Kazakhstan Government Showcases Religious Harmony

Source

submitted by Hare Krsna dasi
Posted December 4, 2006

Devotees who have been shocked and outraged by recent accounts that the Kazakhstan government destroyed 13 houses of Hare Krsna devotees in Almaty may note with irony that the Kazakhstan government considers itself a leader in the matter of world religious harmony. One can only wonder where it believes the followers of Lord Krsna and the Bhagavad-gita should fit into its lofty visions of interfaith harmony? The Kazakhstan government paid for a half-page advertisement in the New York Times (Mon, Nov 27, p. A9) entitled "Kazakhstan: Global Dialogue for Humanity." Readers should send any comments to the editor of the New York Times letters@nytimes.com OSCE info@osce.org and the Kazakhstan Ministry of Culture and Information pr@mininfo.ktelco.kz as well as Chakra. )

Kazakhstan: Global Dialogue for Humanity

The Second Congress of World Religious Leaders, held in Astana in September 2006, has shown that world dialogue among different faiths is necessary and feasible - and can be successful. The timelines of the forum was determined by world interest in policies of interfaith dialogue on the part of global institutions. The congress has become a unique platform for dialogue. It has attracted aspirations and energy aimed at religious dialogue and strengthened the trend toward intercultural cooperation in the framework of the Alliance of Civilizations under United Nations support.

The second congress was of special importance for the post-Soviet region, which has been absorbed by militant atheism for many years. Forty-three delegations from more than 20 nations, representing all world and traditional religions and faiths - Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shito and many others - took part in the congres. Invited to the congress were outstanding politicians and public figures, such as Koichiro Matsuura, Unesco's director general; Sergei Ordzhonikidze, UN undersecretary general; Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian former prime minister; and many other envoys from lawmaking bodies and nongovernmental organizations. The meeting was held in Astana's Palace of Peace and Accord, built to play host to this global event.

Opening he meeting, Kazakstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev called upon world religious leaders to use three "principles of mutual understanding" in civil dialogue.

"The dialogue in the world," he said, "full of conflict, reminds me of a dialogue between the deaf and the mute. Principles addressing various areas could work in this sphere, too. I would call them principles of understanding. The first is the rejection of age-old mutually perceived stereotypes. My experiences show we need to learn to overcome our stereotypes."

He recalled that there were many examples of warfare in Kazakhstan's long history - during the 1930s, a third of Kazakhs lost their lives or their livelihoods, or left the country. "We remember this, but do not make it a reason for hatred and aggression," the state leader said.

The second principle is the conscious refusal to trespass on another's sacred sphere. Something sacred for one cannot be a subject of humor and irony for another, he said, adding that it is a simple rule, which unfortunately is broken not only by journalists and politicians, but also by spiritual leaders, who sometimes neglect other religions.

The third is the joint response by the world and traditional religions to new modern challenges and threats, such as terrorism, the proliferations of weapons of mass destruction and international crime. In the spiritual sphere, this represents a rupture of age-old traditions and the total rejection of spirituality, which is linked to the traditions of world religions. Misunderstanding of the challenge can undermine this basis of modern religious institutions. "The spiritual situation in the modern world is very dynamic," said President Nazarbayev, "and religious institutions need to take into account new risks and threats."

The dialogue between leaders, adepts and holy men of world religions, successfully achieved within the framework of the congress, was initiated by President Nazarbayev. The importance of interfaith understanding is reflected in all the speeches of the state leader, including his annual address. State policy leads the way in this direction, which is reflected by the 2006-08 Program for the Improvement of Kazakhstan model of interethnic and interfaith concord. The present republic's growth and development are based on the maintenance of interethnic and interfaith harmony. It is part of the targeted state policy.

Basic principles of religious relations were defined as principles of understanding. First, there is the legal and institutional freedom of religion and faith. Second is the creation of equal and favorable conditions for faiths to function freely. Liberalization of the religious sphere increased the number of religious institutes five-fold in the years since independence. Third is the stimulation of interfaith dialogue in the republic. Providing know-how in this respect is Kazakhstan's Peoples' Assembly - a unique institute of interethnic and interfaith dialogue.

"Religious leaders should take care that religions do not cause political conflicts and are not used by state structures and underground organizations to fulfil their tasks, far from spiritual principles," said the president. The theme of the congress, "Religion, Society and International Security," was debated in speeches, dialogues and discussions. Forum participants exchanged views on freedom of religion and the respect of other faiths and the roles of religious leaders in strengthening international security.

"All people, irrespective of nationality and religions, are brothers and sisters," said Dr. Mahmud Hamdi Zakzuk, Egypt's religious affairs minister, at the congress. "Human brotherhood is broader than blood brotherhood." According to the minister, mutual support and understanding are required for peaceful co-existence. Religions influence people's souls - that is why close cooperation and dialogue are required, he says. Any differences are not a reason for wars and discriminations, he says. Islam is open to full dialogue.

There is no place in the world for movements committing atrocities in the name of religion, said Bartholomeus I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, addressing the congress. The Orthodox Church is an active participant in international dialogue, aimed at peace. He came to Astana to share his views on the peaceful coexistence of all nations, irrespective of language, culture or religious beliefs.

The Constantinople Patriarch said that of late, religion had become a factor of misbalance in international security. "We ought to learn to settle problems by peaceful means," he added.

The Chair of the Chinese Buddhism association Tszyamuyan Losanszumei Tudantsuestszinima offered his help in developing interfaith dialogue.

Religions must not be used as a means for confrontation. The forum provided a great opportunity to draw on the wisdom of all religions. "World religious leaders are praying for peace," Kuni Kuniaki, high priest of the Japanese Association of Shinto temples, remarked at the congress. He went on to call for all religious leaders to join together to strengthen interfaith dialogue and harmonize religious relations.

Interreligious partnership and the retention of modern values were also among the topics discussed. Talks were held on the humanism of religious awareness, cultural heritage of religion, equality and respect of religious traditions, spiritual education, etc. At the end of the conference, a Declaration of Congress II was adopted. It supports the strengthening understanding between world cultures, religions and ethnic groups, and calls for all people to reject war, discord and hatred, and live in mutual understanding, sincerity and recognition of cultural and religious differences. Forum participants decided to integrate dialogue practice at all educational levels to help young people accept religious and cultural diversity without hatred and hostility. On the other hand, they drew the United Nations General Assembly's attention to the congress's conceptual and practical role in promoting dialogues between cultures and religions in establishing interreligious understanding and support of the congress's future activities. They called for the world community to defend individual rights to spirituality and beliefs, regardless of origin.

Experts and analysts, as well as politicians, should appreciate the initiative taken by Kazakhstan and its leader to hold a regular dialogue, focusing on points of agreement. According to Koichiro Matsuura, the congress is an important step toward the creation of a new world order, where all national live in peace and harmony. Although dialogue is not able to solve all the problems the modern world is facing, many conflicts are insoluble without such dialogues. Communication and interaction must function at all levels: among politicians, academics, young people and others. Only joint efforts can succeed in building a new world order, where all beliefs are accepted. People everywhere deserve to live in harmony. That is what we should strive for, he said. The dialogue of cultures and religions, hosted in Astana's Palace of Peace and Accord, will be a landmark in the Central Asian region as well as in the wider world.

Information and Archives Committee of the Culture and Information Ministry of Kazakhstan, 24 Republic Ave., Astana, Kazakhstan E-mail: pr@mininfo.katelco.kz

For additional information, please Click Here

Dec 5 - Try Not to Get in the Way

Source

I have returned from Kaz. It was a long but smooth flight, and I had a nice shower at Frankfurt airport. The usual shower facilities had not yet opened, so I went to the Business Lounge hoping I wouldn’t have to wait in queue as is usually the case. But there was a 10 man list. Then the keeper saw my bead bag and said, “Krsna?” in German, and I answered, “Ja”. Then she just guided me to a free shower. I said “Danke”.

Now I am waiting at the airport. We will be having a GBC subcommittee meeting in Budapest temple; Yogesvara Prabhu has already arrived and Badrinarayana and Praghosa Prabhus are to follow.

I made a report of my thoughts on the Kaz situation to Govinda Maharaja. It is certainly a difficult and delicate sutuation. Sitting here at the airport I feel very fortunate that we have such good opportunty to preach in Hungary, indeed in most of the western world. We are accepted as an authorised religion, we have freedom to preach and chant, and we enjoy the protection of the law as do other religions and citizens.

Of course there are always challenges to keep us on our toes, but our houses and temples are not being bulldozed without notice, without due process. Our main obstacle is ourselves. Therefore we need to be careful not to get in the way.

That’s a favorite saying of mine “Don’t get in the way”. I got it from Harinamananda Prabhu some years ago. One X-mas marathon he distributed more than 1000 maha big books. Later on I asked him how he did that and his reply was, “I tried not to get in the way”.

That statement summarized for me the true attitude of a servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants everyone to recieve a book, a set of books. The only thing that hampers that result is that the book distributor is not a fully transparent medium, not a selfless instrument, and thus he obstructs the flow of unlimited mercy.

In other words, he or she gets in the way.

False ego, mental trips, lack of surrender, independent spirit, and so on. These are all obstacles to Lord Caitanya’s mercy flooding all souls.

And of course the same can be said for every service, every kind of preaching. What obstructs us spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world is generally not the Kaz government, but the devotees. Often it is seen that it is we who are the greatest challenge to successfully spreading Krsna consciousness all over the world. As Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu is fond of quoting, “We have seen the enemy, and he is us.”

So here is a good meditation, not for the day, but for our lifetime. Being blessed by a wonderful preaching field, we should be careful not to get in the way. Then the mercy will really flow and people will dance and chant in transcendental bliss.

Pray to the Lord for me that I will not get in the way, in His way.

Dec 5 - DELHI

Source

December 5th, 2006 Editor

The first meeting this morning was with Mr. Rajnath Singh, President of the BJP party. A lot of the people we meet or will have contact with are from the BJP. Although they are not currently in power, as the opposing party they generate Parliamentary interest in an issue and can pressure the Government into taking action, so their involvement and support is crucial.

Mr. Singh guaranteed that their party will not let this issue rest, that they will take it to the floor again tomorrow, and will arrange another demonstration outside the Kazakhstan Embassy.

We then met with Dr. A. Mallick, Deputy Dean of the Jamia Millia Islamia University. He has met with Govinda Maharaja before, and has visited Kazakhstan. Govinda Maharaja said that despite one US Embassy official expressing his surprise at how this issue has become so high profile internationally, the President of Kazakhstan still has not responded. Dr Mallick asked, “Why hasn’t Nazarbayeva responded? He is the President. He’s the person who is meant to respond, yes?” Dr. Mallick was briefed by Govinda Maharaja and Rati Manjari, and Maharaja explained to Dr. Mallick that any religion in Kaz is harassed except the mainstream Muslim religion which has been pronounced official by the Kaz govt and the Orthodox Russian Church: even other Muslim branches are harassed. Dr. Mallick responded, “If people know what religion is, there is no need for doing the things such as they have done to ISKCON in Kazakhstan. Isn’t that right?” He added, “We will do everything we can, our level best…I will write letters to our religious leaders and request them to step in. This should not be happening in ISKCON or anywhere else.” It was a good meeting — the support of Muslim leaders, as well as all other religions, is helpful in making it clear that this is a religious intolerance issue, not a land or legal one. Govinda Maharaja told Dr. Mallick, “Prime Minister Tony Blair has acted, US Embassies have acted, the State Department has responded: now it is up to this wealthy and great nation of India to show the democratic process of exercising religious freedom and show people how things should be done.” Dr. Mallick assured Maharaja, “Any time you need, I am at your disposal.”

Maharaja and Dr. Mallick also spoke of HH Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaja, whom Dr. Mallick knew well. Maharaja said, “He did great work in the fusion of spiritual and scientific fields.” Dr. Mallick admired His Holiness as a great scientist and bhakta.

At the end of the meeting, Maharaja told Dr. Mallick, “I am going to have to enrol in your institution to learn the art of conflict resolution!”

Late afternoon and we were back at Parliament House, this time to meet with Mr. Anand Sharma, the Minister of State for External Affairs, and the Joint Secretary for External Affairs Ministry, Dr. Bhagawati.

This was possibly the most important meeting to date: both these gentlemen can take the issue straight to the top, via the most swift channels. They are awaiting the receipt of a fax update from the US Embassy released last night, and will act as soon as that is in their possession.

In summary, all things are coming together very well, and with all the contacts lined up, informed, and ready to act, it is only a matter of days before we can expect the Indian Government to officially respond to this situation in Kazakhstan and hopefully drive this situation to the level of international exposure it needs in order to be resolved.

BBC Report on OSCE Chair

Source

December 4th, 2006 Editor

Original source (BBC)

Kazakh bid to lead OSCE examined

By Oana Lungescu
BBC News, Brussels

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will debate whether Kazakhstan should be allowed to take over its revolving chairmanship. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is in Brussels lobbying to take on the role in 2009.

Russia and some European countries back the bid, but the US and UK are opposed. They have queried Kazakhstan’s record on human rights and democracy. Exactly a year ago the OSCE declared that Mr Nazarbayev’s re-election was flawed.

Foreign ministers from the 56 OSCE member states were gathering in Brussels on Monday for their annual two-day meeting.

Kazakhstan is as big as Western Europe and its vast oil and gas reserves are seen by many here as an alternative to Russian energy. If President Nazarbayev has his way, it could also become the first former Soviet republic to chair the OSCE. Mr Nazarbayev is a former communist party boss who has been in power since 1989. The US and Britain are concerned by the killing and harassment of opposition leaders, restrictions on the media, and the recent demolition of houses belonging to Kazakhstan’s tiny Hare Krishna community.

Old divisions

Diplomats say one face-saving formula would be to promise Kazakhstan the OSCE presidency in 2011 and press for more reforms in the meantime. On the other side of Brussels, however, Mr Nazarbayev will go on a charm offensive, by signing an energy partnership with the EU, meeting the king of Belgium and the secretary general of Nato. But the Kazakh bid only highlights deeper divisions within the OSCE. For the fourth year running, Moscow refuses to accept any mention of its commitment to withdraw its troops from Georgia and Moldova in the meeting’s final communique.

It also wants more limits on the independence of OSCE election monitors, which the US insists is unacceptable. Once again, the organisation founded during the Cold War to break down the barriers of mistrust between Russia and the West looks set for a clash.

Story from BBC NEWS

Published: 2006/12/04 10:31:55 GMT, © BBC MMVI

Meeting with the advisor to the Prime Minister in Delhi

Source

December 2nd, 2006

By Braja Sevaki Devi Dasi

We met late Saturday afternoon with Mr. K. Padmanabhais, advisor to the Prime Minister and former Chief Minister of Home Affairs. He helped Indradyumna Swami years back with Poland, and he remembered Maharaja from that time. He asked immediately about the legal situation of the property in Kaz. Naturally this is something that comes up first with everyone we meet with, and the responses from both Govinda Maharaja and Rati Manjari are really sharp, to the point, and leave our hosts in no doubt that the Kaz government is out of order.

Govinda Maharaja gave Mr. Padmanabhais a brief history of the Kaz situation, and he was sympathetic and said he would speak with the Prime Minister, and also the Foreign Affairs Minister. He said he would also speak with Mr. Advani, whom we met this morning, and see “what is on his mind.”

Govinda Maharaja told Mr. Padmanabhais, “The US Panel of Human Rights issued a condemnation of the Kaz government’s actions; Britain is also objecting. Now we want our motherland, India, to help.” Mr. Padmanabhais accepted this and seemed to appreciate very much Govinda Maharaja’s delivery. As Mr.Padmanabhais finished watching the video, Maharaja said to him, “You can strip away the name of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or whatever else you want to say, but when you’re bulldozing houses and leaving women and children in the snow, that is a gross violation of the most basic human rights.”

TODAY’S NEWS FROM DELHI

Source

December 2nd, 2006 Editor

We met with the Indian Opposition Leader this morning, Mr L K Advani. The meeting was a great success. Govinda Maharaja spoke clearly and convincingly about the situation, and Rati Manjari made clear the real legal predicament the devotees are facing. Mr Advani committed to speaking to the President, Mr Man Mohan Singh, and the Foreign Affairs Minister. He was clearly onboard, asking all the right questions, and going right to the heart of the matter. Indradyumna Swami rated the meeting 8 out of 10, and said it would have been a perfect 10 without the technical hitches we experienced with the video, although it certainly had the desired effect on Mr. Advani.

Other news today, in brief:

• Chennai and tirupati are holding a Khazakhstan demonstration on Sunday in Chennai.

• Freedom House, an independent non-governmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, has monitored political rights and civil liberties in Kazakhstan since 1991. They have issued a statement demanding OSCE reject Kaz’s bid for the chair in 2009.

• These two stories from Hungarian news:

  • this one first,  and
  • this one

• We’re just on our way to another meeting….stay tuned!!

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION!?!

Source

December 1st, 2006 Magyar editor

1 December 2006 KAZAKHSTAN: “THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION” RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OFFICIAL SCREAMS

forum18: Kazakhstan routinely denies that its attacks on and demolition of a Hare Krishna commune are religious freedom issues. Yet this is contradicted by the presence of a state religious affairs official, Ryskul Zhunisbayeva, at the latest court hearing, Forum 18 News Service notes. Questioned what her role was, Zhunisbayave immediately screamed that this has “nothing to do with religion.” Lawyers working with the community have withdrawn from the case. “You don’t understand us - you have no family,” one lawyer told a devotee, who commented that “Probably they’re scared.” Also, two Baptists’ appeal against large fines for religious activity without state registration has been rejected. As the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Advisory Panel on religious freedom states that it is “deeply concerned” by Kazakhstan’s actions, the country’s bid - to be decided next week - to chair the OSCE in 2009 is attracting increasing opposition. This should only happen “if Kazakhstan takes immediate verifiable steps to implement its OSCE human rights pledges, including on freedom of religion or belief,” the respected US Commission on International Religious Freedom has stated.

 

Please, Please, Please, each ISKCON center should do two things

Source

 

Marina's Story

Source

December 1st, 2006 Magyar editor

Marina is a single mother of four. Her house was destroyed last Tuesday. I just finished speaking to her and will share with you her story.

Marina had a very hard life before meeting devotees. She came to the farm 4 years ago and found great shelter in the devotees, Govinda Maharaja and the Deities. She had finally found a family, people who cared about her. She and her children were happy.

Now her house is destroyed and she had to move a 30 minute walk away to her mothers apartment, who is also a devotee. Marina said “Reporters ask me what I feel for those who destroyed our house. I cannot feel anything bad for them. They are just instruments in Krsna’s hands.

“I never had a steady home to live in. So I do not mind losing the house. But what is a great loss is that I cannot come for morning programme. I do not live amongst the devotees. It is so difficult to come and see the deities. I would readily live even in a shed here just to be in the community, but it would be too austere for my children.”

She asked me whether I had any advice. What could I say?

5:00pm Kaz

Source

December 1st, 2006 Magyar editor

• Recieved an e-mail from the UK Ambassador connecting us with the Almaty office head (the capitol has moved to Astana, some thousand miles away) whom we have asked to come and visit.

• Did an interview with Al Jezeera, the reporter was a Russian speaking brit from Brum (Birmingham). That was a coincidence.

• I am unable to get a visa in this short time to go to Delhi, so tomorrow we will have a conference call with Niranjana Maharaja, Govinda Maharaja, Indradyumna Maharaja, Romapada Prabhu and myself about the direction Kaz strategy should now take.

• I am just about to speak with a mother of four whose house was bulldozed.

• Inspectors from the Provincial justice minsitry are here but I have yet to find out their purpose, they are speaking with Max.

• Yesterday we appeared in court to answer the Karasai district’s charges against another 5 houses. We asked for and recieved an extension until the 11th of December as all our lawyers have abandoned our case out of fear.

• Interestingly the person representing Karasai in court was also their Advisor on Religious Affairs, clearly a conflict of interest. Indeed this was the lady who on TV told the Kaz devotees to “go back to India”

USCIRF PRESS RELEASE

Source

December 1st, 2006 Editor

Subject: Kazakhstan: USCIRF Denounces Demolition of Hare Krishna Property and Moves Against Religious Freedom

--- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ---

November 30, 2006

Contact: Angela Stephens, Assistant Communications Director,
(202) 523-3240, ext. 114

Kazakhstan: USCIRF Denounces Demolition of Hare Krishna Property and Moves Against Religious Freedom; Calls on the U.S. Government to Reject Kazakhstan’s Bid to Become OSCE Chair in 2009

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan, independent federal agency, is concerned about actions taken by authorities in Kazakhstan that fail to live up to international standards of religious freedom. “Recent steps against the Hare Krishnas and members of other religious communities indicate that the government of Kazakhstan, regrettably, is moving in the wrong direction with regard to respecting the universal right to freedom of religion or belief,” said Felice D. Gaer, Chair of the Commission.

“In view of Kazakhstan’s deteriorating record of respect for human rights and religious freedom, the Commission calls on the U.S. government to oppose the current bid by Kazakhstan to become the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chair in 2009, and to protest the various actions undertaken by the government of Kazakhstan which fall short of its international obligations to respect freedom of religion or belief.”

Commission Chair Gaer continued. “Such a bid should only be considered at next week’s OSCE Ministerial in Brussels if Kazakhstan takes immediate verifiable steps to implement its OSCE human rights pledges, including on freedom of religion or belief.”

On November 21, 2006, Kazakh riot police reportedly demolished 13 of the 66 homes owned and occupied by members of the Society for Krishna Consciousness in their agricultural community outside the city of Almaty. A spokesman for the Hare Krishna community expressed concern that their temple may also be slated for destruction. Although Kazakh officials claim that the dispute is purely economic in nature, only homes owned by Hare Krishna members were destroyed.

During the raid, two buses of riot police closed off all access to the site. Police also launched a news blockade about the action; a camera was confiscated and officials from the OSCE Center in Almaty were prevented from reaching the farm. This was not the first time Kazakh authorities have tried to confiscate this religious community’s land. In April 2006, Kazakh authorities had tried to bulldoze the homes belonging to the Hare Krishnas, but retreated in the presence of journalists.

This time, the houses were demolished, although the Hare Krishna community had been told that no action would be taken before the report of a state Commission set up to resolve the dispute was made public.

The demolition of the Hare Krishna-owned houses occurred on the same day that President Nursultan Nazarbayev was in London for a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair seeking his support for Kazakhstan’s bid to be the OSCE chairman-in-office in 2009. In London, some 10,000 members of Britain’s Hindu community protested the demolition of the Hare Krishna property in Kazakhstan.

This action against the Hare Krishna community is the latest in a series of developments over the past two years that signal a retreat from Kazakhstan’s previously positive record of respect for the right to religious freedom. These developments include:

• In July 2005, President Nazarbayev amended the “national security” law requiring all religious groups to register with the government. Activity by unregistered religious organizations is banned. Although most groups do not report difficulties in obtaining registration, the pre-2005 Kazakhstan Law on Religious Associations did not require a religious community to register with the state. Only 10 signatures were needed to register a religious association.

• In February 2005, President Nazarbayev signed new legislation on extremist activity by granting increased oversight authority to a state agency. According to the OSCE, these anti-extremism measures lack a clear definition of “extremism” and could be arbitrarily applied to religious and other groups.

• Beginning in late 2004, Kazakh authorities took measures to increase control over mosques and imams in south Kazakhstan who want to remain independent of the state.

• Baptists, Pentecostals and other Protestant Christians have been subjected to heavy fines for unregistered religious activity in the past year. State institutions, including schools, actively discourage children from attending religious services, particularly in the case of Protestants.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov

Felice D. Gaer, Chair Michael Cromartie, Vice Chair Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Vice Chair Nina Shea, Vice Chair Preeta D. Bansal Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Khaled Abou El Fadl Richard D. Land Bishop Ricardo Ramirez Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director

800 NORTH CAPITOL STREET,
NW SUITE 790
WASHINGTON, DC 20002
202-523-3240

202-523-5020 (FAX)

Update from India, 30th

Source

November 30th, 2006 Magyar editor

As the press secretary for the Indian preaching team Braja Sevaki reports from Delhi:

• Indradyumna Swami and Rati Manjari met with ISKCON RGB members, who pledged financial support. Actually the entire worldwide community of ISKCON needs to put their support behind this, and Indradyumna Swami is requesting press packs to be sent to all international centres to bring them up to date and ask them for help.

• Mahamantra prabhu from Delhi has arranged for us to meet with Hema Malini tonight. Hema is a devotee, and also happens to be one of Bollywood’s mot recognized and famous stars in India and abroad. She is also a member of parliament. Currently Hema is on the campaign trail, and tomorrow will be in Varanasi. She will be holding a press conference and speaking about the Kaz issue. We may be joining her in Varanasi, but that will be decided tonight. She’s keen to help and we know when she sees the footage of the destruction and the photos, she will be moved to help. The video footage of the bulldozing of houses has a very powerful effect on everyone who sees it.

• We’re arranging a press conference for next week, and we are assembling a delegation of people who might approach the President on friendly terms to discuss some changes to the relationships of Government and religion in Kaz.

• Daily we’re arranging for Indradyumna Swami and Rati to meet with people; we’re now providing them materials and backup. The press conference in Bombay was a success, but they didn’t have anyone working the room and filling in the gaps, making sure everyone had press packs, etc: Maharaja and Rati were too busy giving interviews. Urvasi, from the interfaith foundation here, is making contact with influential people in India to meet with Indradyumna Swami and Rati.

• Govinda Maharaja returns tomorrow and will meet with Indradyumna Swami and Sivarama Swami (in a phone conference) and discuss the future of the campaign.

30th Nov from Kaz

Source

November 30th, 2006 Magyar editor

If anyone wants to contact Maharaja or send sms to him you can do so on this number:

+77052394396

Sivarama Maharaja writes:

3am. Rose early and chanted japa, the wind is howling outside, stormy. Then I watched a video on Srila Prabhupada and continued to chant in remembrance of His Divine Grace, feeling the pangs of separation. Neither the world nor my life are the same in his ansence. His service is all that is left, all that is to live for.

4:30am. I am locked in the house, the lock will not open. I cannot get to Mangala-arati and noone answers my telephone calls. Krsna has a real sense of humor. Better locked in than locked out:-)

6:30am. Max finally came to the rescue as did other handymen. As yet they have not been able to open the door. I may have to climb out a window to give SB class. Spoke last night to Govinda Maharaja. He was on his way to Rome for a human rights conference and will be returning Sunday to Brussels as the Kaz president will be there to promote their chairmanship of OSCE to be decided on Tuesday. Maharaja sounded tired. He is fighting on his own. Devotees should keep him and his well-being in their prayers.

Request to all members of the Euro GBC and ICE

Source

Dear devotees, members of the GBC EC and members of the ICE.

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In the light of the recent development in Kazachstan I request all members of the Euro GBC and ICE to take the following steps:

1. Have demonstrations in front of the foreign ministries and Kazachtan ambassy to call the attention of the Kazakh goverments abuse of the human rights of the Kazakh Hindus that belong to ISKCON.

2. Form a media campaign. Any action undertaken must be accompanied by media.

3. Contact European Parliament members in each country and solicit their help.

It must become widely circulated that the Kazakh government is doing this.

Euro and Global GBC’s shall send me the names,email and phone numbers of the dveotees who will organize the protest action and meetings with Euro parlament members. This should be done latest 8p.m, Wednesday 29.11.2006.

None of us can afford to take this as optional. Please understand the urgency of the situation and act promptly.

Your servant Narakriti das Euro GBC chairman

TUESDAY'S NEWS

Source

November 28th, 2006 Editor

FROM WIKIPEDIA: An update on religious intolerance in Kazakhstan uses the bulldozing of the Hare Krishna community as an example of the Kaz Government’s backward policies.

FROM INDIA: The BJP protests India’s lack of affirmative action.

FROM RUSSIA: Coverage of the gross violation of human rights by Kaz Government.

FROM FORUM 18: Story from Uzbekistan

FROM KAZAKHSTAN: Report on OCSE’s complaints against Kaz Govt.

FROM THE WORLDWIDE RELIGIOUS NEWS NETWORK: This report on Kaz.

Kazakh Government Reopens Court Cases

Source

November 27th, 2006 Magyar editor

Kazak Update 1:00 PM (Budapest) 27th Nov

At the time of the government commission dealing with the “land issues regarding the Society for Krishna Consciousness,” the Karasai District administration announced a withdrawal of 5 cases against the local Hindu devotees.

On the afternoon of November 26, 2006, the Hindus were informed that the 5 cases had been reopened by the District Administration, and, the court has been appointed the hearings for Monday November 27, 2006 at 15:00 local time.

Since the time of the commission, the Hindu’s lawyers, who worked on the case for the past 2 years, have been reluctant to continue thier work. In the wake of the bulldozing they have refused to work due to fear of reprisal from the government.

On Friday November 24, 2006 a motion was raised in the Parliament of India that the issue regarding the persecution of Hindu devotees in Kazakhstan be discussed.

On Monday November 27, 2006 Vijay Malhotra, deputy leader of the opposition is bringing the topic to discussion in the lower house of Parliament, and, Sushma Swaraj, a member of the higher house is raising the issue in the Raj Sabha.

The issue was reported to Asma Jehangir, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief of the Commission on Human Rights, at a meeting commemorating the signing of the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, in Prague, Czech Republic.

The president of the Almaty State Society for Krishna Consciousness went to the Karasai District Administrative offices for a scheduled meeting with BS Kutpanov, Hakim of Karasai District Administration.

When our man reached he was told that just today Kutpanov has gone on vacation.

OSCE criticises Kazakhstan over Krishna incident

Source

ALMATY (Reuters) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe criticised Kazakhstan on Monday for destroying part of a village housing Hare Krishna followers, calling the incident a form of religious intolerance.

The criticism comes at a time when the Central Asian nation is seeking to shore up Western support for its bid to become the first former Soviet state to take the helm of the OSCE in 2009.

Kazakhstan has accused followers of Hare Krishna, a form of Hinduism, of illegally acquiring land near the commercial capital Almaty.

The months-long row culminated last week when police knocked down a dozen houses there, leaving many families homeless.

The OSCE's Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief said in a statement it was deeply concerned.

"The Advisory Council ... calls upon the Kazakh authorities to halt any further demolitions and to extend immediate humanitarian assistance to those whose homes have been destroyed pending the further exploration and resolution of the dispute concerning title to the properties in question," it said.

"...This raises serious issues regarding the enjoyment of the freedom of religion and belief by members of the Hare Krishna community in Kazakhstan."

Mainly Muslim Kazakhstan has promised the West to show more commitment to democracy and human rights as it tries to convince Europe and the United States to accept its chairmanship bid.

The OSCE has to make a consensus decision on that over the next few weeks.

The Hare Krishna movement, whose followers practise vegetarianism and yoga, is believed to have ancient Indian roots and has become known around the world since the 1960s. Kazakhstan officially recognises it as a religious movement.

ISKCON protests against demolition of temples in Kazakhstan

Source

By ANI Saturday November 25, 09:24 PM Kolkata, Nov 25 (ANI):

Scores of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) members held a protest rally here today against demolition of temples in Kazakhstan and called for an immediate halt of alleged harassment of Hindus in that country. Protestors said at least five Hindu houses and a temple belonging to the ISKCON were demolished on the outskirts of Almaty in Kazakhstan earlier this week.

The protestors raised slogans condemning the action of Kazakhstan Government and said India should raise the issue at the international level. "The purpose of the rally is to show support and solidarity for all the Hindus, who are suffering persecution and suffering government sponsored attacks across cities in Kazakhstan," said Vardhakrishna Das, Vice President, ISKCON. "Our demand is that they are minorities, they are Hindus. In our country also we have minorities and we are asking that on the basis of religion, there should be no discrimination, persecution or atrocity in the society. This is a very barbaric and inhuman practice and we are protesting against this," Vardhakrishna added.

According to press reports, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has also raised the issue with the Kazakhstan President during a meeting in London on Wednesday. A spokesperson of ISKCON alleged that the rights of dozens of Kazakh citizens belonging to a religious minority were being violated.

ISKCON activists have been for quite some time now alleging the Kazakhstan government for harassment and discrimination of Hindus. In September, over one hundred members of a local Hare Krishna temple, the Hindu-Jain Temple Association, and other Hindu organizations and interfaith groups, had protested in front of the Kazakhstan embassy in Washington, carrying a dozen placards that called upon the government in Kazakhstan to stop the alleged "abuse and mistreatment" of innocent Krishna devotee, Vaishnava Hindus, in that country. A simultaneous protest had taken place in New York City. Following the recent demolitions, protests were also organised at the London Stock Exchange during President Nazarbayev's visit.

Kazakhstan is the largest and one of the wealthiest of the countries in the Central Asian region. Although it was considered a liberal society, there have been allegations of harassment of religious minorities like Protestant Christians, non-state-controlled Muslims and Hindu sects. Incidentally, Kazakhstan is not a signatory to the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was established in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Srila Prabhupada). ISKCON has since developed into a worldwide confederation of 10,000 temple devotees and 250,000 congregational devotees. Better known as the Hare Krishna movement, ISKCON is comprised of more than 350 centres, 60 rural communities, 50 schools and 60 restaurants worldwide. The mission of this non-sectarian, monotheistic movement is to promote the well being of society by teaching the science of Krishna consciousness according to Bhagavad-gita and other ancient scriptures. (ANI)

News Flash!

Source

November 24th, 2006 Editor

Govinda Maharaja just called me a second time. The devotees are in the hundreds, and with big kirtan they have surged towards the Kaz Embassy, completely knocked down the police barricades and have literally beseiged the embassy. Sankirtan yajna kiiiii jaya!!!!

Kazakhstan Destruction

Source

Message from HH BB Govinda Maharaja:

“This video footage was taken on November 21, 2006, showing Kazakh government’s violent destruction of 13 homes at the Hare Krishna Community near Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Please get this video to media and government officers in your nations that they may raise protest against the persecution of this minority religion in Kazakhstan.”

Meanwhile, a motion was placed in Parliament House, Westminster, yesterday:

TREATMENT OF HINDUS IN KAZAKHSTAN 20.11.2006

That this House, prior to the visit of the President of Kazakhstan, condemns the harassment of and discrimination against Hindu minorities in Kazakhstan;

notes that Hindus in the Karasi district have had land, barns and cows confiscated, have been threatened with demolition of their houses, and denied the right to own land;

further notes that Kazakh Hindus who applied for ownership of their houses were asked to declare that they were not Hindus, while non-Hindus who made similar applications were immediately granted ownership rights;

acknowledges that the Supreme Court reviewed two cases regarding Hindu cottages and ruled against the Hindus without inviting the plaintiffs to the hearings;

recognises that the Kazakh Government announced a Commission into the issues of Kazakh Hindus; further notes that the Commission has no powers to reverse decisions of the Supreme Court;

calls for the President to intervene to stop action to demolish houses belonging to the followers of Hare Krishna, facilitate legal registration of properties owned by Hindus, allow Hindus to occupy their homes and worship freely, order the General Prosecutor’s office to condemn the Supreme Court decisions as having been taken without legal representation of Kazakh Hindus and to review decisions made against Hindus in the court of second instance;

and further calls upon the President to order the Karasai District Hakimat to have all cases against the Kazakh Hindus withdrawn, clarify the role of the Commission which seems unable to make a fair and just inquiry and to stop harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan.

Signatures( 3)

Kumar, Ashok

Hoyle, Lindsay

George, Andrew

Here are several other links inlcuding video footage, and a history of the situation:

Reuters AlertNet November 22, 2006

Times of India *PLEASE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE IT INVITES READERS TO WRITE TO THE EDITOR — PLEASE DO SO!!*

Kazakh Hindus attacked by police video: broadcast November 22, 2006 at 6:30pm by “Astana” TV channel, Kazakhstan.

Demolition of Hindu’s homes video, November, 21st

Demolition: November 22nd

The Issue Surrounding Society for Krishna Consciousness in Kazakhstan video

Previous demolition attempt video (April 26th)

Hindu commune activity footage

Human Rights Report

Source

November 23rd, 2006 Editor

Following is the eyewitness report by Human Rights officials in Kazakhstan: This was witnessed and written by Ninel Fokina, President of the Almaty Helsinki Committee and Andrei Grishin, official member of the International Bureau of Human Rights and Law Observance.

On November 21, 2006 at 1 pm the information was received that according to the court decision to evict the members of religion organization Society for Krishna Consciousness from the occupied land near Sri Vrindavan Dham farm, and the demolition of 13 country houses will begin immediately.

Heavy equipment was brought to the suburban community: trucks, demolition machines, three busses with riot policemen, a bus with demolition squad and the local authorities including the Hakim. Electricity was disconnected in the morning of the same day.

There were only women and children in the village. All men went to work in town.

The president of the Almaty Helsinki Committee Ninel Fokina tried to contact different officials in Astana (the capital): B. Baikadamov, the envoy of human rights, B. Muhamedjanov, the minister for internal affairs I. Bakhtibayev, the assistant General Prosecutor; R. Aliev, the deputy minister for foreign affairs.

She had a conversation with B. Baikadamov, the only person she could reach at that time, who promised to communicate to the Committee of Religious Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Court Administration Committee which includes the department of court decision execution.

At 3 pm representatives of human rights organizations: Ninel Fokina, Andrei Grishin, and Maxim Varfolomeev, press-secretary of the Society for Krishna Consciousness, plus, a journalist and representative of Astana TV channel left for the village which is located 40 km from Almaty.

All the roads to village were closed and patrolled by police. They would not let anyone go through. The human rights representatives and the journalist took detour through the fields. It was snowing, but they were able to reach the border of the village because of the four-wheel-drive jeep they were traveling in. But even that road was closed by patrol.

The jeep was not allowed to drive into the village. The patrol explained it was instruction of authorities. When Grishin and the jeep driver tried to pass by walk they were stopped and threatened to be put in handcuffs. And the patrol promised to send for additional force.

Lieutenant colonel, who came with another patrol car, explained that they are not allowed to the village for their own safety. He said that at that time the electric line was being dismounted in the area.

The driver of the jeep had his wife and two months old daughter in the village. He was begging to let him go through, but his request was denied. He was told that safety is guaranteed to his family. This group could still enter the village. They approached it from the other detour road, and leaving the car on the sidewalk, one by one they entered the village.

As they approached the village they met two small groups of young people who were not drunk but unnaturally exited.They held hammers, big dumb-bells, metal crow-bars and sticks. Two of them politely greeted the group, and one said gaily, “Your houses are finished.

Four big busses with toned windows and two cars of ambulance were parked at the entrance of the village in the grove. 30-40 policemen stood by the houses, and 20-30 people in civil clothes including the leaders of the district with the Hakim, the head of local executive authority stood on the street, watching the demolition.

It was snowing. Residents’ household stuff such as mattresses, blankets, utensils cookware, and furniture were laying outside on the lawns by their houses. People in construction outfits (labor people) got inside the houses and started crushing windows and doors, destroying walls. The bulldozer was demolishing the buildings and the big stone fencing with cast iron openwork lattice which separated the houses from the driving area.

A small group of inhabitants (20-30 people, mostly women) did not offer physical resistance. One of the women felt dizzy, fell down and was picked up by the ambulance. Police was bringing down those few (basically women) who tried to interfere with the destruction of their property. Two men tried to prevent the entrance of destroyers into a house, but were brought down by 15 policemen who twisted their hands and took them away to the police car.

During all these events none of the representatives from the Office of Public Prosecutor were present at the place of the event, even though both Krishna people and legal service people demanded meeting with representatives of the Office of Public Prosecutor who are obligated to be present during this type of actions.

The Hakim of the Yetisu district who was personally responsible for this action noticed A. Grishin photographing the destruction of the houses using a digital camera and commanded the policemen to detain him. A. Grishin is an officer of the Human Rights Bureau and a journalist.

To avoid confiscation of the camera A. Grishin tried to escape. He ran away by 200 meters and was caught by the police. Police officers confiscated his digital camera and took away his journalist certificate.

Then he was let free, but police refused to return the camera, saying that they would give it to the Hakim. The camera was indeed found in the car of the Hakim, but the flash card and the batteries were confiscated. When Grishin approached the Hakim to find out for what reason his camera and his journalist ID were confiscated, the Hakim told in front of the witnesses, “If I see you here again, I will personally crash Your eyes, even though I am the Hakim.”

No one of the policemen, who took part in the camera and ID confiscation, wanted to reveal their names.

Ms. Fokina was able to talk with the assistant of the General prosecutor I. Bakhtibayev, who did confirm that he would contact the prosecutor of the province and he would work out this situation.

The envoy of human rights E. Baikadamov, who was also contacted, said that the president of the Court Administration Committee Z. Makashev confirmed that he would contact immediately the provincial department and would give the appropriate instructions.

All the attempts of the representatives of the human rights organizations to find the people in charge of the operation and give them any information were unsuccessful.

All the present officials refused to speak and declared that they were not responsible for the action. The Police colonels would point at bailiffs. The bailiffs did not confirm their being bailiffs.

The OSCE representatives in Almaty Eugenia Benigni and Lisa Zhumakhmetova did not make it to the village. Their car just was stoped by police.

When the darkness fell, at around 6 pm, everything was finished: 13 houses destroyed, people thrown to the snowbound street, the village left without electricity, without heat and water.

The condition of the witnesses can be described as shock. The condition of the people who were thrown from their destroyed houses to the dirt and snow cannot be described.

When all the 13 buildings were destroyed as was planned … while the adjacent houses of other people who do not belong to the Society for Krishna Consciousness were left untouched even though their title deeds have the same status … the bailiffs decided to give an interview to the TV channel “to avoid one-sided opinion.” However no one of them introduced himself. The only thing they could say, “we are executing the court decision.”

Neither the Hakim, nor the police chiefs, nor the bailiffs would listen to the arguments that the governmental commission established to solve the issue around the Society for Krishna Consciousness has not yet come to final decision.

Notice: the notifications of eviction and demolition of the 13 houses owned by members of the cottage cooperative, who are the members of the religious organization Society for Krishna Consciousness, were delivered to the watchman of Sri Vrindavan Dham in the evening of November 20. The date of execution and the period for evacuating the buildings were not stated. It should be noted that the acting Kazakh law does not stipulate such a kind of eviction as the demolition of houses, and the eviction should be accompanied by the inventory of property removed from the evacuated building, while the storage of this property should be provided is necessary.

Today's News

Source

November 25th, 2006 Editor

FROM BB GOVINDA MAHARAJA IN DELHI: I have just spoken to BBC World who do a TV programme called Asia Today, which is beamed to 200 countries around the world. They are very interested in interviewing me about Kazakhstan.

BJP President Rajnath Singh told reporters in Delhi that he had sought immediate reaction from the Indian government and suggested that it take up this matter with the government of Kazakhstan to ensure reconstruction of the temple properties.

HH Indradyumna Swami arrives in Delhi on Sunday, and so there will be much kirtan news to share then. Later today devotees once more protest in front of the Kaz Embassy. As Govinda Maharaja reported on yesterday’s podcast, yesterday’s protest was organized by Hindu organizations, and today’s is the devotees….sankirtan yajna ki jai!!!!

__________________________________

FROM THE UK: Prema Rasa prabhu (from the Soul Centre) took some photos at the London protest which he sent to the BBC website. They are now using those photos, and photos from Govinda Maharaja’s web link of the attacks, along with a audio interview with Prema Rasa about why we were protesting, for a BBC NEWS 24 TV program early next week.

The front page headline of this week’s Asian Voice newspaper (with colour photo of the protest) reads:

“Hare Krishna Devotees Protest over Kazakh Temple Demolition”

__________________________________

FROM KOLKATA: A 6000-strong contingent of protesters is taking to the streets today in a protest organized by Mayapur management. Bengalis are great and seasoned protesters! Management yesterday arranged a bus to transport devotees from Mayapur who wanted to participate, and arranged accommodation in the guesthouse. Those who couldn’t take advantage of the bus and stay o/nite had taxis transport them this morning. Mayapur management is holding nothing back; they’re simply “doing the needful” and doing it with style. They have already offered several thousand dollars to Govinda Maharaja, and more is coming. They have also offered to fly in any Kaz devotees who wish to take shelter here, and house them. Actions befitting ISKCON’s World Headquarters management…

__________________________________

FROM THE USA: A US State Department-sponsored website operating out of the UK ran this story about discrimination on the Kaz issue.

__________________________________

FROM RADHADESH: Mahaprabhu das is trying to organize a demostration in Brussels through Tarunyamrta and Hrdaya Caitanya prabhu for next week.

__________________________________

FROM BARODA: On Monday, 27-11-06 at 3:30 PM, we are calling all ISKCON devotees and supporters to gather at the Santram Mandir, opposite SSG hospital to join a “nagar sankirtan cum protest” over the demolition of the Mandir and ashram houses of the ISKCON devotees at Kazakhstan.

The Mayor of Baroda, Sri Sunil Solanki, the BJP President Naranbhai Patel, BJP immediate past president Shabdasharan Brahmbhatt, VHP President Ajay Joshi, RSS Mahanagar Sangh Chalak Narayanbhai Shah, and other political and social leaders will join the devotees in a procession to present our memorandum to the District Collector.

__________________________________

FROM FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE: 21 November 2006

KAZAKHSTAN: STATE BULLDOZES HARE KRISHNA COMMUNE, BIDS TO CHAIR OSCE

As Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is in London seeking support for his bid to chair the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), state authorities began today (21 November) bulldozing the only Hare Krishna commune in the region, Forum 18 News Service has learned.

Message of Condolence

Source

MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FROM MAYAPUR TO HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI BRNGHA GOVINDA MAHARAJA, AND THE ASSEMBLED DEVOTEES IN KAZAKHSTAN:

The Directors, Management, and assembled international devotees in Mayapur offer their deepest sympathies to each of you in this most awful of times, during this extreme situation you have been placed in. You should know that our prayers are with you daily. It is impossible to imagine the horror that you have experienced, watching your homes and temple destroyed in such a vicious manner.

We wish to extend ourselves to you all to the best of our limited abilities: we are presently trying to arrange for some senior devotees to visit Kazakhstan to assist you in any way possible; we offer our facilities to any of you who wish to come and stay here while the practical aspects of your lives are sorted out, that you might take solace in this most merciful dhama, in the loving association of devotees; we are in full support of some members of our community going to Delhi to assist Govinda Maharaja in his media campaign and Parliamentary appeals; and last, but most definitely not least, HG Jananviasa Prabhu is arranging Nrsimha puja and offerings on behalf of Kazakhstan devotees, for your spiritual upliftment and protection.

Devotees of Iskcon Kolkata along with their congregation members have arranged for their own protest in Kolkata tomorrow, have invited media people to the cover the event.

As the World Headquarters of ISKCON, Mayapur Directors and management urges all temples to please offer themselves in whatever capacity they can: Kazakhstan devotees have lost everything. The Government also took away their personal possessions — clothing, furniture, everything. Devotees in Mayapur are gathering whatever financial resources they can to offer to Kazakhstan devotees, and we encourage that worldwide communities do the same: their need is very, very real.

With prayers that we unite as one family under Srila Prabhupada’s guidance, and help our Kazakhstan relations in this hour of need.

In service, the Directors, Management, and devotees ISKCON Sri Mayapur Dhama

Report from London

Source

By Editor of SivaramaSwami.com

Hindu demonstrators from London gathered at the London Stock Exchange awaiting the arrival of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. By 7:30 AM a group of over 300 people had gathered. They were standing near the sides of the pedestrian mall which leads up to the stock exchange.

At 8:00 AM the president’s motorcade entered the mall to approach the entrance of the building. At that time the Hindus rushed the motorcade and were practically next to the cars, shouting slogans and waving banners. The police were taken by surprise and immediately came forward to allow the cars to proceed to the building.

It was apparent that the president and entourage were aware of what was happening. When the cars stopped at the building all of the officials emerged and turned to observe the scene.

After the session in the stock exchange when the President emerged his car had to pass a crowd of demonstrators as well.

The demonstrators were shouting slogans such as, “stop destroying the homes of Hindus in Kazakhstan, stop violations of human rights, stop religious persecution and discrimination.” They stood near the windows of the exchange that the commotion would be heard inside.

The demonstration was attended by ISKCON devotees and well-wishers, including Sudarshan Bhatia of the National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) and Mr CB Patel, Editor of the Asian Voice newspaper.

Meanwhile, several media photographers showed up to take photos of the demonstrators and their banners.

ISKCON Ludhiana Condemns Kazakhstan Government

Source

By Rajsuya dasa

Soon after getting the news of demolition of temple and houses of devotees in Kazakhstan and throwing out the devotees in the snowing weather, devotees of ISKCON, Ludhiana and other Hindu organizations started collecting in the temple and strongly condemned this inhuman and unconstitutional tragic incident.

Then it was decided to take a peaceful protest march on the road and to give a memorandum to the local district administration so that our spiritual feelings should reach to Indian President and Prime minister and take up this issue with Kazakhstan government.

Later all the print and nation- wide television media reached in the temple and interviewed us. We marched forward on the road in the shape of a rally and reached district administration office to give memorandum. Our devotees in Kazakhstan were not allowed to pack their belongings like clothes to cover their bodies in the intolerable winter season when there is snow fall at its peak.

Earlier they cut the power supply of the temple and thus the heating system was effected. Speaking on this occasion His grace Rajsuya dasa, Temple President appealed to all Iskcon temple to come forward and lodge a strong protest before press media against Kazakhstan Govt. in their temples so that in future no one can be hurdled between us to fulfill the desire of Srila Prabhupada to spread message of Krishna Conscious in the world.

He also added that our march will be peaceful and we will only chant hare Krishna Maha-mantra during the entire way of rally. His grace Radhakrishnas dasa from Vrindavan also spoke on this occasion and demand that a spiritual atmosphere should be set up and Puja Archana of Lord Krishna should be normalized as usual. We are specially thankful to Britain President His Excellency Tony Blair for taking up this issue with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Mr.Nursultan Nazarbayev at meeting in London.

Rajsuya dasa General Manager, ISKCON,Ludhiana, India.

Will the rest of the Hare Krishna commune now be destroyed?

Source

By Igor Rotar and Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service

With almost a quarter of the Hare Krishna-owned homes in their Sri Vrindavan Dham commune on the outskirts of Almaty already destroyed, community members are afraid that the rest of the 66 homes – including their temple – could be next. "The community is in shock, but they are determined to defend their homes and place of worship," community member Govinda Swami told Forum 18 News Service. He says destruction of the temple would be "devastating". Neighbouring houses owned by non-Krishna devotees have not been touched and sources have told Forum 18 that President Nursultan Nazarbayev's brother has designs on the property. Local administration chief Bagdad Akhmetayev refused to say why the homes were being destroyed when the court merely ordered the devotees' eviction, telling Forum 18 "I simply came to watch the demolition and I am not prepared to make any comment. Please ask the court bailiffs directly." The bailiffs refused to talk to Forum 18. Police prevented OSCE officials from reaching the village during the 21 November destruction.

Devotees in the embattled Hare Krishna commune in a village near Kazakhstan's commercial capital Almaty have vowed to fight on, despite the authorities' destruction on 21 November of 13 of 66 Hare Krishna-owned homes. "The community is in shock, but they are determined to defend their homes and place of worship," community member Govinda Swami told Forum 18 News Service from the Indian capital Delhi on 24 November. "They don't want to give the signal that they've been defeated by the government." But he says the remaining home owners fear that court rulings against others could see them evicted too and that the community especially fears for the temple, housed on one floor of one of the homes.

The authorities insist the Hare Krishna devotees have no right to their homes. But two human rights activists who witnessed the destruction despite police attempts to stop them, Ninel Fokina and Andrei Grishin, pointed out that while 13 of the 66 Hare Krishna homes were destroyed on court orders, "the adjacent houses of other people who do not belong to the Society for Krishna Consciousness were left untouched even though their title deeds have the same status".

The Sri Vrindavan Dham commune in the village of Seleksia in Zhetisu rural area of Keskelen district, 40 kms (25 miles) from Almaty, was the only such Hare Krishna commune in the region and officials have long sought to suppress it.

Govinda Swami, a US member of the community until being forced to leave Kazakhstan on 20 November as his visa was not renewed, said he believes the homes were destroyed to demoralise the community and force it to leave the village. "Then they will move in to destroy the temple, situated in one of the homes," he told Forum 18. "If the authorities destroy the temple it would be devastating as they would have effectively destroyed the community."

Maksim Varfolomeyev, spokesperson for Kazakhstan's Society for Krishna Consciousness, is outraged by the way Keskelen district court bailiffs demolished the 13 Hare Krishna-owned homes. "Our co-believers' belongings were just thrown in the mud," he told Forum 18 on 23 November. "Officials simply refused to talk with us or explain what they were doing." Those evicted from their homes have had to take shelter with other commune members or move to Almaty.

The community has posted a video of the destruction and photographs of the destroyed homes on its website Link

At the office of the Keskelen district court bailiffs, the duty officer who refused to give his name said on 23 November that all the senior staff were out of the office and there was nobody who could answer Forum 18's questions.

Also unwilling to explain to Forum 18 why the Hare Krishna homes have been destroyed is Bagdad Akhmetayev, the hakim (head) of the rural administration of Zhetisu in Keskelen district where the Krishna farm is located. According to Varfolomeyev, he was the only representative of the district authorities present at the demolition. "I simply came to watch the demolition and I am not prepared to make any comment. Please ask the court bailiffs directly," Akhmetayev told Forum 18 on 23 November.

"Unfortunately Kazakh law does not prohibit evictions during the winter period and also does not oblige the court bailiffs to give those being evicted a few days notice," human rights activist Yevgeni Zhovtis told Forum 18 from Almaty on 23 November. "All the same, there were crude violations of the law. The court bailiffs had the right to evict the residents of the houses but not to demolish the buildings themselves. It was also a very crude violation to throw the belongings of the Krishna devotees into the mud. The court bailiffs were obliged to put the devotees' belongings into store."

Human rights activists Fokina and Grishin rushed to the village on 21 November as soon as they heard the news of the destruction. They found it blockaded by police and had to gain access by foot.

In their joint account of events, they report attempts to prevent evidence of the destruction reaching the outside world. They reported that hakim Akhmetayev noticed Grishin photographing the destruction of the houses using a digital camera and ordered the police to detain him. To avoid confiscation of the camera Grishin tried to escape, but was caught by the police, who confiscated his camera and journalist accreditation.

Grishin was then freed, but the police (who would not give their names) refused to return the camera, saying they would give it to the hakim. Fokina and Grishin report that the camera was indeed found in the hakim's car, but the flash card and the batteries were confiscated. When Grishin approached Akhmetayev to find out why his camera and his journalist accreditation had been confiscated, the hakim told him in front of witnesses, "If I see you here again, I will personally smash your eyes, even though I am the hakim."

Fokina and Grishin report that police stopped the car carrying two officials of the Almaty office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Eugenia Benigni and Lisa Zhumakhmetova, who were therefore unable to reach the village.

The demolition was carried out with some brutality, at least one home being destroyed with a mother and infant child still inside. By 4.50 pm on the day the demolition began (21 November), after OPON riot police had sealed off the area and cameras were confiscated from witnesses, three houses were destroyed. The windows of the other houses had been smashed to render the houses uninhabitable in the freezing Kazakh weather conditions. Temperatures that night were expected to drop to minus 3 degrees Centigrade (26 degrees Fahrenheit) (see F18News 21 November 2006 Link).

OPON riot police who took part in the destruction threw personal belongings of the Hare Krishna devotees into the snow, and many devotees were left without clothes. Power for lighting and heating systems had been cut off before the demolition began. Furniture and larger household belongings were loaded onto trucks. Officials said these possessions would be destroyed. Two men who tried to prevent the bailiffs from entering a house to destroy it were seized by 15 police officers who twisted their hands and took them away to the police car.

The homes were demolished even though the Hare Krishna community was promised that no action would be taken before the report of a state Commission – supposedly set up to resolve the dispute – was made public. The chair of that Commission, Amanbek Mukhashev of the state Religious Affairs Committee, told Forum 18 that if the commune continues, "the situation could turn out badly for the Krishna followers" (see F18News 17 November 2006 Link). Mukhashev claimed to Forum 18 on the day the demolition began that "I know nothing about the demolition of the Hare Krishna homes – I'm on holiday," adding that "as soon as I return to work at the beginning of December we will officially announce the results of the Commission's investigation" (see F18News 21 November 2006 Link).

Apart from the ongoing official process, the demolition violated Kazakh laws by giving only 24 hours notice of the demolition, the demolition orders not being personally served on and signed for by their intended victims, and because officials of the public prosecutor's office were not present to oversee the enforcement of the court rulings.

Fokina and Grishin complain about the court orders delivered the day before the demolition. "The date of execution and the period for evacuating the buildings were not stated," they point out. "It should be noted that Kazakh law does not stipulate such a kind of eviction as the demolition of houses, and the eviction should be accompanied by the inventory of property removed from the evacuated building, while the storage of this property should be provided as necessary."

It is also unclear – given the illegalities surrounding the demolition - how the authorities plan to legally carry out their threat to charge the Hare Krishna devotees for the demolition of the homes and commune.

The authorities have long wanted to take over the Hare Krishna community and their commune (see F18News 19 April 2006 Link). An attempt earlier this year to bulldoze the commune was frustrated by the presence of local journalists, but the authorities vowed to try again when the "fuss" had died down (see F18News 26 April 2006 Link). The authorities have with some local television stations encouraged intolerance against religious minorities, such as Baptists and Hare Krishna devotees. This hostile coverage has, the devotees are convinced, led to intolerant attacks on them by other Kazakh citizens (see F18News 2 June 2006 Link).

Sources, who preferred to be unnamed, have told Forum 18 of "persistent rumours" that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's brother, Bulat Nazarbayev, wants to take over the Hare Krishna devotees' farm (see F18News 17 November 2006 Link).

Kazakhstan is currently bidding to become Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), despite the country's poor human rights record (see eg. F18News 29 June 2006 Link). President Nazarbayev's government often boasts of its claimed religious tolerance, but religious minorities who experience the state's policies are sceptical of these boasts (see F18News 8 September 2006 Link).

Legal restrictions on religious freedom have been increased by the authorities, through "extremism" and "national security" legal amendments (see the F18News Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at Link). Baptists and other Protestant Christians have so far been the main victims of the legal changes, being fined for unregistered religious activity (see eg. F18News 2 October 2006 Link).

Foreign missionaries belonging to both the Presbyterian church (see F18News 15 November 2006 Link) and Tabligh Jama'at international Islamic missionary organisation have been fined and deported (see F18News 14 November 2006 Link). Some fear that changes being planned by the KNB secret police to the Religion Law will ban sharing beliefs and all missionary activity (see F18News 24 October 2006 Link). (END)

For a personal commentary on how attacking religious freedom damages national security in Kazakhstan, see eg. F18News Link

For more background, see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at Link

A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at Link and a survey of religious intolerance in Central Asia is at Link.

A printer-friendly map of Kazakhstan is available at Link

State bulldozes Hare Krishna commune, bids to chair OSCE

Source

By Igor Rotar, Forum 18 News Service www.forum18.org

As Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is in London seeking support for his bid to chair the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), state authorities began today (21 November) bulldozing the only Hare Krishna commune in the region, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. The costs of the demolition are being imposed by the authorities on the Hare Krishna devotees and OPON riot police have sealed off the commune. "At present a bulldozer is knocking down one house," Hare Krishna devotee Anastasia told Forum 18 from the site as she watched the destruction, "while a further four are being knocked down by hand." Officials carrying out the destruction have refused to speak to Forum 18. The demolition contradicts earlier Kazakh official assurances that all actions in the authorities long-running attempt to take over the commune would be frozen. Religious freedom and other human rights in Kazakhstan have been for some years under increasing threat from President Nazarbayev's government.

Today (21 November) the demolition began of 13 Hare Krishna-owned homes at the Hare Krishna commune, spokesperson Maksim Varfolomeyev told Forum 18 News Service from the commercial capital Almaty. He said the authorities had brought two buses of OPON riot police and closed off all access to the commune.

"At present a bulldozer is knocking down one house," Anastasia, a Hare Krishna devotee, told Forum 18 from the site as she watched the destruction, "while a further four are being knocked down by hand." Forum 18 asked Anastasia to pass her mobile phone to the officials organising the demolition so that they could explain to Forum 18 why they were doing so, but they refused to speak to Forum 18. Officials at the scene have been confiscating cameras from witnesses.

At the time of publication of this article (4.50 pm Almaty time), three homes have been destroyed, and all the windows in the homes of the Hare Krishna devotees have been destroyed.

"I have no words to describe what I have seen," Ninel Fokina, head of the Almaty Helsinki Committee, told Forum 18 from the demolition site. "They have no right to move people out of their homes in winter."

It is currently snowing in Almaty, with the temperature being 6 degrees Centigrade (42 degrees Fahrenheit), and expected to drop to minus 3 degrees Centigrade (26 degrees Fahrenheit) tonight.

"It is indicative that the demolition of the homes began before we had been given the results of the state special Commission's investigation into the conflict over the commune," Varfolomeyev told Forum 18. "It's also significant that the Commission chairman – Amanbek Mukhashev of the Justice Ministry's Religious Affairs Committee – promised us that implementation of any court decisions would be frozen until the results of the Commission's investigation were officially published." He said the Commission had appealed to the General Prosecutor's Office to that effect.

The state Commission was set up with the proclaimed aim of resolving the state's long-running dispute with the Hare Krishna community. Devotees are increasing sceptical that the Commission was anything more than a device to deflect any criticism of state religious intolerance. The Deputy chair of the state Religious Affairs Committee, Ludmila Danilenko, told Forum 18 last week that the Commission's decision "will be made public shortly." Amanbek Mukhashev of the Religious Affairs Committee told Forum 18 that if the commune continues, "the situation could turn out badly for the Krishna followers." (see F18News 17 November 2006 Link).

The order to demolish the homes was issued by the Karasai District Court, where the commune is based, and is being carried out by the Court Executors. "The bulldozers belong to the Karasai district administration," the Hare Krishna devotees report. The execution orders were given to a night watchman. "Not one person has personally received the order or has signed that it has been received," – as the law requires - they added.

Yesterday (20 November), at 6 AM in the morning, an unidentified person delivered a stack of orders from the Court Executors of the Karasai District Court. The orders stated that the owners of cottages must destroy their own homes, or they will be destroyed by the government at the expense of the owners. 24 hours later, several busses of OPON riot police, 2 ambulances, 2 empty lorries, and Court Executors arrived to destroy the Krishna devotees' homes and personal temples.

"I know nothing about the demolition of the Hare Krishna homes – I'm on holiday," Mukhashev told Forum 18 on 21 November from the capital Astana. "As soon as I return to work at the beginning of December we will officially announce the results of the Commission's investigation." He acknowledged that the Commission had decided to freeze the implementation of all court decisions about the Hare Krishna commune until the Commission's results had been officially published. But he told Forum 18 it is difficult to say whether he believed the demolition of the homes is lawful.

"It is snowing in Kazakhstan and these folks are losing their homes," Govinda Swami, a leading member of the community who is a US citizen, told Forum 18 from Delhi on 21 November. "They entered one home where there was woman with infant and started destroying her home. We have been regularly told that the work of the commission is not finished and still they have attacked in this way."

He said that it is "not a coincidence" that on 20 November his Kazakh visa expired "and on 21st they attacked". He expressed disappointment at what he regarded as the Commission and the President's bad faith. He said that when his colleague Rati Manjari managed to get through to Mukhashev he put down the phone. He said community members had contacted other officials in the Religious Affairs Committee "who had no idea what was going on".

Govinda Swami added that Fokina of the Almaty Helsinki Committee had spoken to Kazakhstan's human rights ombudsperson, Bolat Baikadamov, who said that he would go to the Religious Affairs Committee to enquire what is happening.

The moves against the Hare Krishna came during President Nazarbayev's visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and on the same day that he was meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "The President will be seeking Mr Blair's support for Kazakhstan's bid to be the first Central Asian chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009," the Kazakhstan Embassy in London declared in its announcement of the visit. A survey of the religious freedom decline in the OSCE area, including in Kazakhstan, is at Link.

The Almaty Centre of the OSCE told Forum 18 on 21 November that its human rights officer is monitoring the destruction of the commune.

An official of the Kazakh Embassy in the UK, who did not wish to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media, acknowledged to Forum 18 on 21 November that President Nazarbayev had promised to Hare Krishna leaders on 11 September that he would look into the problems of the commune and resolve them (see F18News 2 October 2006 Link). "But if he promised to consider the issue it doesn't mean that he would allow people to violate the law, if they illegally built their homes." The official declined to comment on how the Kazakh government's attack on religious freedom reflected on its claims of religious tolerance, or on whether this would harm the country's attempts to gain the chairmanship of the OSCE.

President Nazarbayev's government often boasts of its claimed religious tolerance, for example at a recent "Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions." But religious minorities who experience the state's policies are sceptical of these boasts (see F18News 8 September 2006 Link).

The religious freedom of the Hare Krishna community and other Kazakhs has been under increasing threat from the government of President Nazarbayev for some years. The Hare Krishna devotees' 47.7 hectare (118 acre) farm is the only Hare Krishna commune in the former Soviet Union, and officials have long tried to close it down (see F18News 19 April 2006 Link). Earlier this year, the authorities attempted to bulldoze the commune, but backed off because of the local media attention this drew. However, they vowed to return to bulldoze the commune when the "fuss" had died down (see F18News 26 April 2006 Link).Some local television stations work with the authorities to encourage intolerance against religious minorities, such as Baptists and Hare Krishna devotees. The devotees are convinced that this leads to intolerant attacks on them from other Kazakh citizens (see F18News 2 June 2006 Link).

Sources, who preferred to be unnamed, have told Forum 18 of "persistent rumours" that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's brother, Bulat Nazarbayev, wants to take over the Hare Krishna devotees' farm (see F18News 17 November 2006 Link).

Legal restrictions on religious freedom have been increasing. In February 2005, Kazakhstan's President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, signed "extremism" legal amendments, which restricted religious freedom as did July 2005 "national security" legal amendments. Under the "national security" amendments, unregistered religious organisations are banned (see the F18News Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at Link).

Baptists and other Protestant Christians are so far bearing the main brunt of fines for unregistered religious activity (see eg. F18News 2 October 2006 Link).

Last week, South Korean Pastor Kim U Sob, who had been resident in the country and leading a Presbyterian church for 8 years, was expelled on 14 November for "missionary activity without registration." Ironically, the expulsion took place shortly after Pastor Kim was an invited official speaker at a state "Day of Spiritual Unity and Conciliation" ceremony, marking the official claim that "religious people and communities" have "full rights" (see F18News 15 November 2006 Link).

Similarly, members of the Tabligh Jama'at international Islamic missionary organisation face fines for giving lectures in mosques without state registration (see F18News 14 November 2006 Link).

Missionary activity without official permission is punished with administrative fines, and expulsion for foreigners. The authorities have also engaged in extra-legal harassment of religious communities, such as a Hare Krishna commune near the country's commercial centre, Almaty (see F18News 8 September 2006 Link).

Some fear that changes being planned by the KNB secret police to the Religion Law will ban sharing beliefs and all missionary activity (see F18News 24 October 2006 Link). (END)

For a personal commentary on how attacking religious freedom damages national security in Kazakhstan, see eg. F18News Link.

For more background, see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at Link. A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at Link and a survey of religious intolerance in Central Asia is at Link.

A printer-friendly map of Kazakhstan is available at Link.

Early Day Motion

Source

TREATMENT OF HINDUS IN KAZAKHSTAN

20.11.2006

Kumar, Ashok

That this House, prior to the visit of the President of Kazakhstan, condemns the harassment of and discrimination against Hindu minorities in Kazakhstan; notes that Hindus in the Karasi district have had land, barns and cows confiscated, been threatened with demolition of their houses, and been denied the right to own land; further notes that Kazakh Hindus who applied for ownership of their houses were asked to declare that they were not Hindus, while non-Hindus who made similar applications were immediately granted ownership rights; acknowledges that the Supreme Court reviewed two cases regarding Hindu cottages and ruled against the Hindus without inviting the plaintiffs to the hearings; recognises that the Kazakh government announced a Commission into the issues of Kazakh Hindus; further notes that the Commission has no powers to reverse decisions of the Supreme Court; calls for the President to intervene to stop action to demolish houses belonging to the followers of Hare Krishna, facilitate legal registration of properties owned by Hindus, allow Hindus to occupy their homes and worship freely, order the General Prosecutor's office to condemn the Supreme Court decisions as having been taken without legal representation of Kazakh Hindus and to review decisions made against Hindus in the court of second instance; and further calls upon the President to order the Karasai District Hakimat to have all cases against the Kazakh Hindus withdrawn, clarify the role of the Commission, which seems unable to make a fair and just inquiry and to stop harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan.