News

Letter from the Foreign Ministry caused the meeting of the Commission

On December 11, 2006, the RK Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice, which caused the Commission to call a meeting on December 22. What was the cause for the Foreign Ministry’s anxiety? Was it the destiny of people whose houses had been demolished, or the reluctance of the provincial and the district authorities to peacefully resolve the conflict?
Unfortunately, the only reason for writing this letter was the dissatisfaction with the wide presentation of the situation around the demolition of houses in a Hindu commune in Kazakhstan, and with the reaction of the world community to this action

Final meeting of the Commission on Hindu issue

Today (22 December) the Commission held a meeting for what Mukhashov described as "discussion of the results of the Commission's work". The meeting was presented with the Commission's previously circulated Conclusions. This Conclusions without any changes became the final Minutes of the meeting #4 dated December 22, 2006. Previously the Foreign Ministry presented the Commission's conclusions to diplomats from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. When the document was presented it was an undated document. And the Foreign Ministry alleges that the document was prepared prior to the demolition. This contradicts the statements of the Commission who told  immediately prior to the demolition that the work was still in progress.

CONTRA-ARGUMENTS TO STATEMENTS OF KAZAKH GOVERNMENT

This document was prepared as a response to allegations which the Kazakh Government presented in a release during the demonstration at the Kazakh Embassy in New Delhi.
Kazakhstan Government states: ”The right for land use was acquired by members of ISKCON illegally in 1999 by arbitrarily changing its functional purpose in violation of the Farming Law of Kazakhstan.”
ISKCON: First, there is no Farming Law in the legislative system of Kazakhstan. In the court practice of the RK questions regulating violations of the legislation in the sphere of land use are considered by the court exclusively on the basis of the Land Code of RK...

Hindu's response statement on Commission "decision"

The fact that a decision was made in my absence and that governmental bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan distributed the decision of the Commission without having a meeting, raises questions as to the objectivity and fairness of the Commission.  As a supposed member of the Commission, I am doubtful about the practical use of holding a meeting to discuss our issue, when you, the Commission’s chairman, have already prepared, signed and distributed the decision. 

Helsinki committee opinion on Commission "decision"

It is not clear from the text what "the current situation connected with land disputes" is about:
- who argued with whom, what are these arguments?
- what is the foundation of these arguments?...

Is a decision on Hindu commune destiny already exist?!

On December 16 the leaders of RO SKC accidentally learned that the RK Foreign Ministry already started distributing through its channels a decision of the Commission on situation around Hindu commune in Karasai region. However RO SKC, as a member of the Commission, did not take part in making any decision as well as independent observers, it was not even informed of the existence of a decision.
RO OSK is making a statement in response to the issue.
 

Invitation for the meeting of the Commission on Hindu commune issue

December 15 at 14:20 Hindu commune recieved a fax from Astana stating:

"We are inviting You for the meeting of the Commission for Considering the Issue around the land of the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness in the Karasai district, Almaty province, wich will be held December 22, 2006..."

Notes from an independent observer

"The meeting was virtually a trial against SKC. Speeches were delivered by the officers of the Karasai district Hakimat, the local priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, the imam of the local Muslim community, and purposefully invited local citizens who had no connection with the land issue. They all said that the Krishna community's activities are illegal (inadmissible), that it "produces poisonous fruits" etc. " - Ninel Fokina.

Human rights observers oppinion regarding Commission on Hindu issue

"Our general impression of the Commission’s meetings and discussions with the chairman and the members of the Commission (represented by local officials) attended by KIBHR is that the authorities have not shown any real desire to look into the essence of the conflict and find a mutually beneficial intelligent and just solution for SKC." - Evgeniy Zhovtis. 

U.S. Congress: RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY BULLDOZED IN KAZAKHSTAN

"I do not believe these actions befit a country that would be a leader of nations.  I urge President Nazarbayev and the Government of Kazakhstan to end these practices, withdraw the court cases to seize the Hare Krishna’s land, and ensure that all individuals are compensated for their lost property" - CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY