Dissident Thought is Punishable

Gaziz ALDAMZHAROV

The founding congress of the Republican People’s Party of Kazakhstan took place on 17 December 1998 at which a decision was taken to create the RPPK, establish its regulations and programme, and choose its governing body. Branches were established in the regions as required by the laws "on political parties" of Kazakhstan. And also, according to the law, the party presented the requisite documents for registration with the Ministry of Justice.

The law requires a party to register within 15 days. During this period the Ministry can either register the party, or, if it rejects the application, it must cite the reasons for the refusal. Although the required period passed, the party was not registered. Nor did the Ministry of Justice cite a reason for refusing to register the party.

This violation illustrates yet one more time the constant, ongoing violations of the law by the current regime. It shows the government’s attitude to the law, and also testifies to the violation of civil rights with regard to citizens’ political interests. The RPPK has 3,000 members who represent the political will of a substantial part of the population.

The party regards the current crisis in Kazakhstan as stemming from the concentration of power in the hands of one person. The party demands the redistribution of power between the president, parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, the introduction of local self-government, an independent judiciary and a free press, and the creation of real mechanisms for individual self-expression.

The current refusal to register the party is a reflection of the general proclivity of the state to suppress dissident thought and any form of oppositional activity.

President Nazarbayev’s statement asserting that he is a supporter of a multiparty system and an open democratic society once again underscores the gap between mere declarations and their implementation on the ground.

The executive of the RPPK retains the right to appeal to social opinion here and abroad to reveal the political nature of the current anti-democratic regime.