Here is something very sad to watch:

Kazakhstan Protest

It is a video of the devotees in Kazakhstan being forcefully harassed as they peacefully protest the demolishment of their homes.

Apparantly Kazakhstan has tried in recent years to profile their government as a model for religious tolerance even to the extent of hosting an international conference called The First Congress of World and Traditional Religions in 2003 where they’ve highlighted their good relations with the Hare Krishna movement.

Now they are demolishing and repossesing the temple and surrounding property in a very unjust way. You can read more here.

So please contact your local branch of Amnesty International and register your concern as this is certainly a flagrant violation of human rights. None of their websites seem to indicate any awareness of the situation so perhaps making them aware and leveraging their concern would help. Describe the situation to them. Ask what can be done and speak with their advisors to determine how to take, and inspire, action for restoration of the Kazakhstan devotees’ religious and human rights.

In Australia the contact details are:

email: [email protected]
phone: 1300 300 920

In New Zealand you can reach them here:

email: [email protected]
phone: 0800 AMNESTY (0800 266 378) or +64-9-303 4520

In the United States the details can be found here.

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As earlier communiques from Kazakhstan have already explained, the following arguments may be presented:

“(A) Law-obedient citizens are deprived of their homes and thrown to the street. All of them have lawfully acquired the right of ownership for their plots of land, they have paid all the taxes and membership charges.

(B) The Hakim (Governor) of the district accuses the owners that they never had their property privatized. However the members of the community repeatedly applied to the Hakim for his permission to make the acts of ownership for their cottages and plots but he repeatedly refused. Without his sanction for privatization one cannot make needed documentation for the cottages.

(C) The devotees’ houses are located on the territory of a Consumers Cooperative. There are 120 members of this Cooperative. However the claims are brought only against the members of the religious society. In each and every claim the connection of the defendants to the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness has been illustrated. This is a direct and flagrant violation of human rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Kazakhstan.

(D) Confiscation of property without compensation is possible only in a criminal case. Ours is a civil case. It is not a criminal case.

(E) According to the law, the citizens whose property is confiscated are given at least 5 days to prepare for the execution of the court decision. In our case we have another transgression of the law as we were given less than one day.”

Please contact any media connections you may have. Public knowledge of conspiracy and exploitation often serves well to eliminate it.

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See the below list of telephone and fax numbers and make an endeavour to contact the government of Kazakhstan and its associated branches, to voice your protest. The numbers are often difficult to get through to. Keep trying! When you do get through, INSIST on speaking to someone who speaks fluent English (unless, of course, you are fluent in Russian or Kazakhstani).

Presidential Office: +7 (3172) 152634, 152920, 152107 +7 (3172) 324558 Presidential PR department: +7 (3172) 744051

Administration of the President: +7 (3172) 151203, fax +7 (3172) 324480

Prosecutor’s office of RK +7 (3172) 712868, 214025, 712500

Senate +7 (3172) 153195, 153239, 327710

Senate PR department: +7 (3172) 153295, 153505 fax +7 (3172) 334639

Committee on Religious Affairs Mr. Yeraly Lukpanovich Tugzhanov +7 (3172)
152497, 152217, 152690 fax +7 (3172) 328356

Prime Minister Mr. Danial Akhmetov +7 (3172) 152035, 152027

Almaty Regional Land Department Mr. Nauryzbai Asanbayevich Taubayev +7
(3272) 270125

Almaty Regional Hakim Mr. Serik Abikenovich Umbetov +7 (3282) 271753

Karasai District Hakim Bolat-bi Satynbayevich Kutpanov +7 (32771) 21142,
21709

Karasai District Court: +7 (32771) 20899

Court executive Ms. R. Baimukhanbetova +7 (32771) 22030

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Please also contact the government of Kazakhstan in writing at:

Presidential Headquarters

To the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Mr. Nazarbayev N.A.

Government Palace, Levoberezhye,

Astana, 010000, Republic of Kazakhstan

Presidential Residence

To the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Mr. Nazarbayev N.A.

Akorda, Astana, 010000, Republic of Kazakhstan

Or, by e-mail at:

President’s e-mail: [email protected]

Please contact Sri Vrindavana Dhama/Palace of the Soul directly, at: [email protected]

Thank you for your immediate attention to this very serious problem.

With Kindest Regards,

Sundara nanda-gopala dasa
Silk Road Foundation
Managing Director/Trustee/Sec./Treas.
610.704.7274
http://www.srivrindavandham.com/