Democracy and Nazarbayev are incompatible
Rozlana TAUKINA
The launch of the presidential election campaign has started with the
congresses of parties and public movements. The two main contestants have been nominated.
According to opposition, its single candidate of democratic forces proposes a new program
of national development that includes a mechanism of removable authorities that will make
the country's economics transparent, root out corruption and protect the poorest groups of
population. Democrats offer to restore order and justice in the country. Bulat ABILOV has
become the head of the single candidate's election campaign.
- You were a businessman, sponsor, party co-chair and this Saturday
were named head of the election campaign. What kind of work is it and does the position
differ from that of an election headquarters head?
- The head of election campaign is the manager of a concrete project.
In our case this is a political project called "Zh. Tuyakbai is a Candidate to RK
Presidency". I am in charge of the project realization, in charge of the project form
and content, its style, strategy and tactics. It is akin to a general producer's job that
combines creative, managerial and administrative tasks. Meanwhile, an election
headquarters' head is responsible for operation, relations with regional representative
offices, public relations.
- Will the head of the election campaign control the conditions for
your candidate?
– Sure! Through permanent monitoring we will trace whether the
candidate is provided access to mass media. There has been no such access so far. The TV
channels reported on our congress meanwhile they neither showed Zharmakhan Aitbaevich nor
named him. It is the unique experience in the history of world TV journalism. The
monstrous monument to the Kazakh censorship. Please compare this to the reports on the
congress of Otan Party. Every speaker was shown, and indeed, the President himself, with
his speech and program broadcast nationwide. So we have to keep track how many times the
report on a candidate is translated, how it is interpreted and how often it is repeated.
It is especially important as far as the two main candidates - namely Nazarbayev and
Tuyakbai - are concerned.
– Why the slogan "Zharmakhan Tuyakbai - Justice and
Order" is chosen?
– We were looking for the words to reflect nation's feelings and to
characterize the contender himself. Justice and order - this is what the common people
would like to ensure for their country and Zharmakhan is the person to ensure them. The
order in authorities, the order in the relations – under the law and justice, with the
liability equal for everyone independently from the public position, authority and family
relationship. Zharmakhan is a strong person, a professional, and his credo has become the
slogan of his election campaign.
- In Kyrgyzstan, before the election campaign started, every
candidate signed the chart on fair competition for the election suggested by OSCE. Will
you get the similar document and is the opposition candidate ready to sign one?
– We believe that such chart has to be adopted. It will make each
participant in the election process responsible, and President and authorities first of
all. It is a kind of examination or test of the government's readiness to democratization.
Often President’s deeds do not correspond to his words. And democracy expectations are
similar to that of inflation. In particular, when he states on fair election. Today,
Nazarbayev uses each his appearance for the purposes of the election as an election
advertisement. Naturally the Central Election Commission does not react while President
believes he makes his job! That is why we need such chart to make the candidates meet
their moral commitments.
– Its there a chance that one of the candidates will not sign the
chart?
– The matter is that President has finally believed in his greatness.
His absolutism is based on his belief that he has got no real competitors and,
subsequently, no alternative. So he is unlikely to take part in TV debates and sign the
chart. He will probably say that in any case he commits to this as provided by the
Constitution and his presidential responsibilities, and if there are any offences - it is
officials who are responsible, or ministers' delinquency. It is not his fault, as always.
Meanwhile when he registers as a candidate for presidency he becomes equal with other
candidates.
– In general, he is to take leave, is not he?
– Surely.
– You have always admitted that you have sponsored and will
sponsor the opposition. And what about Zhamarkhan's election campaign? It is a very
expensive campaign. Who does sponsor his election campaign nationwide? Is is Abilov alone?
The government does all in its power to prevent the big business and
businessmen from supporting the opposition. Many of the latter are frightened. Through
supporting the democratic forces they are jeopardized with losing their businesses;
however there are honest and strong-willed citizens, enthusiastic businessmen who support
us unofficially. I have taken the main burden as I regard it as my civil duty. We would
like to win over this conscienceless government that has been using every means to enforce
its power to enrich itself. I think that Narabaev has no moral right to occupy this office
no longer and to run for it for another term. Five years for three times under the
Constitution that provides just for two presidential terms. Every dictatorship is doomed.
And Nazarbayev's one is not an exclusion.
– Could you please comment on the attempt made to arrest your
account?
– The arrested accounts were unblocked after my protesting letters,
press conferences, appeals to the community. The very rigid auditing has been on, however.
I have gone to law against the head of the financial police who vocalized in public that I
had purportedly damaged my shareholders. After a month, the court has not reacted to this
statement. I believe that the government makes lawlessness.
– And what about the criminal action they attempted to launch?
– Today it is at an uncertain stage. They make attempt to
"convince" those with whom I once worked. They get intimidated, called for
questioning, threatened with criminal cases. They focus mainly on
"Buti-Capital". However, there is neither facts nor components of crime. All the
efforts of the financial police, prosecutors are ungrounded.
– Back to the election. Nazarbayev says he will provide fair
election however the press opponent to the authority has been still being pressurized. In
which way will you react to such facts?
– Democracy and Nazarbayev's government are incompatible. They are
polar, antipodal categories! If Nazarbayev were a democrat, Kazakhstan's newest history
would be different. If two parliaments hadn't been dissolved and the Constitution hadn't
been changed, there would have been no referendum on the extension of authority and the
nation wouldn't have been betrayed. I do not believe Nazarbayev speaking about democratic
election. His promises have devaluated and turned into a show. What the opposition is
going through? The circulations are being withdrawn; our activists are being imprisoned
and incriminated. The managers of printing houses are being pressurized psychologically.
We cant's see this as the election. We see misrepresentation at the presidential meetings
in provinces. In Karaganda, an old man, the father of dead miner (24 miners were lost in
mines in last December) came to our meeting. He told us that he had been ordered not to
trouble Nazarabev with "difficult" questions at his meeting, the people were
permitted just to thank President and God for that meeting. How do you like it? President
does not like questions he loves to be thanked for the Sun rising in the morning and for
good weather. Do we want President who would not like to listen to his nation and to the
truth?
– There is a rumor abroad that they attempts to buy the part of
opposition and to force it to leave the politics. Have you got these proposals? Have you
heard of these facts?
– Several times I have been proposed to participate in
large-scale-projects, to head large banks or to manage oil fields. I have refused them.
– Were these the attempts to neutralize you, too?
– I do not regard politics as a business-project. It is my democratic
credo and liberal values, rather than a commodity or small coin. Yes, for several years
they have been trying to neutralize me. We seek the changes, the better life the millions
deserve and it is possible today. Nazarbayev and his government have been retarding the
process. Their isolation from the community, their indifference towards the needs of the
nation are amazing. The elite plays golf all the days long staking millions. It is
sacrilege in the poorest country.
– There are rumors that Kazhegeldin could return to the country.
How do you evaluate them?
– If Akezhan Magzhanovich returns to the country now he will do that
under condition of some agreement with the authorities only. There is no other way. At
present the authorities are interested to keep Galymzhan (Zhakiyanov) in prison and
Akezhan (Kazhegeldin) in exile. The regime is afraid of them. Nazarbayev fears true and
open competition. He has feared Kazhegeldin since 1996 and Zhakiyanov - since 2001. Last
year I was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison so that I could not have an opportunity to
participate in the elections. Several attempts on Zharmakhan Tuyakbai's life were arranged
and we have seen this. Nazarbayev is really afraid of people, who are not afraid of him.
– What is Kazhegeldin’s present position? As far as I know, you
met him recently. Could he reach a compromise with the authorities? And what about
Zhakiyanov?
– Akezhan Magzhanovich is a strong person, the citizen of his
country, a patriot and a politician. He intends to fight and will never accept any
compromise with the authorities whatever anyone talks about him. He really does not have
an opportunity to be in the country and see his relatives. But what he does abroad is of
great use to us.
Galymzhan is oriented toward victory as well. We admire his bravery and
rigidity. Any machination by neither prisoners in Shiderty nor Nazarbayev’s supporters
in Astana could break him. He will survive everything and align us. They are the best sons
of Kazakhstan, who will undoubtedly remain positive heroes in the country’s history.
– And what is going to happen to Zhakiyanov if he does not get
released early by October 2?
– I think the regime of October 2 will not release Zhakiyanov at any
circumstances. However, simultaneously with the election campaign we will arrange the
protests in Zhakiyanov’s defense all over the country and demand his release. Nazarbayev
is afraid of Galymzhan and will not release him for this reason.
– Two major competitors – Nazarbayev and Tuyakbai – will
participate in the elections. What is your opinion about other participants of the
presidential race?
– I do not have any opinion about others as just two persons will
really fight for power. Nazarbayev wants to secure his family-clan regime and Zharmakhan
wants to change everything and make the country fair. Others will just imitate their
participation and attempts to take votes off Zharmakhan. Other pretenders will be
initiated by authorities. None really wants to fight for power any more.
This is a sharp and dangerous opposition.
– It's your birthday soon. How are you going to celebrate it?
Previously, a lot of people visited you on this day at the best hotel, even Alla Pugacheva
was among the guests. How are you going to celebrate your birthday this year?
– That was just at my 40-th anniversary. I celebrate my birthday in
an ordinary way, as usual. I am going to invite friends and relatives. Last year on the
eve of parliamentary elections we found the time and got together at night to talk to each
other. This year things are going to be the same despite of a tight schedule in these
days.
- Bulat, we wish you a happy birthday on behalf of the editorial
office and all 100,000 readers of the today’s issue. We wish you good luck and bravery
in your political activities, in heading the election campaign of the only one candidate
of opposition – Zharmakhan Tuyakbai. Good luck and let's your children bring your very
happy moments!
“DAT weekly”, ¹36 (43), 2005
http://www.eurasia.org.ru/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=News&report=SingleArticle2005&ArticleID=0001961
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