namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

My internet connection works only at times, and for more than a week I couldn't get connected at all. I'm not sure, therefore, if I'm aware of the latest developments in the Kazakhstan-crisis. To me it seems, though, as if protests by Indian media and officials, ISKCON devotees, and Hindu-organizations all over the world are causing the central government of Kazakhstan to keep the local administration in Almaty in check – for the time being.

Kazakh authorities are known for their intolerance towards religious and cultural minorities; the human-rights organization forum18 documents many instances of persecution of minorities, including several articles about the ISKCON-property near Almaty, on their web site.

In order to gain recognition and trade-concessions from western countries the government of Kazakhstan likes to present itself as accommodating and liberal towards minorities, but the local administrations seem to be more influenced by communal interest groups and material greed.

In this situation it is very important, in my opinion, to maintain or better increase the public pressure we were able to generate, to continue to keep the local administration of Almaty in check, and finally arrive at a permanent solution for The Palace of the Soul.

In this article you'll find the latest updates from HH BB Govinda Maharaja and ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama das, suggestions how to support the campaign, reports of activities by Hungarian and Malaysian devotees, and a whole resource-kit with sample-letters and post- and email-addresses of Kazakh authorities.