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News
August 8, 2007
Does the Kazakh government plan to demolish the Hare Krishna community after the parliamentary elections?
Directors of the Society for Krishna Consciousness received information on August 8 from the Karasai District administration that the Kazakh government plans to demolish the remaining buildings of the community immediately after the Parliamentary elections on August 18.
Kazakh authorities organized two previous demolitions. In November 2006 and June of 2007 the demolitions resulted in the destruction of 26 residences, and displacement of many followers of the Hindu Krishna religion.
The 116 acre property, which belonged to the Krishna Society, has been confiscated by court order and transferred to the land reserve of the Karasai District.
All the attempts to settle the conflict by way of negotiations have failed.
At the OSCE meeting in Vienna, Austria in March of 2007, the Kazakh government promised to give the Society for Krishna Consciousness a plot of land in Almaty city for constructing a temple, a plot of land in Almaty province for keeping cows, and compensation for the material and moral loss inflicted to the community members.
But as yet there have been no practical steps taken to fulfill the government’s statements.
Since March the community has been offered 5 acres land of 80 KM from Almaty. This undeveloped property would require major financial and human investments.
On August 2, 2007, the directors of the Krishna Society were informed that the city land commission had refused their request for property in Almaty city.
The Kazakh authorities have reneged upon their agreement to resolve the conflict in a civilized and acceptable manner. The Kazakh officials refused to sign any documents or Memorandum of Understanding with the directors of the Krishna Society.
The living conditions in the religious community are critical.
Since the demolitions, over 30 members of the community have been confined to living in the three remaining houses. People are forced to live in the hallways and attics. They have no place to go because they have no other houses.
If the final demolition is executed according to the words of the local administration, a religious minority will be destroyed in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh authorities organized two previous demolitions. In November 2006 and June of 2007 the demolitions resulted in the destruction of 26 residences, and displacement of many followers of the Hindu Krishna religion.
The 116 acre property, which belonged to the Krishna Society, has been confiscated by court order and transferred to the land reserve of the Karasai District.
All the attempts to settle the conflict by way of negotiations have failed.
At the OSCE meeting in Vienna, Austria in March of 2007, the Kazakh government promised to give the Society for Krishna Consciousness a plot of land in Almaty city for constructing a temple, a plot of land in Almaty province for keeping cows, and compensation for the material and moral loss inflicted to the community members.
But as yet there have been no practical steps taken to fulfill the government’s statements.
Since March the community has been offered 5 acres land of 80 KM from Almaty. This undeveloped property would require major financial and human investments.
On August 2, 2007, the directors of the Krishna Society were informed that the city land commission had refused their request for property in Almaty city.
The Kazakh authorities have reneged upon their agreement to resolve the conflict in a civilized and acceptable manner. The Kazakh officials refused to sign any documents or Memorandum of Understanding with the directors of the Krishna Society.
The living conditions in the religious community are critical.
Since the demolitions, over 30 members of the community have been confined to living in the three remaining houses. People are forced to live in the hallways and attics. They have no place to go because they have no other houses.
If the final demolition is executed according to the words of the local administration, a religious minority will be destroyed in Kazakhstan.
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