Crimean news 46.
(Mass Media for 21-26 February 2000).survey
(All the material is given
in an abridged form).
Vosstavshih"
square in Sevastopol has to be renamed after our great hero.
The Crimean
electoral committee is getting ready for the referendum
Simferopol
dwellers do not find the referendum necessary.
The Court has
made decision, but...
Conference of
the UN development program will be held.
"To the
21st century with Ismail Gasprinskiy" action has begun.
They have
considerably reduced the time of State TV-Radio Company broadcast.
It
will soon be impossible to go to Uzbekistan without visa.
|
Politics. |
Day of Chechen nation's deportation.
Meeting
devoted to the 56th anniversary of the Chechenian nation's deportation was held
near the building of Russian consulate in Simferopol on 23th February. Several dozens of people took part
in the meeting.
The action
was held by Crimean Tatars in solidarity with Chechenian people who were
fighting for their freedom and independence. It also expressed the protest
against purposeful extermination of the Chechenians by Russian troops.
Representatives
of the Crimean Islamic party, Moslem community "Kade Mahale",
national party "Avdet" and Crimean Tatar youth center took part in
the meeting. They talked about criminal actions of federal troops and extensive
shootings in the territories where peaceful dwellers live. They also mentioned
that Russian troopers consider every ten-year-old Chechenian child as a
criminal. The meeting participants expressed their protest against
informational blockade in Chechnya and unlawful arrest of independent
journalists. "Set Babitsky free" - the gathered people cried.
L.Shamil, "Golos
Krima", #9 (328), 25 February 2000, p.1.
* * *
The meeting
participants had the following slogans: "Keep your faith in Allah and you
will avoid any bad luck", "Russia is the empire of evil",
"Putin=Miloshevich - are military criminals".
Resolution,
signed by heads of the meeting participants demanded that the heads of states
and world community should come out with a radical protest against punititve
actions carried out by Russia and demand an
immediate withdrawal of Russia's troops from Ichkeriya. We remind that these punitive
actions include extermination of the Northern Caucasus Moslem population.
Alexander Mashenko,
"Krimskoye Vremya", #35 (902), 24 February 2000, p.3.
Crimean Tatar
nation had one more dark day, February 23, in its own calendar . The chairman of
the Crimean Temporary Moslem Executive Committee*, Mufty of Tauria province**,
the founder of the Crimean Tatar Kurultay, the head of the National Committee
of the Crimean Democratic Republic - Noman Chelebidjihan - was executed by
shooting on 22 February night in 1918.
They hold annual
open lessons, devoted to Chelebidjihan in Crimean Tatar national schools and
classes.
One of such
activities devoted to the memory of N.Chelebidjihan was carried out in the
Crimean industrial and pedagogical institute. People listened to the Crimean
Tatar national anthem "Ant Etkenmen" ("I swear") written by
N. Chelebidjihan.
They also
talked about N.Chelebidjihan's works and recited the verse of the Crimean Tatar
classical poet Amdy Giraybay - "Ant etkenmen" aytaman" ("I
say, I swear") devoted to N.Chelebidjihan. At the end the students of
Tauria national university demonstrated a music-and-literature composition.
E.Temurdjan, "Yany
Dunya", ("New World"), # 8 (509), 9 February 2000, p.1.
Our information: *Crimean Temporary Executive Committee - was organized in November
1917 and was the first government, created by the Crimean Tatars after they had
lost their independence in 1783.
**Mufty of Tauria province -
the head of the Crimean Moslems.
"Vosstavshih" square in Sevastopol has to
be renamed after our great hero.
A mourning
meeting devoted to the prominent Crimean Tatar activist, Noman Chelebidjihan
was held in Sevastopol at "Vosstavshih" square on February 23. Other
facts were also discussed there, the 56th anniversary of the Chechenian
nation's deportation and present evil deeds made by Russia.
The mourning
meeting participants gathered at the Sevastopol city administration hall with
the resolution that they had adopted. In this resolution they decided to erect
a memorial stone with the engraved name of Noman Chelebidjihan. It will be
placed at the jail wall where he was executed by shooting. The resolution also
had a proposition to change the name of "Vosstavshih" square for
"Noman Chelebidjihan".
"Kirim",
#9 (558), 26 February 2000, p.1.
The Crimean electoral committee is getting ready for
the referendum.
The first
sitting of Autonomous Republic Crimea commission dealing with the Ukrainian
referendum was carried out on February 24. The referendum is appointed for
April 16 in accordance with the President's decree. It is necessary to form
electoral districts until March 7 and make list of citizens who will take part
in referendum on 16 April until March 10.
The total number of
participants is 1161. Great expenses are expected. And it is in time when the
state has a debt of about several millions for the last
presidential elections . O.Volodin, "Krimskaya Pravda", #37
(22450), 26 February 2000,p.1.
Simferopol dwellers do not find the referendum
necessary.
"I am
not interested in it"- was the answer of almost every Simferopol dweller,
who was questioned whether he had any idea that the Ukrainian referendum was
appointed for April 16. Most of the asked think that there is no "vital
importance" in holding it.
The Russian
population of the peninsula insists on considering the problems of making the
Russian language as the second language in Ukraine and joining the State Union
of Russia and Byelorussia. They collect signatures in the Crimean cities under
this demand.
"Krymskoye
Vremya", # 37 (904), 26 February 2000, p.2.
Juridical sphere.
The Court has made decision, but...
In
the decision dated by 31 January 2000 Bakhchisarai regional court satisfied the suit
demands of S.Seitablayev, R.Suleymanov, E.Gulahmetov,
H.Abdurrahmanov and S.Memetov toward the chairman of Bakhchisarai regional
mejilis, Ilmi Umerov. The court has decided the following: "To
recognize the words of I.Umerov as not corresponding to reality and
discrediting of honor." We remind that at the meeting in Bakhchisarai on
May 16 and solemn sitting on 17 May 1999 I.Umerov stated that the Aksakal
Council members* are nothing but "akshackals"**. They also decided to
make I. Umerov to refute this information by speaking on TV at one of the STRC
"Krim"*** programs. They also want
to call him to account of moral abuse and pay 3000 grivnas to
R.Suleymanov and 2000 grivnas to each of the rest above mentioned group member.
I.Umerov
considered the decision of court as unlawful and appealed to the court
collegiums, that deals with citizen's affairs. In particular, in his appeal he
stated the following : "In accordance with demands p.1., a. 440 (1) of the
Ukrainian Criminal Code it is necessary to shoulder responsibility for
compensating a moral abuse when someone has made it. Could any harm be caused
by my actions? No. How was it expressed? - The Court has not found out because
these people have not provided any proofs that
they have been caused any abuse".
Further, in the appeal it is mentioned that Aksakals
Council is not foreseen by Constitution of Ukraine, Constitution of the Crimea
and any other legislative act. It is not a juridical body and it has not been
registered by the Main Administration of Justice of the country. Moreover, the
Council members list has not been published in any Means of Mass Media by 17
May 1999.
I.Umerov
expressed his disagreement related to the arguments of the court as follows:
"The arguments of court, that Aksakals Council consists of only 14 Crimean
Tatar nation's representatives known to many people, are groundless and based
on someone's assumptions. These people are not the Crimean Tatar nation's
representatives, i.e. they were not elected by nation. They were nominated by
SC ARC chairman ***** in order to make balance with elected Kurultay and the
Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis******.
SC ARC
chairman has no right to nominate any organs, which are not foreseen by
Constitution and law of Ukraine. Thus Aksakals Council is an unlawful organ.
The arguments of court, that
plaintiffs have been enduring moral turmoils because
of the shame in front of many people, are also groundless and are based just on
statements of plaintiffs. And another fact, none of
them provided any sufficient evidence of bad treatment on behalf of other
people." I.Umerov asks the
Court collegiums to cancel the Bakhchisarai district court decision dealing
with him."
R.Nazir, "Golos
Krima", #9 (328), 25 February 2000, p.2.
Our information:*Aksakals Council - is the organ working under the chairman of Crimean
parliament, which has a consultative aim.
**Crimean Tatar word
"akshakal" has a negative meaning and means - "a white jackal)
***STRC "Krim" -
State TV-Radio company "Krim".
****3000 grivnas (National
Ukrainian currency) - approximately 600 US dollars, 2000 grivnas -
approximately 400 US dollars. Meanwhile a medium salary in the Crimea is 40 US
dollars.
*****SC ARC - Supreme Court (parliament) of the
Autonomous Republic Crimea.
******Kurultay and Mejilis
of the Crimean Tatar nation - are electoral and representative organs of the
Crimean Tatars.
Social Sphere.
Conference of the UN development program will be held.
The UN
(PROUN) development program in Ukraine intends to carry out an international
conference in the Crimea with the aim to demonstrate differnet actions dealing
with Crimean Tatars' accommodation under PROUN support. At the meeting of the UN development program in Ukraine they discussed
the problem of government's assisting. Such people as Pedro Pablo
Vilyenuv and Vice Prime-Minister of Ukraine, Nikolay Zhulinskiy were present
there.
The PROUN in
Ukraine head noted that there was a preliminary agreement with the Crimean
Autonomy about conducting the conference on May 18. They are planning to invite
representatives from several countries and introduce them to the activity of
the UN development program and what they have been doing during these years.
They also
discussed the details of carrying out conferences of donor countries, that
cooperate with some international organizations in solving the problems of the
accommodation of deported in Crimea. They are planning to hold this conference
in summer or in the beginning of fall together with OSCE that also takes part
in some projects dealing with the problems of the deported nations.
11 countries
cooperate in the PROUN program of the Crimean Tatars' accommodation. Today the
program functions in five regions of the Crimea.
DINAU, "Krimskoye
Vremya", #34 (901), 23 February 2000, p.3.
Culture. Education.
"To the 21st century with Ismail
Gasprinskiy" action has begun.
On the eve of
the 150th anniversary of the great Crimean Tatar nation's teacher, famous
scientist and publicist Ismail Gasprinskiy, which will be celebrated on 21
March 2001, the Republic Crimean Tatar library of I.Gasprinskiy came out with
the initiative to carry out a long term action - "To the 21st century with
I.Gasprinskiy". The action includes conducting literature readings with
participance of famous culture and art activists, discussion club dealing with
preparing for the jubilee of I.Gasprinskiy and also laying flowers on the
memorial stone of the great teacher in Simferopol on March 21.
Crimean Tatar
culture and education activists, Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis
representatives, workers of Republic library of I.Gasprinskiy, Tauria national
university instructors and students gathered near the memorial on 21 February.
Action
participants emphasized the special importance of the coming event for the
Crimean culture. They layed a lot of flowers
on the memorial stone.
Gulnara Useinova, "Golos Krima", #9 (328),
25 February 2000, p.1.
Crimea remains without State TV.
They have considerably reduced the time of State
TV-Radio Company broadcast.
The conflict
between State TV-Radio Company "Krim" and Republic TV broadcasting
center, which provides the TV signal to the population, has become known beyond
these two
departments. Director General of
STRC "Krim" gathered a press-conference on
February 22 and informed that the broadcast time of TV-Radio Company was going
to be considerably reduced. The reason for that is its debt to RTBC. The debt
makes up 600 thousand grivnas, it is only by 10% less than the debt of all
TV-Radio companies but regardless to this fact they are going to shut off the
state company only.
Gayana Yuksel,
"Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraine", #36 (850/22260), 25 February 2000,
p.11.
Our commentaries: there is only one Crimean Tatar editorial staff working at the STRC
"Krim" together with other national editorial staffs. The Crimean
Tatar editorial staff's broadcasting time has been reduced from 2 hours a week
to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Most Crimean Tatars living in far regions of the
Crimea are unable to watch the programs of the Crimean Tatar editorial staff's
programs because the RTBC does not provide the TV signal to those districts at
all.
UNESCO has
decided that a special day must be devoted for speaking native language only. A
day of native language was held under this program in Tauria national
university, Simferopol. University departments of the Crimean Tatar language
and literature invited Crimean Tatar writers and poets to the meeting with
students.
Such writers
as Ablyaziz Veliyev and Yunus Kandim were invited. They told about the
recently published book in two
languages - Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar - "Distant and close
Shevchenko". The writers also spoke about the creative work of famous
Ukrainian poet and writer Tars Grigoryevich Shevchenko. Apart from that,
A.Veliyev recited some translated extracts from the works of T.Shevchenko. The
writers also spoke about nationalities and the present condition of the Crimean
Tatar language. They answered the questions of students and instructors.
T.Emirov, "Yany
Dunya", ("New World"), #8 (509), 26 February 2000, p.1.
It will soon be impossible to go to Uzbekistan
without visa.
Bad news
arrived from Uzbekistan. This republic has introduced a visa regime for the
CIS* citizens. Citizens of neighboring countries -Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Kirgiziya and Kazakhstan have to apply for visa in order to enter the republic.
And citizens of Russia and other CIS countries will not be able to go to
Uzbekistan without visa from the beginning of summer.
Uzbekistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials think that the price of entry visa has to
vary depending on the term of the visit and must not be cheaper than the
Turkmenian one ( this visa regime has been functioning in Turkmenistan for one
year and the minimum visa charge is $31).
"Golos Krima", #9
(328), 25 February 2000, p.3.
Our information: *CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States, formed after the USSR
collapse.
Our commentaries: According to different statistical data sources there are
approximately from 150 thousand and 200 thousand Crimean Tatars living on the
territory of Uzbekistan (the exact number has not been established because
there are no exact statistical data about the Crimean Tatars population). Most
Crimean Tatar families are apart: some of them could return to the Crimea but
some of them are compelled to stay in exile place.