08/03/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-10044

ABUSES ON INCREASE IN KAZAKHSTAN

Central Asian countries assisting the United States in the war on terrorism include those with poor human rights records. But that does not mean the U.S. has abandoned its concern for human rights in Central Asia. Indeed, Douglas Davidson, a U.S. representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, spoke out recently about troubling events in Kazakhstan. He said corruption trials are being held to intimidate political opposition leaders. In addition, the government is harassing the mass media.

There have been attacks on independent media designed to intimidate journalists who have reported on political opposition activities and alleged financial improprieties of senior Kazakhstani officials. Last year, Yermurat [yehr-moo-RAHT] Bapi [bah-PEE], editor-in-chief of SolDat [sohl-DAHT] newspaper and journalist Karishal [kar-ee-SHAL] Asanov [as-AHN-ov] were charged with libel for two articles that addressed corruption. Bapi was sentenced to a year in prison and later amnestied. Asanov was acquitted of charges.

Rooting out corruption is essential for good governance. But the selective prosecution of leaders of the Kazakhstani political opposition is a gross abuse of the state’s power. Galymzhan [gah-leem-ZHAN] Zhakiyanov [zha-kee-YAHN-ov]and Mukhtar [moock-TAR]Ablyazov [ab-lee-YAH-zov] are the founders of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement. Both men are being tried on charges of corruption as part of campaign to silence the political opposition in Kazakhstan.

In another undemocratic move, the Kazakhstan legislature enacted a new law that makes it more difficult for political parties to register. The minimum party membership needed for registration was raised from three-thousand to fifty-thousand. The law also requires that a party be dissolved if it fails to make it into parliament in two consecutive elections. All political parties must reregister under the new law. As a result, most of Kazakhstan’s existing parties could be disqualified from participating in the political process.

Kazakhstan has provided invaluable support to the U.S. in the war on terrorism. But securing freedom, political stability, and respect for basic rights is what fighting the war on terrorism is all about. It is up to the government of President Nazarbayev to rededicate itself to advancing political pluralism, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.