Comments on: A Story of an “Almatinka” 15 years from now http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/ neweurasia\'s Kazakhstan blog Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:20:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Mike http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-10945 Mike Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:50:14 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-10945 Leila has done an excellent job of portraying what Kazakhstan will be like "15 years from now" but most people do not realize how close that 15 years is. The reality is that Almaty is already becoming a place of the "have's" and the "have-not's". The escalating real estate prices are going to drive people who "have-not" to be the types of people Leila describes in the metro and attacking the up-hill neighborhoods. The Kazakh government does a poor job of governing it's entire nation - Kazakh, Uyghur, Chechen and the other 63 nationalities that are a part of this nation - simply because in their greed to get their "share" of the pie, they are ignoring the fact that one of the aspects of the government is to put restraints in place so that the banks and the real estate companies do not continue to drive up artificial prices in real estate. I say "well done" to Leila on an article that should draw attention to more than just the ethnic minority problem but also to the economic problem of this nation. Leila has done an excellent job of portraying what Kazakhstan will be like “15 years from now” but most people do not realize how close that 15 years is. The reality is that Almaty is already becoming a place of the “have’s” and the “have-not’s”. The escalating real estate prices are going to drive people who “have-not” to be the types of people Leila describes in the metro and attacking the up-hill neighborhoods.

The Kazakh government does a poor job of governing it’s entire nation - Kazakh, Uyghur, Chechen and the other 63 nationalities that are a part of this nation - simply because in their greed to get their “share” of the pie, they are ignoring the fact that one of the aspects of the government is to put restraints in place so that the banks and the real estate companies do not continue to drive up artificial prices in real estate.

I say “well done” to Leila on an article that should draw attention to more than just the ethnic minority problem but also to the economic problem of this nation.

]]> By: Özgecan http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8798 Özgecan Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:50:40 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8798 This really is a loss in the Kazakhs' perception. Especially considering the fact that thousands of Kazakhs lived and still live among the Uyghurs like brothers. The Kazakh diaspora from Xinjiang still has a homeland feeling for "Eastern Turkestan" and it's a shame that such prejudices are predominant among the Kazakhstani society. This reminds me of a little anecdote from a former worker at RFE/RL. He refused to write in his article that the Kazakh and the Uyghur languages were different from one another. Instead, he insisted on the fact that that they were different dialogues of the Turkic language and that these two people did not need an interpreter to understand each other. That's how close these people were in his eyes. And imagine, he even got into a fight with his boss for this. This is the kind of feeling of brotherhood we need among the Turkic people. This really is a loss in the Kazakhs’ perception. Especially considering the fact that thousands of Kazakhs lived and still live among the Uyghurs like brothers. The Kazakh diaspora from Xinjiang still has a homeland feeling for “Eastern Turkestan” and it’s a shame that such prejudices are predominant among the Kazakhstani society.

This reminds me of a little anecdote from a former worker at RFE/RL. He refused to write in his article that the Kazakh and the Uyghur languages were different from one another. Instead, he insisted on the fact that that they were different dialogues of the Turkic language and that these two people did not need an interpreter to understand each other. That’s how close these people were in his eyes. And imagine, he even got into a fight with his boss for this. This is the kind of feeling of brotherhood we need among the Turkic people.

]]> By: Leila http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8740 Leila Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:39:03 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8740 I myself feel very close to the Uighurs' cause. In this fictional story, I have left this piece about "Uighur separatists" intentionally, to reflect the increasing prejudice towards the Uighurs in Kazakhstan. I am glad people noticed it and brought the readers' attention to it. The Kazakh Government cooperates with the Chinese, hence, media is quick to label too. For instance, in 2000, there was shooting between the police and several gunned people in Almaty. TV reports said that those were "Uighur terrorists" and many people were quick to believe it. With increasing Chinese-Kazakh cooperation in anti-terrorism, I do not exclude that the tendency will remain. I myself feel very close to the Uighurs’ cause. In this fictional story, I have left this piece about “Uighur separatists” intentionally, to reflect the increasing prejudice towards the Uighurs in Kazakhstan. I am glad people noticed it and brought the readers’ attention to it.

The Kazakh Government cooperates with the Chinese, hence, media is quick to label too. For instance, in 2000, there was shooting between the police and several gunned people in Almaty. TV reports said that those were “Uighur terrorists” and many people were quick to believe it. With increasing Chinese-Kazakh cooperation in anti-terrorism, I do not exclude that the tendency will remain.

]]> By: James Freeman http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8636 James Freeman Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:26:18 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8636 Kazak people should be wake up. They should study who they really are, and what their future will be. Kazak and Uyghur used to be one nation. Kazaks are still not realizing russian and chinese are divide and conquering Turkic people. For a noble kazak person, It is totally shameless, wrong, and heartless action to help chinese to genocide Uyghur people. Wake up kazaks, you did not come from outer space, you were turkic people and you will be . You used to be Uyghur's brother, you will be. Do not help enimy to murder your brother. Kazak people should be wake up. They should study who they really are, and what their future will be. Kazak and Uyghur used to be one nation. Kazaks are still not realizing russian and chinese are divide and conquering Turkic people.
For a noble kazak person, It is totally shameless, wrong, and heartless action to help chinese to genocide Uyghur people.

Wake up kazaks, you did not come from outer space, you were turkic people and you will be . You used to be Uyghur’s brother, you will be. Do not help enimy to murder your brother.

]]> By: Erkin Dolet http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8576 Erkin Dolet Sat, 23 Dec 2006 01:05:28 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8576 It is quite disappointing to see that a lot of people in Kazakhstan and even their media began to portray the Uyghur people who live in Kazakhstan and especially those who fled Chinese persecution and came to Kazakhstan recently as "terrorists." Instead of helping their ethnic brethren who are suffering tremendous persecution under Chinese government repression, Kazakhstan deported many Uyghurs to China and dozens of them were summarily executed. And unfortunately the prejudice in Kazakhstan against the Uyghur people still continues. The Uyghur people are not terrorists. Their peaceful resistance to Chinese rule is not terrorism just as Kazakh resistance to the Soviet rule was not terrorism. The Uyghurs do not become terrorists simply because the Chinese government labels them so. In fact, the Chinese government has failed to convince the international community that Uyghurs are "terrorists." Many countries in the West such the U.S., Canada and the European countries now realize that the Chinese government has been using the global war on terror as a excuse to further persecute the Uyghur people. It seems the only people and governments that don't realize this are in Central Asia. Today, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are selling the Uyghurs to the Chinese government in order to get military and economic aid from China. These Central Asian countries, by helping the Chinese government to destroy the Uyghur people, will eventually bring upon themselves disasters because they will be destroyed by the Chinese if they do not watch out. You should all thank the Uyghurs for stopping the Chinese from running over your territories. That day will come soon if all you do is to help the Chinese government to destroy the Uyghur people and call them "terrorists" without thinking twice. Erkin Dolet Washington, DC United States It is quite disappointing to see that a lot of people in Kazakhstan and even their media began to portray the Uyghur people who live in Kazakhstan and especially those who fled Chinese persecution and came to Kazakhstan recently as “terrorists.” Instead of helping their ethnic brethren who are suffering tremendous persecution under Chinese government repression, Kazakhstan deported many Uyghurs to China and dozens of them were summarily executed. And unfortunately the prejudice in Kazakhstan against the Uyghur people still continues.

The Uyghur people are not terrorists. Their peaceful resistance to Chinese rule is not terrorism just as Kazakh resistance to the Soviet rule was not terrorism. The Uyghurs do not become terrorists simply because the Chinese government labels them so. In fact, the Chinese government has failed to convince the international community that Uyghurs are “terrorists.” Many countries in the West such the U.S., Canada and the European countries now realize that the Chinese government has been using the global war on terror as a excuse to further persecute the Uyghur people.

It seems the only people and governments that don’t realize this are in Central Asia. Today, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are selling the Uyghurs to the Chinese government in order to get military and economic aid from China. These Central Asian countries, by helping the Chinese government to destroy the Uyghur people, will eventually bring upon themselves disasters because they will be destroyed by the Chinese if they do not watch out. You should all thank the Uyghurs for stopping the Chinese from running over your territories. That day will come soon if all you do is to help the Chinese government to destroy the Uyghur people and call them “terrorists” without thinking twice.

Erkin Dolet
Washington, DC
United States

]]> By: James http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8525 James Thu, 21 Dec 2006 23:53:42 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8525 Jeff, note that she is not writing as herself but rather from the perspective of an ordinary Kazakh business woman in 2021. Jeff, note that she is not writing as herself but rather from the perspective of an ordinary Kazakh business woman in 2021.

]]> By: Jeff http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8501 Jeff Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:42:08 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/12/21/a-story-of-an-almatinka-15-years-from-now/#comment-8501 "Recently they showed on TV that police uncovered a terror plot of Uighur separatists, and whatever my colleagues say, I still believe that with this amount of Chinese tourists we do have to watch out, especially in metro. Oh Allah." It's very sad that you perceive your ethnic siblings, Uighurs categorically as Chinese. They are not Chinese but Turkic people just like yourself. Additionally, this whole thing about labeling Uighurs as "terrorists" is politically motivated. Civilized world simply didn't buy into Chinese claims but rather started to listen to the Uighur grievances more attentively now than ever. Only handful of countries, Central Asian Turkic states in particular are listening to the Chinese and assisting them to crack down Uighur ethno-nationalist aspirations. Like the non-Russians during the Soviet era, Uighurs are simply struggling for survival as a nation and people. “Recently they showed on TV that police uncovered a terror plot of Uighur separatists, and whatever my colleagues say, I still believe that with this amount of Chinese tourists we do have to watch out, especially in metro. Oh Allah.”

It’s very sad that you perceive your ethnic siblings, Uighurs categorically as Chinese. They are not Chinese but Turkic people just like yourself. Additionally, this whole thing about labeling Uighurs as “terrorists” is politically motivated. Civilized world simply didn’t buy into Chinese claims but rather started to listen to the Uighur grievances more attentively now than ever. Only handful of countries, Central Asian Turkic states in particular are listening to the Chinese and assisting them to crack down Uighur ethno-nationalist aspirations. Like the non-Russians during the Soviet era, Uighurs are simply struggling for survival as a nation and people.

]]>