independent international investigation must be carried out | Den norske Helsingforskomité

Ukteshbayev and Kurmanov have long tried to establish an independent trade union in Kazakhstan. They described the difficult situation for workers in the oil fields in Kazakhstan, emphasizing in particular the strike followed by clashes in Zhanaozen. Limited access to information makes it still unclear exactly what happened in Zhanaozen, but they fear the numbers of wounded and dead may be higher than the official figures, and that the official investigation is aimed at finding culprits rather than the truth.

NHC is of the opinion that an independent international investigation into the Zhanaozen events on last December must be carried out. - It is of paramount importance that investigations into the clashes and the resulting deaths are conducted in an independent and transparent way, Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General of NHC said at the time. – Efforts to find peaceful solutions to this conflict should be initiated, and these efforts should be guided by fundamental human rights principles such as freedom of association and speech.

It was on 16 December 2011 that at least 14 people were killed and 86 people wounded in clashes between police and demonstrators in the Zhanaozen in the Mangistau region in Western Kazakhstan. The unrest followed seven months of conflicts between striking oil workers and authorities. Read more about the events and background for them here.

The activists from Kazakhstan warned against the large number of international companies that make money from Kazakhstani resources without investing much to the benefit of the people. –The strict regulations put forward by the Kazakhstani authorities in order for international companies to secure contracts do not benefit the population at all, concluded Ukteshbayev, - instead, the investments go straight to the pockets of the President and his closest circle.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has followed the situation for the strikers in Zhanaozen since May, and is concerned with the ramifications this conflict has. – The difficult working conditions for trade unions and organized workers is alarming in that they violate the freedom to organize, assemble and express yourself as well as the right to strike, underlined deputy secretary general Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal who moderated the event. For a state which is proud of its economic development this should not be allowed to pass.

In conclusion, Ukteshbayev and Kurmanov warned that socio-economic reforms are necessary in order to counter more such protest in the future. – The authorities wanted to scare people off by shooting at the strikers and harassing them, but a growing discontent is already there, they said.