Boise Hare Krishna Temple and Vedic Cultural Center

Appeal by (Bhakti Bhrnga) Govinda Swami (Message condensed and rearranged from his two letters)

Dear Vaisnavas,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In 1999 the devotees in Kazkhstan purchased a beautiful farm outside of the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Since that time substantial strides have been made in creating an agricultural community, a home for many vaisnavas, and the venue for a wonderful summer yearly festival attended by devotees from Central Asia and Russia.

Since October 2004 there have been many attempts from the government of Kazakhstan to push us from this property. This has been done by smear campaigns in the media and ongoing litigation in the courts.

On March 29, 2006 a case was conducted in the Almaty Oblast Court. Prior to issuing the ruling the judge declared that the legal arguments of the government land agency had no substance and that the arguments presented by the advocates representing our society were correct and in accordance to the Kazakhstan legal code.

But after private discussion in their chambers the judges emerged and issued a ruling against our society in which it is stated that the land be confiscated and returned to the government. This ruling was illegal and not based on legislation of the government of Kazakhstan.

We purchased the land at the market value in 1999. In 2004 we privatized the land according to the laws of Kazakhstan in. Since this time the value of this land has increased dramatically. The situation we have is that the powerful government land barons want to eliminate us by any illegal process that they may possess the land, again sell, and make astronomical profit.

The President of Kazakhstan has gained international respect for having hosted an international religious forum in 2003. Yet, despite the talks of religious equality and openness, he is allowing a religious society to be illegally evicted from their legally acquired property. It is an injustice
performed in the name of religious equality People are losing their homes, their livelihood, their possesions, and their dignity.  This is an embarrasing and pronounced violation of human
and religious rights.

Please find footage of the forceful, and illegal, attack, on the Kazakhstan devotees, and their homes, earlier today, here:
Video of Demolition attempt or http://www.palaceofthesoul.com/media/confrontation/confrontation320x240.wmv

(The footage may take a few moments to load.  If clicking the link does not work, please cut and paste it into the address bar of your web browser.)

In this footage, you will see the residents of Sri Vrindavana Dhama/Palace of the Soul peacefully protesting while they are attacked, harrassed, and assaulted by police and court officials and while bulldozers roll onto their property to destroy their homes.

This must end.  We must all get involved and we must do it now.

Please consider doing any of the following:

(1) Contact your local branch of Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org <http://www.amnestyusa.org/>  or www.amnesty.org <http://www.amnesty.org/> and describe the situation to them.  Ask what can be done and speak with their advisors to determine how to take, and inspire, action for restoration of the Kazakhstan devotees' religious and human rights.

(2) See the below list of telephone and fax numbers and make an endeavour to contact the government of Kazakhstan and its associated branches, to voice your protest.  The numbers are often difficult to get through to.  Keep trying!  When you do get through, INSIST on speaking to someone who speaks fluent English (unless, of course, you are fluent in Russian or Kazakhstani).

Presidential Office: +7 (3172) 152634, 152920, 152107 +7 (3172) 324558
Presidential PR department: +7 (3172) 744051

Administration of the President: +7 (3172) 151203, fax +7 (3172) 324480

Prosecutor's office of RK +7 (3172) 712868, 214025, 712500

Senate +7 (3172) 153195, 153239, 327710

Senate PR department: +7 (3172) 153295, 153505 fax +7 (3172) 334639

Committee on Religious Affairs Mr. Yeraly Lukpanovich Tugzhanov +7 (3172) 152497, 152217, 152690 fax +7 (3172) 328356

Prime Minister Mr. Danial Akhmetov +7 (3172) 152035, 152027

Almaty Regional Land Department Mr. Nauryzbai Asanbayevich Taubayev +7 (3272) 270125

Almaty Regional Hakim Mr. Serik Abikenovich Umbetov +7 (3282) 271753

Karasai District Hakim Bolat-bi Satynbayevich Kutpanov +7 (32771) 21142, 21709

Karasai District Court: +7 (32771) 20899

Court executive Ms. R. Baimukhanbetova +7 (32771) 22030

As earlier communiques from Kazakhstan have already explained, the following arguments may be presented:

"(A) Law-obedient citizens are deprived of their homes and thrown to the street. All of them have lawfully acquired the right of ownership for their plots of land, they have paid all the taxes and membership charges.

(B) The Hakim (Governor) of the district accuses the owners that they never had their property privatized. However the members of the community repeatedly applied to the Hakim for his permission to make the acts of ownership for their cottages and plots but he repeatedly refused. Without his sanction for privatization one cannot make needed documentation for the cottages.

(C) The devotees' houses are located on the territory of a Consumers Cooperative. There are 120 members of this Cooperative. However the claims are brought only against the members of the religious society. In each and every claim the connection of the defendants to the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness has been illustrated. This is a direct and flagrant violation of human rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Kazakhstan.

(D) Confiscation of property without compensation is possible only in a criminal case. Ours is a civil case. It is not a criminal case.

(E) According to the law, the citizens whose property is confiscated are given at least 5 days to prepare for the execution of the court decision. In our case we have another transgression of the law as we were given less than one day."

Please contact any media connections you may have.  Public knowledge of conspiracy and exploitation often serves well to eliminate it.

(3)Send the following letter to President of Kazakhstan click here for letter)

(4)Minimally, please send an email to Mother Sriguru at srigurucarana@yahoo.com with your legal name and city of residence as your approval for her to include in a letter to the appropriate governmental agencies to appeal for help and due process.

(5)And at last, we are humbly requesting that you will all pray that this situation may be reversed and our farm, Sri Vrindavan Dham, will not be stolen by the government of Kazakhstan.

With affectionate regards,

BB Govinda Swami

Note: For more legal information Maxim Varfolomeev, PR department of the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness in Kazakhstan can be contacted at tel. +7 300 740 79 43.



	Government of Kazakhstan attempts to demolish cottages on temple land. Video of Demolition attempt ( alternate link) Video: Response from devotees and people of India - India TV Coverage ( alternate link) Picture of Kazakhstan devotees Up to date news at: http://www.srivrindavandham.com/news/index.php What Can you do? Appeal by (Bhakti Bhrnga) Govinda Swami (Message condensed and rearranged from his two letters) Dear Vaisnavas, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. In 1999 the devotees in Kazkhstan purchased a beautiful farm outside of the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Since that time substantial strides have been made in creating an agricultural community, a home for many vaisnavas, and the venue for a wonderful summer yearly festival attended by devotees from Central Asia and Russia. Since October 2004 there have been many attempts from the government of Kazakhstan to push us from this property. This has been done by smear campaigns in the media and ongoing litigation in the courts. On March 29, 2006 a case was conducted in the Almaty Oblast Court. Prior to issuing the ruling the judge declared that the legal arguments of the government land agency had no substance and that the arguments presented by the advocates representing our society were correct and in accordance to the Kazakhstan legal code. But after private discussion in their chambers the judges emerged and issued a ruling against our society in which it is stated that the land be confiscated and returned to the government. This ruling was illegal and not based on legislation of the government of Kazakhstan. We purchased the land at the market value in 1999. In 2004 we privatized the land according to the laws of Kazakhstan in. Since this time the value of this land has increased dramatically. The situation we have is that the powerful government land barons want to eliminate us by any illegal process that they may possess the land, again sell, and make astronomical profit. The President of Kazakhstan has gained international respect for having hosted an international religious forum in 2003. Yet, despite the talks of religious equality and openness, he is allowing a religious society to be illegally evicted from their legally acquired property. It is an injustice performed in the name of religious equality People are losing their homes, their livelihood, their possesions, and their dignity. This is an embarrasing and pronounced violation of human and religious rights. Please find footage of the forceful, and illegal, attack, on the Kazakhstan devotees, and their homes, earlier today, here: Video of Demolition attempt or http://www.palaceofthesoul.com/media/confrontation/confrontation320x240.wmv (The footage may take a few moments to load. If clicking the link does not work, please cut and paste it into the address bar of your web browser.) In this footage, you will see the residents of Sri Vrindavana Dhama/Palace of the Soul peacefully protesting while they are attacked, harrassed, and assaulted by police and court officials and while bulldozers roll onto their property to destroy their homes. This must end. We must all get involved and we must do it now. Please consider doing any of the following: (1) Contact your local branch of Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org <http://www.amnestyusa.org/> or www.amnesty.org <http://www.amnesty.org/> and describe the situation to them. Ask what can be done and speak with their advisors to determine how to take, and inspire, action for restoration of the Kazakhstan devotees' religious and human rights. (2) See the below list of telephone and fax numbers and make an endeavour to contact the government of Kazakhstan and its associated branches, to voice your protest. The numbers are often difficult to get through to. Keep trying! When you do get through, INSIST on speaking to someone who speaks fluent English (unless, of course, you are fluent in Russian or Kazakhstani). Presidential Office: +7 (3172) 152634, 152920, 152107 +7 (3172) 324558 Presidential PR department: +7 (3172) 744051 Administration of the President: +7 (3172) 151203, fax +7 (3172) 324480 Prosecutor's office of RK +7 (3172) 712868, 214025, 712500 Senate +7 (3172) 153195, 153239, 327710 Senate PR department: +7 (3172) 153295, 153505 fax +7 (3172) 334639 Committee on Religious Affairs Mr. Yeraly Lukpanovich Tugzhanov +7 (3172) 152497, 152217, 152690 fax +7 (3172) 328356 Prime Minister Mr. Danial Akhmetov +7 (3172) 152035, 152027 Almaty Regional Land Department Mr. Nauryzbai Asanbayevich Taubayev +7 (3272) 270125 Almaty Regional Hakim Mr. Serik Abikenovich Umbetov +7 (3282) 271753 Karasai District Hakim Bolat-bi Satynbayevich Kutpanov +7 (32771) 21142, 21709 Karasai District Court: +7 (32771) 20899 Court executive Ms. R. Baimukhanbetova +7 (32771) 22030 As earlier communiques from Kazakhstan have already explained, the following arguments may be presented: "(A) Law-obedient citizens are deprived of their homes and thrown to the street. All of them have lawfully acquired the right of ownership for their plots of land, they have paid all the taxes and membership charges. (B) The Hakim (Governor) of the district accuses the owners that they never had their property privatized. However the members of the community repeatedly applied to the Hakim for his permission to make the acts of ownership for their cottages and plots but he repeatedly refused. Without his sanction for privatization one cannot make needed documentation for the cottages. (C) The devotees' houses are located on the territory of a Consumers Cooperative. There are 120 members of this Cooperative. However the claims are brought only against the members of the religious society. In each and every claim the connection of the defendants to the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness has been illustrated. This is a direct and flagrant violation of human rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Kazakhstan. (D) Confiscation of property without compensation is possible only in a criminal case. Ours is a civil case. It is not a criminal case. (E) According to the law, the citizens whose property is confiscated are given at least 5 days to prepare for the execution of the court decision. In our case we have another transgression of the law as we were given less than one day." Please contact any media connections you may have. Public knowledge of conspiracy and exploitation often serves well to eliminate it. (3)Send the following letter to President of Kazakhstan click here for letter) (4)Minimally, please send an email to Mother Sriguru at srigurucarana@yahoo.com with your legal name and city of residence as your approval for her to include in a letter to the appropriate governmental agencies to appeal for help and due process. (5)And at last, we are humbly requesting that you will all pray that this situation may be reversed and our farm, Sri Vrindavan Dham, will not be stolen by the government of Kazakhstan. With affectionate regards, BB Govinda Swami Note: For more legal information Maxim Varfolomeev, PR department of the Religious Organization Society for Krishna Consciousness in Kazakhstan can be contacted at tel. +7 300 740 79 43.