et l’abandon de toutes les charges contre lui.

Nous demandons que ceux qui ont tenté de le condamner à des années de prison sur base de fausses preuves et d’accusations forgées soient eux-mêmes tenus pour responsables de leurs actions.

SVP informez-nous des progrès faits dans le sens de ces revendications.

Il y a des partisans de la Campagne Kazakhstan dans cinquante pays des cinq continents. La campagne fera encore plus de bruit internationalement si ces revendications ne sont pas immédiatement obtenues. Elle continuera à militer contre tout gouvernement qui entamerait des négociations ou des relations économiques ou politiques quelles qu’elles soient avec le régime du Kazakhstan, jusqu’à ce que la réelle démocratie soit établie dans ce pays.

En protest,

Mick Whale
Secrétaire assistant,
Campaign Kazakhstan

SVP utilisez les emails et numéros de téléphone suivants ainsi que l’email de l’ambassade du Kazakhstan : office@amb-kazakhstan.fr

Chef du tribunal régional : +7 7262 451219 / hc-1@h.sud.kz

Cour Pénale Régionale Spéciale +7 7262 43-12-04 / hc-16@h.sud.kz

SVP en copie à: kazakhstansolidarity@gmail.com et campaignkazakhstan@gmail.com

Press release of the Italian Campagna Kazakhstan start:

COMUNICATO STAMPA

Campagna di solidarietà internazionale coi lavoratori del settore petrolifero in Kazakhstan
Anche in Italia le prime iniziative

Da ormai quasi un anno i lavoratori del settore petrolifero in Kazakhstan sono in lotta contro il regime di Nazarbayev per chiedere migliori condizioni di lavoro e rispetto dei diritti sindacali e democratici fondamentali. Lo scorso dicembre le forze speciali del regime hanno sparato su una manifestazione sindacale provocando centinaia di morti e di feriti. Arresti arbitrari e maltrattamenti vanno avanti senza tregua. L’Associazione ControCorrente aderisce e promuove in Italia la campagna internazionale di solidarietà nei confronti di questi lavoratori, sostenuta tra gli altri dal parlamentare europeo Paul Murphy e dai deputati irlandesi Clare Daly e Joe Higgins. Il Kazakhstan è un paese con cui l’Italia intrattiene importanti rapporti commerciali. L’ENI è uno dei principali partner ecoomici del regime, il fondo sovrano del Kazakhstan detiene una quota significativa del capitale di Unicredit. Qualche anno fa Berlusconi si rallegrava della rielezione di Nazarbayev col 92% dei consensi, una consultazione giudicata una truffa dagli osservatori internazionali, e poche settimane Monti, nel corso del suo viaggio in Oriente, faceva tappa in Kazakhstan per incontrare il premier Masimov.

Per questo abbiamo pensato che sia utile svolgere una campagna di informazione, di denuncia, di sostegno politico e materiale alle forze dell’opposizione popolare alla dittatura. Consideriamo vergognoso che l’Italia giustifichi la propria collaborazione con un governo criminale in nome dei propri interessi economici.

A partire dai prossimi giorni organizzeremo iniziative e distribuzione di materiale in tutte le realtà in cui siamo presenti. Per informazioni sulla campagna:
http://campaignkazakhstan.org/  SITO INTERNAZIONALE (è possibile aderire all’appello online)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Campagna-di-solidariet%C3%A0-per-i-lavoratori-in-Kazakhstan/317296311664638  PAGINA FACEBOOK CAMPAGNA ITALIANA, contenente il video di un reportage giornalistico sul massacro di dicembre.

Si allega materiale informativo.

Per INFO: info@controcorrentesinistraprc.org
Marco Veruggio: 3337914004

Vogliate consultare / Please also consult our italian language material section: http://campaignkazakhstan.org/index.php/international-campaign-material/materiale-dalla-campagna-kazakistan-in-italiano/

Press release from Campaign Kazakhstan

Once again, Paul Murphy, MEP for the Socialist Party in Ireland, has spoken out against the suppression of workers’ and democratic rights that he has personally witnessed in Kazakhstan. He took into account the ‘briefing’ given by Villy Søvndal on behalf of ‘High Representative’, VP Ashton. It said: “Since its independence 20 years ago, it has been the European Union’s policy to support Kazakhstan’s economic and political progress”. She had, however, felt compelled to say that the Kazakhstan government had amended a number of laws over the past few months…”that seem to empower the state more and more, while restricting the rights and freedoms of citizens, civil society and political opposition”.

Paul’s speeches can be seen on the European Parliament’s website http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/speeches.do:
14 March 2012 (choose your language in your player): mp4 | wmv
15 March 2012 (choose your language in your player): mp4 | wmv

Before the vote today, the left grouping in the Euro-parliament, GUE issued the press statement below.

All those concerned about the struggle of organised workers and protesters in Kazakhstan should take note of the recent developments reported, and see what they can do to give assistance.

Resolutions from union branches and conferences backing the struggle against the Nazarbayev regime will also give an enormous boost to the struggle to build independent fighting forces in the country.

GUE/NGL Press: EU-Kazakhstan partnership talks must be suspended over human rights regression

Strasbourg 14/03/2012

EU-Kazakhstan partnership talks must be suspended over human rights regression

“Fine words on human rights are not being matched by actions, particularly when it comes to vested economic interests” Irish GUE/NGL MEP Paul Murphy told MEPs today in a debate on Kazakhstan.

“The brutal crackdown by Kazakh state forces in Zhanaozen which left at least 17 dead did not prevent the German government from signing a lucrative trade deal to buy rare earths in February” he said, demanding that High Representative Ashton suspend talks on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement until there is meaningful change and all political prisoners unconditionally released.

“All trumped up charges and investigations against the 43 strikers and their supporters awaiting trial, and the leaders of the political opposition must be dropped. It is those who gave the order to shoot down peaceful demonstrators who should be in the dock not the protestors themselves” he said calling for an independent, international inquiry into the violence and announcing his intention to travel to Zhanaozen – if granted a visa – as part of a delegation of trade unionists, journalists and human rights defenders.

“The crackdown on workers’ rights is continuing and going even further. For example, February’s amendments to the labour code allows the dismissals of workers involved in strike action, makes it easier to dismiss trade union representatives during strike negotiations and legalizes “lock outs”.

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu

Press release from German MP, Andrej Hunko (Die Linke):

Natalia Sokolova is free!

“I am exceptionally happy about the release of the Kazakh lawyer, Natalia Sokolova. Nevertheless, the associated ban on her being involved in political work must also be lifted”, said Member of the Bundestag Andrej Hunko on hearing the news from Kazakhstan.
This trade-union lawyer was arrested on charges of “inciting social discord” and, in August, sentenced to six months in prison. In September, the judgement was upheld at appeal and was then submitted to the Supreme Court.  Last week, Ms Sokolova was unexpectedly released from detention. According to media reports, the custodial sentence has been converted to a three year suspended sentence, with an attached ban on “social activities”.
Andre Hunko commented:
“The commutation of the sentence could lead people to forget the fact that Natalia Sokolova should never have been imprisoned. As head of personnel at the state-owned KazMunaiGaz, she wanted to ensure that 4000 employees received additional pay due to their work in dangerous conditions.  The company management prevented this. She then swapped to the union side and acted as their legal advisor.
“In my capacity as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I observed the most recent parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. I lodged a successful application to visit her in prison in Atyrau. I was the first non-family member allowed to visit her. I was very impressed by her as a person.  
“I remain concerned about the arrest of human-rights activist Vadim Kuramshin, who campaigns against torture and ill treatment in prisons. On the day after the elections, I held a joint press conference with him. A few days later, he was arrested.  
“Forty-three further protesters are facing trial, having been arrested during the uprising in the town of Zhanaozen in December. The organisation Human Rights Watch is drawing attention to the fact that nine further activists and oil workers are awaiting trial for allegedly “inciting social discord”.
“In early February, the Kazakh President visited Berlin with an entourage of business representatives to conclude a partnership with Germany concerning the raw materials, industrial and technology sectors. I had joined those calling for the agreement to be called off unless Natalia Sokolova was released beforehand and an independent committee of inquiry set up to investigate the events in Zhanaozen.   Yet the Federal Government, in its answer to a parliamentary question which I submitted, commented that it “saw no reason to change its stance on the above-mentioned agreement”.
“Thus, geostrategic interests are being given priority over human rights. Kazakhstan is also an important partner in the NATO war in Afghanistan: supply routes for the ISAF troops run through the country.
“I still support the call for an independent commission of inquiry into the events in Zhanaozen. The use of torture in Kazakh prisons must also be looked into. During my observation of the elections, human-rights organisations showed me videos proving that a young man had been tortured to death.”
____________________

Andrej Hunko
Mitglied des Bundestages
Fraktion DIE LINKE
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
Tel: 030 227-79131
Fax: 030 227-76133

www.andrej-hunko.de
www.linksfraktion.de

CampaignKazakhstan documents the following declaration of Socialist Movement Kazakhstan

Rallies are being planned for this Saturday, 25 February in different cities across Kazakhstan. In Zhanaozen and Almaty the main slogans are ‘Fight repression!’ and ‘For the democratic transformation of society’. Similar announcements have been made in Aktobe, Atyrau, Aktau, Karaganda and other regional centres. We, the Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan (SMK) call all workers and social activists to join the protests and to take an active part in the demonstrations. We must fight for what we need.

SMK, as before, is demanding an independent investigation of the 16 – 18 December bloody massacre of workers in Zhanaozen and at Shetpe station and demanding the release of all the oil-workers and opposition activists arrested.

The most urgent demands of the moment are:

• The building by workers of mass independent trade unions and a workers’ party, capable of contending for power
• Preparing a political general strike to demand the resignation of the president and the government
• A programme of nationalisation under democratic workers’ control and management of industry, mining, energy, transport and other strategic sectors of the economy
• For a Constituent Assembly of democratically elected representatives of organised workers through their unions and workplace committees, of social movements and local committees, to discuss and implement a radical change of the political system in the country.

Now, more than ever, it is necessary to draw workers and social activists together on a common political platform with their own organisation. In the present situation, we intend to call all those who are ready to fight against oppression and against the slavery of capitalism to unite and join the ranks of the Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan!