Worldwide Protests at Kazakhstan's Demolition of Hindu Community

Bulldozer27 November: There have been worldwide protests against the Kazakhstan Government following the demolition of 13 homes of the Sri Vrindavan Dham commune on the outskirts of Almaty by riot police using bulldozers, making over a hundred people homeless in subzero temperatures, many women and children.

Today, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), "the world's largest regional security organization, whose 56 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok", added its voice to a growing clamour of protest throughout the World, and issued a diplomaticly-worded condemnation of Kazakhstan Government actions. Kazakhstan is currently attempting to become chair of the OSCE.

devistation

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair raised the matter on 21 November during Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev's visit to London, and British MPs tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons condemning the Khaz Government's action.

 

Stock Exchange protestOn 22 Nov, around 300 protestors chanted Hare Krishna and held banners at the London Stock Exchange during President Nazarbayev's visit to to encourage investment in Kazakhstan.

There have also been other demonstrations, in New York, and at the Kazakhstan embasy in Delhi.

riot policeAccording to Forum 18, a Norway-based religious rights monitoring group, the attempts to force Krishna devotees off their land are either partially or wholly motivated by President Nazarbayev's brother attempting to grab the 100 acres of land owned by members of the Kazakhstan SKC (Society for Krishna Consciousness).

The remaining community of Sri Vrindavan Dham, Almaty, are extremely concerned that the remaining 66 houses, the temple, and all their belongings will be destroyed.

The behaviour of the Kazakhstan authorities is in remarkable contrast to this advertisement, promoting Kazakhstan as a place of religious diversity and tolerance, which ran in the International Herald on 16 May 2006.

 

 

 

Links and resources

.mov Movie Demolition movie

Palace of the Soul

Forum18

Wikepedia: Human Rights in Kazakhstan

OSCE

Wikepedia: OSCE

PDF Campaign resource pack

News: IBNLive: Delhi:Temple razed in Almaty, row starts (video)

Contacts

 

 

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