"We'll have to endeavor group self-immolation…"

"We'll have to endeavor group self-immolation…"

Requisition Address

We, persons with job-related disabilities of NODFOS Joint-Sock company and Kara-tas Co., who have been on hunger strike since April 5, 2000, were beaten and arrested by law-enforcement agencies. Among us are Novy Region (New region) reporter Gaziza Baiturova, press photographer of Zhambyl-Taras Victor Barbash, and KTK television company cameraman V. Alexandrov who were also beaten. As a result six people (including three women) have been inflicted various bodily injuries.

We have got no documented evidence resulting from medical examination because of interference of law-enforcement agencies who've forced doctors to held back the truth. That's why we have been on "dry" hunger-strike since April 12. The strikers are very sick, the emaciation and dehydration grow each day. But the doctors have strict orders not to treat in hospital the exhausted people.

Since we have addressed many departments all in vain, we are going to take further actions.

Please be advised that on May 6, 2000 we will organize a rally in support of our demands with participation of those who sympathize our struggle, workers from other city's enterprises, mothers, who are not paid their children's allowances. The rally will go through Taraz, Almaty, and Astana. It will start in Kazybek bi street and will to go up to the regional akimat (City Hall) where a peaceful meeting will take place. Then we are going to walk to the capital of Kazakhstan.

We demand that you not interfere with our peaceful procession. In case of interference and force measures we'll have to endeavor a group self-immolation. Remeber that this time it will be impossible to use the language in which you've got used to talk to people, namely the language of political terror. We warn you that the entire responsibility for the outcome will rest with you only.

We have advised Kazak and foreign mass media, news agencies and international human rights organization about the step we are planning to undertake.

You have time to find solution to the problem of unpaid debts to persons with job-related decease and disabilities, payment of allowances to large families and families who lost the provider in industrial accidents. If you fail to meet our demand very shortly, we will have to endeavor extreme forms of protest.

INITIATIVE GROUP
(35 signatures)

Taraz, 29 April 2000