Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/678/12358
From The Socialist newspaper, 6 July 2011
Kazakhstan: Striking oil workers attempt to break news blockade
Further threats made against strike leaders and supporters
CWI reporters, Moscow
Oil workers' strikes in West Kazakhstan are now into their second month of taking strike action. The employers appear to have decided to hold back from more repression and instead are attempting to exhaust the workers. The Kazakhstan media are putting forward a wave of propaganda in an attempt to undermine support for the strike, claiming that most workers have "returned to work".
In an attempt to break the press refusal to cover the strike, at the invitation of the Russian section of the CWI, a delegation of strikers visited Moscow this week and met with trade unionists and reporters.
In a live video link with Peter Taaffe from the Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales), the delegation heard of the international support organised by other sections of the CWI for their dispute.
Also, Moscow News, the main central Asian news site Fergana.ru and the Reuters news agency all covered the story.
While the delegation was in Moscow, news came through that a further 300 workers were sacked and that Kuanysha Sisenbaeva, the strike leader from Karazhanbas was taken to court and charged with organising illegal pickets and demonstrations. This is against the background of reports that the riot police are amassing in the oil producing areas.
The authorities are clearly getting desperate. In Almaty, the largest city, they no longer even pretend to hold fair law court hearings. It took three judges just three minutes to expel a cameraman from a court room and to go on to 'hear' evidence from the prosecutors' office, the appeal of mortgage debtors against five breaches of law during a trial against them in a lower court and to write and read out the verdict - which, of course, supported the banks. This is an example of injustice that is startling even by Kazakhstan's record.
Even more worrying is the letter printed by the 'Respublika' newspaper, which reveals that a meeting of foreign investors was recently held at which they were ordered by the government to sort out the 'social conflicts' in their corporations. But rather than promise to pay higher wages and to improve social conditions to resolve workers' grievances, the government and corporations promised to 'weed out' the "trouble makers" amongst the workforce.
According to Respublika, first on the list is Ainur Kurmanov, whose organisation, Socialist Movement Kazakhstan, is the main opponent of injustice and inequality. It appears Ainur is now followed in the streets by not just by the Komitetshiki (the political police) but also by the security forces belonging to the corporations.
Please send solidarity messages to:
solidar@socialismkz.info with copies to Robert.cwi@gmail.com and alex@socdeistvie.info
Protests should be sent to:
Embassy of Kazakhstan in United Kingdom - Thurloe Square, London SW7 2SD; 020 7581 4646 - 020 7584 8481 london@kazakhstan-embassy.org.uk
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In The Socialist 6 July 2011:
30th June strike and after
Next time - strike together...
24-hour public sector general strike as next step to beat the Con-Dems
Standing up to a weak government
Labour - condemned for condemning strike
Walkout at Wormwood Scrubs prison
30 June pension strike reports
Socialist Party news and analysis
Leaked memo shows government lied over its homeless policies
Dilnot report: A disservice to disabled and older people
Durham Miners' Gala: Miliband pulls out
Stop the racist and divisive EDL
Time to defend abortion rights... again
Socialist Party workplace news
Southampton council workers strike on same day as teachers, lecturers and civil servants
Birmingham - the fightback begins
Leeds Unison members decisively reject the council's final offer
Fawley refinery construction engineers summarily sacked
Fighting pension cuts and the anti-union laws
Successful NSSN meeting in Coventry
International socialist news and analysis
East Belfast riots: Only united working class action can prevent further attacks
Kazakhstan: Striking oil workers attempt to break news blockade
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
All workers: unite to fight for decent jobs
High street job cuts: Jane Norman worker speaks out
Socialist Students meeting prepares for new term
Youth Fight for Jobs: campaign moving forward
Day-Mer festival support for 30 June pensions strike
Socialist Party reviews
Socialist Party
Building the socialist alternative on 30 June
Socialist Party youth meeting: Successful and insightful
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