A step forward
Akezhan Kazhegeldin should come back and be involved in politics
November 22, 2004 - To attend an international conference
"Democracy in Eurasia" in London came all prominent Kazakh opposition figures.
Parties Ak Zhol, Communist Party, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan and even advocates of
the Kazakh authorities not only gathered to discuss current political problems, but also
to met with exiled former prime minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin.
The conference was attended by co-chairs of the Ak Zhol party Bulat
Abilov, Oraz Zhandosov, and Altynbek Sarsenbayev. The Communist party sent its former MPs
Serikbolsyn Abdildin and Tolen Tokhtasynov; the Democratic Choice - chairman of the
party's presidium Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, while Kazakhstan's ambassador to Great Britain,
Yerlan Idrisov, represented the authorities.
In their statement prominent democrats from Kazakhstan and other CIS states have called on
international democratic community to formulate a strategy to support the much needed
democratic reforms in the region by elaborating a foreign policy that would foster reforms
and integration of Central Asian states into the international community. Let's give the
floor to participants in the conference.
NURBULAT MASANOV, political scientist:
The trip proved very fruitful, as it has allowed the British public to
learn the opinions of many distinguished Kazakh politicians and public figures on domestic
situation and further development. In general, the conference was held in the atmosphere
of mutual understanding. The only little dispute occurred between Yerlan Idrisov and
Asylbek Kozhakhmetov who argued that the Kazakh side had violated its agreement with three
foreign embassies regarding Galymzhan Zhakiyanov's arrest. They brought mutual accusations
and exchanged personal points of view, which is of importance too.
Akezhan Kazhegeldin did not participate in the debates or speak in public. However, there
were quite interesting backstage discussions. He voiced his point of view as to what
actions Kazakh democratic opposition should take next, offered his recommendations on the
prospects of further development, and detailed latest developments regarding the
Kazakhgate scandal.
The meeting was important and necessary. For the first time, members of Kazakh opposition
have got together to openly discuss the crucial problems. This does not testify to the
uniting of the opposition though. This is a myth. There will never be any unification, and
I believe we should forget it altogether. But from the viewpoint of coordination of
opposition efforts and joint activities, a significant step forward has been made. Certain
mutual understanding has been reached. Most importantly, there has been put main emphasis
on the presidential election. Certainly, the candidacy of a single candidate has been
discussed, and here we can witness approximation of our viewpoints. The prospects that
opposition nominates a single candidate are quite strong.
- Can your participation in the conference be interpreted as readiness to unite with other
democratic forces, as some politicians and experts see this?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
The participation does not mean that we would unite right away. The
conference itself hasn't included issues of the opposition uniting. The political
situation in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole are the issues on the agenda.
As far as the uniting is concerned, it is a labor-consuming process initiated not a few
days ago. The first step towards joining forces was the Memorandum "For Free and
Democratic Kazakhstan" and the joint activities at the recent election. I see the
establishment of the Coordination Council of Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan as the second
step towards this goal. Within the framework of this body, with the forthcoming
presidential election in mind, the job of coordinating the efforts of opposition is being
accomplished, in particular those aimed at the nomination of a single candidate.
- Nomination of a single candidate of the opposition for the presidential election is
known to be a focal point of the conference. Could I ask who will be the candidate, or, at
least, what were the persons to choose from?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
I think, it is premature yet to tell this. Wait and you will learn it soon.
- What were the other questions discussed at the conference?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
We had communicated intensively before the conference began; we discussed much during the
conference and after it closed. Joint activities, concrete actions for the nearest future
were discussed. There are a lot of questions, and we openly debated them. We believe that
the today's super-presidential form of government have fallen short, it is inefficient and
cannot solve problems that Kazakh society is facing today. What our economics looks like
today? Just put aside oil and gas. Some CIS countries with no oil or gas reserves have
begun to outrun this country in the GDP growth rate. Besides, the GDP growth in Kazakhstan
does not bring any qualitative improvement in the standard of living for our fellow
citizens. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening dramatically. These and many
other urgent problems were on the agenda.
- What were the focal points of your presentations at the conference?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
I said that the country needed a new Constitution to fight against corruption and poverty.
The government should not continue to keep the country in a spoor. In a year or two, we
will live in a different country. Sooner or later, the authoritative governments will
decline. Sooner or later, the systems based on fraud, bribes, and blackmail will collapse.
It is an objective law of history! I also said that Kazakhstan could not be regarded a
democratic country, as it had never hold free and fair elections. Could any country be
democratic without freedom of speech? Or when its mass media outlets are controlled by the
president's family and his cronies? Kazakhstan is not a democratic country, because
several oligarchic groups control not only its economy but also politics. Kazakhstan is
not a democratic country because we have political prisoners convicted for their openly
declared political views. However, we stay optimistic, we know our aims.
- It is known that Akezhan Kazhegeldin didn't address the conference from the rostrum,
though he communicated with his fellow citizens in the lobby. Could you please share the
results of these talks?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
We discussed with Akezhan Magzhanovich the situation in Kazakhstan on the eve of the
presidential election. During the discussion, we came to common opinion that the situation
in Kazakhstan needs to be changed radically. We need reforms, and we need changes. The
current government is unable to efficiently fight corruption, it is unable to fight
poverty, i.e. the problems that our society has been facing. Political reforms are
especially needed, though the government absolutely rejects them.
In general, it was an interesting talk with Akezhan Kazhegeldin. He is the person
convicted in absentia with no opportunity to come back to his homeland! I think if they
had started to fight corruption in Kazakhstan in earnest, he would have been not the main
suspect at all! It is unfair, that a prominent and strong politician, a patriot has to
live in exile. I think he has to be rehabilitated, he should come back to his country and
get the opportunity to be involved in politics openly. If the President says he is
committed to democracy, there should not be either political prisoners, or the convicted
in absentia. In fact, he was convicted only for his intention to run for president, which,
in my opinion, had been absolutely normal.
However, I cannot understand why everyone in this country should be obliged to the only
person, the President? Doest it mean that a secondary school student cannot today dare
dream to become a president some day because he has been growing up when the President is
alive, otherwise he will be called a betrayer tomorrow? It is sheer nonsense! The more
free and strong personalities we have in this country, the more democratic and stronger
our community will be. The President has declared a course towards competitive economy,
competitive country and competitive nation, he should have been aware that such nation can
only develop thanks to the efforts of strong, independent, and freedom-loving
personalities, like Kazhegeldin, Ablyazov, Zhakiyanov, or Duvanov. Such personalities will
be able to build a competitive economy and a competitive nation rather than those who echo
the President and say that everything goes well.
- Bulat, does Akezhan Kazhegeldin travel free within Great Britain?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
Yes, absolutely free. Anyone is hardly hunting for Kazhegeldin. It has became clear that
all allegations by Kazakh secret services that the Interpol supports them in their desire
to catch Akezhan Kazhegeldin and extradite to Kazakhstan are their invention. The
authorities appear reluctant to do so either. They do not seek Kazhegeldin, they are
afraid of him. If Interpol extradites him to Kazakhstan, I think he could tell many
unpleasant things about the Kazakh leaders. For this reason I think that Akezhan
Magzhanovich travels round the world freely. And Interpol is hardly looking for him.
- What will be your further actions after CEC [Central Election Committee] turned down the
request to hold a republican referendum initiated by the Ak Zhol party?
BULAT ABILOV, co-chair, Ak Zhol Party:
As to the official denial of the CEC regarding the referendum, our lawyers have been
studying it carefully. We believe everything was legally correct on our side. All the
issues were worked out. Therefore, we will appeal the CEC decision to the Supreme Court.
At present we are preparing the documents for filing our lawsuit.
I would also like to mention that in recent weeks members of the initiative group have
been facing serious pressure put on them by regional administrations and law enforcement
bodies throughout Kazakhstan. The authorities have been particularly active in Northern
Kazakhstan Oblast, where the akim is Tair Mansurov. The police subpoenaed many of those
who attended the initiative group meeting. Their relatives were pressured to make them
refuse their signatures. Similar incidents have been recorded in Astana, Karaganda,
Eastern Kazakhstan, Almaty, and other oblasts. Instead of normal cooperation to solve all
those issues, the executive authorities have resorted to the tried and true methods such
as blackmail, intimidation, and threats. But they forget one major thing - the society has
changed a lot in recent years. They can't intimidate us anymore! Sooner or later, we will
win!
Yepokha (Epoch) Newspaper, Almaty, № 45 (117), 2004
http://www.kub.kz/user.php?op=userinfo&uname=Эпоха
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