SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE KAZAKH REPUBLICAN PEOPLE�S PARTY ACCUSED, SOME ARRESTED.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report from the former capital of Kazakhstan that activists of the Kazakh Republican People�s Party led by the former Premier Akezhan Kazhegeldin from exile held press conference in Almaty on Monday, December 13. Ermurat Bapiy - one of the Party�s leaders, told journalists that several members of the party, mainly bodyguards of Akezhan Kazhegeldin were arrested on December 8. According to Mr. Bapiy, officers of Almaty Department of the Kazakh National Security Committee rushed in the apartments of Mr. Kazhegeldin�s bodyguards (Alexey Martynov, Serikzhan Ibrayev, Pyotr Afanasenko and others) and searched the premises. Almost all of the tax police officers were masked reportedly. Three bodyguards were arrested accused of having illegal weapons in possession. One of them Alexey Martynov was hospitalized with concussion and head trauma diagnosis. Since he is guarded by Almaty Police in the hospital #7 of the former Kazakh Capital, no details about his injure are available. One more bodyguard of Akezhan Kazhegeldin is still in jail. Several others (not clear how many) were released but they do not have right to leave Almaty �for the investigations on the case have started�. They are officially accused of keeping machine guns, pistols and ammunition illegally.
AUTHOR OF ORDALY ZHYLAN BOOK STILL IN HOSPITAL.
Temirtas Tleulesov - author of the book titled as �Ordaly Zhylan�, who has been heavily beaten by some unknown persons in Shymkent last week, sent a fax to RFE/RL�s bureau in Almaty today, December 13. Mr. Tleulesov is still in the Shymkent City Hospital recovering of the injures he got last week. He wrote in his fax message that Chief of Turan-Invest Fund Nurdaulet Sarsenov, who used to be Chief of South Kazakhstan Oblast Administration�s Information Department and was criticized in Mr. Tleulesov�s book, had invited Temirtas Tleulesov to Turan-Invest Fund�s Building last week. When Mr. Tleulesov came to the Fund, about 15 persons heavily beat him and threw his body out of the building. Then Sarsenov�s brother-in-law, Police Colonel Serzhan Tursynbayev investigated the case and officially found that Mr. Tleulesov �had caused the quarrel himself�. Local Procuracy refused to accept Mr. Tleulesov�s protest reportedly. Local media in Shymkent city gives biased information, protecting interests of Nurdaulet Sarsenov reportedly. Meanwhile no other mass media in the country covers the situation.
ALMATY POLICE �PERSUADED� INHABITANTS OF TASTAQ DISTRICT TO BUILD A GASOLINE STATION.
Stand off between citizens of Almaty�s Tastaq District and local police seems to have finished. Policemen armed with Kalashnikov machine guns managed to dismiss dozens of the District�s inmates protesting the local authorities decision to build a new gasoline station in the area. Local citizens say that the decision was wrong since the new gasoline station is planned to be raised in the middle of several 9-storied apartment blocks and will affect the local inhabitants� fire safety. Yesterday, December 13, the City police forces dismissed the protesters. Vice Mayor of Almaty Yakov Zayats says that the permission to build the new gasoline station was given by the Mayor�s Office to a local businessman Vitaliy Kim. He also said that the building of the new gasoline station will not affect the fire safety of the district.
THREE KIDS DIED OF FOOD POISONING IN ALMATY.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report that several people were brought to hospital yesterday, December 13, in a very grave condition. It turned out that all of them were poisoned by some chemical staff found in salt bought at Almaty�s market place. All the patients were members of one family - Yablonski. Three kids died in the hospital. Four children, as well s their parents were saved by the clinics� medical personnel reportedly.
BLAST AT APARTMENT OF SEVERNIY MINE�S CHIEF I EKIBASTUZ REPORTED.
An explosion heavily damaged apartment of Severniy Mine�s Director in Ekibastuz City, Northern Kazakhstan. The blast happened on Sunday, December 12, in the time when nobody was in the apartment. Investigations are underway.
Dec 14 (Radio �Liberty�)
Erkanat ABENI
ASTANA, Dec 13
(THE GLOBE)
�During the forthcoming visit of the Kazakhstani President to the USA, it is planned to discuss defense issues on establishment of the technical basis for excursuses of the Central Asian battalion,� the Defense Minister announced on Monday, December 13, in Astana.
Sat Tokpakbaev said that the Central Asian battalion would represent armies from about 10 countries. The battalion is supposed to oppose extremist bands. He stated, however, that he did not know if there were bands of religious extremists in Kazakhstan.
Besides, the general-lieutenant said that during the visit to the USA delegates were going to discuss issues on training of our servicemen in the USA.
As far as the weapon able to strike an armor invented by Kazakhstani scientists is concerned, the Minister said that he had not seen the new weapon, but it would be tested soon.
�Only after the weapon is tested, it will be clear if it has such characteristics,� the Minister emphasized.
According to Tokpakbaev, right after he was appointed the Minister of Defense, he dismissed a lot of Ministry officers, as none of the garrisons were ready for winter.
�In 2000 the national budget allots 12 billion 196 million tenge to defense,� Sat Tokpakbaev added. In his opinion, due to such low expenses towards defense, a professional army cannot be established.
Gulbanu ABENOVA
ALMATY, Dec 12 (THE GLOBE)
The national dialogue between the authorities and the opposition failed. As the Forum of Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan expected, the authorities ignored their proposal and preferred to associate with the society through the Assembly of Kazakhstani people.
It was supposed that on December 10 at the Assembly conference where President Nazarbaev participated, either this structure would be reorganized to the National Council subordinate directly to the President or another alternative organization would be established. The latter was expected to be an intermediate between the opposition and the authorities. However, no new organization was established at the President�s meeting with representatives of different peoples living in the country.
A spokesman from Republican Peoples� Party of Kazakhstan Gaziz Aldamzharov stated that the Assembly had no right to express people�s interests (THE GLOBE # 95 (413), 07.12.99). But the authorities wish the Assembly to do that, i.e. to express interests pleasing to the government.
Everybody knows that only man financially independent can openly express his opinion. When he receives a salary, can he express an opinion contradictory to his master�s ones?
According to the Kazakhstani law on public amalgamations, the state should not finance the Assembly. Yes, but in our country any law may be violated. The President has violated the law himself. At the Assembly he said: yes, the law does not allow the state to finance you, but we will find sponsors, establish a fund and will monthly pay 10,000 to 15,000 tenge to chairmen of cultural centers.
There are 28 national centers, and 185 regional centers in the country. If we calculate for only national centers, that comes to 280 to 420 thousand tenge of monthly salaries to chairmen of the centers. They will do their best for to justify trust.
After the national referendum on prolongation of Presidential period of Nursultan Nazarbaev held in 1995 �initiated� by the newly created Assembly (some analysts believed the latter was specially established for the same), experts stated that the Assembly had fulfilled �its historical mission� and now it is just a formal organization.
It seems, however, that the authorities decided to reconsider the Assembly�s role, as it may be still useful. In particular, it may help to establish a national dialogue. What usage and what �historical role� it will play, the time will show. Otherwise, why are they going to waste 200,000 to 400,000 tenge of sponsors� money (if we take into consideration regional centers, the amount will be even more). Well, this �voluntary sponsorship� is necessary to the republic. We should hardly seek another example. For instance, the forthcoming Presidential New Year celebration for children or the celebration of the new millenium in Astana. If we speak of its further construction, all officials state that only sponsors� money spent to Astana. You know well that there are a lot of to be built in Astana.
Asylbek Bisenbaev, the press secretary of the President in his interview with one of the Kazakhstani TV channels said that before the authorities agree to negotiate, at first the opposition should put everything in order in its ranks, since they shift from one party to another and they have no unanimous opinion.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
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