Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. · Aug. 14, 2003

FOLLOW THE LEADER -- Kazakhstan has joined a Chinese-led effort to "balance the growing United States military presence in Central Asia," reports the New York Times. Along with neighboring countries, Kazakhstan joined in a large joint military exercise conducted by China to demonstrate seriousness about fighting terrorists and rescuing hostages. http://www..nytimes.com/2003/08/08/international/asia/

IF I FOUND A JOB YOU CAN TOO -- There's no excuse for poverty in Kazakhstan, says the man who reportedly has salted away up to a billion dollars in bribes, payoffs and other unconventional income during his years as president of the former Soviet republic. Nursultan Nazarbayev contends official statistics exaggerate the extent of poverty in Kazakhstan, reported RIA-Novosti. Government statisticians say 9% of Kazakhs are living below the poverty line, but public interest groups say the number is actually much higher. Nazarbayev, who has pushed through his puppet parliament various laws giving him lifetime income and protection from prosecution as well as rich benefits for his family and cronies, insists that anyone who really wants a job can find one. Of course, you know who he has in mind. http://en.rian.ru/rian/

NOW SHOW YOU MEAN IT -- In the face of criticism from a number of international human rights groups, President Nazarbayev has signed legislation tightening prohibitions on trafficking in human beings, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Government officials say the problem has become acute, with Kazakh citizens falling into the hands of traffickers when they abroad in search of work, and the country itself has been a transit route for trafficked persons. After drugs and weapons, human trafficking is the third most profitable crime in Kazakhstan, according to Khabar.Kazakhstan. The new legislation expands coverage to include sexual exploitation and to stiffen penalties. The government acted in the face of threatened U.S. sanctions; no word yet from Washington whether the new law meets requirements or whether and to what extent it will be enforced. The US State Department said no sentences were meted out last year for any crimes related to human trafficking. That may be because, as the head of the foreign relations department of the Prosecutor General's Office admitted, there have been virtually no prosecutions for such offenses. http://www.interfax-news.com/, http://www.khabar.Kazakhstan/news_eng/

IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS -- Parents around Kazakhstan are increasingly concerned about how their tax money is being spent for their children's education. The parents of students attending state schools are demanding a role in setting school budget priorities and politics, reports the Internet newspaper Gazeta.Kazakhstan. Parent groups have formed in a number of cities demanding an accounting of how much public funds each school receives and how they are being spent on school maintenance, heating, and other uses. http://www.gazeta.Kazakhstan/eng/.

DERAILING DEMOCRACY -- Local elections are just over a month away and government harassment and pressure is increasing for candidates representing the democratic opposition. Candidates who work for organizations receiving public financing or whose relatives are employed by them are being pressured to withdraw from the race, reports Interfax.Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan Today. Adding to the interference, some election commissions have been dragging their feet in processing the registration documents of opposition candidates or erecting other obstacles to for them to miss registration deadlines. http://www.interfax-news.com/

For the full stories, see the web citations above or contact us at News@Kazakhstan21.org or see VOD Archives. The Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation promotes democracy and human rights in Kazakhstan through public affairs and educational programs in the United States and Europe. This material is distributed by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation.