Crimean News No. 51
(Mass
Media survey for 27 March - 1 April 2000).
All
the material is given in an abridged form.).
Crimean
Tatars' problems will be considered in the country’s Parliament.
Will
the visit of Vice Prime-Minister affect the results of parliamentary hearings?
L.
Grach: "Mejilis must join the lawful field of Ukraine"
L.Kuchma
is worried about the situation of land division.
Picket
participants demand that the law acts regarding land should be reconsidered
The
land division is over. Was it fair?
New
public cultural-and-educational center was opened in Sari-Su
A
unique sacred place is located on the territory of the mental hospital
Crimean
Tatars' problems will be considered in the country’s Parliament.
Parliamentary
hearings related to the "Problems of Lawful Regulating And Implementation
Of State Policy Dealing With Crimean Tatars And National Rights of Deported
Minorities”, which have willingly returned, have been set for April 5.
The Committee
of Verkhovna Rada* of Ukraine dealing with human rights and national minorities
is recommended to attract representatives of central and local executive organs
of Parliament and government of the Crimea, Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis and
also non-government organizations of national minorities for implementation of
necessary measures related to the hearings organization.
Newspaper "Avdet",
("Return"), #6 (240), 29 March 2000, pg. 1.
Editor’s Note: *Verkhovna Rada - The
Parliament of Ukraine.
Will the visit
of Vice Prime-Minister affect the results of parliamentary hearings?
The Vice Prime
Minister of Ukraine, Nikolay Julinskiy visited the Crimea on 27-28 March in
conjunction with the coming parliamentary hearings related to the Crimean Tatar
nation's status. The nature of the visit was a fact-finding one and involved
issues relating to the lawful political, socio-economic and humanitarian
problems of these previously-deported citizens.
The Ukrainian
President's representative in the Crimea, A.Korneychuk, Ministry Council
Leadership, the Crimean Tatar Nation's Representatives Council, representatives
of national societies and communities in the autonomy took part in the final
conference, which was held in the House of Government, under the leadership of
the Prime Minister, S. Kunitsin.
When discussing
the land problems, opinions were divided into two groups: those who, referring
to the law, think that land re-division is unlawful, and the second group,
focusing on the urgency of the problem, is sure that its possible to solve the
problem of land division among Crimean Tatars without violating of anyone's
rights. People’s opinions held that it
was necessary to conduct the land re-division. They also emphasized that the
unemployment problem of the deported remained unsolved. They proposed to adopt
a law for the rehabilitation of the Crimean Tatars. It was also emphasized
that, prior to the deportation, the Crimean Tatars had used 70% of the
available rural land.
As M.Djemilev
noted, the conference gave one the impression of being "a discussion among
the deaf" because "one group proved its right for land and the second
one thought that the Crimean Tatars didn't need this land at all".
Furthermore, he emphasized that if something was unlawfully withdrawn in any
civilized society, then it had to be returned. "In our country, they don't
return anything- neither our houses, nor our property- strangers live in our
houses”, he said. We understand that they have nowhere to go and we understand
the problems of the state and that's why we don't insist on a return in
entirety. But for some reason, no one
wants to understand us. We now observe the situation, analogous to the
situation in 1989-1990 timeframe. We requested land in order to conduct our own
construction. Forty-six thousand (46,000) land plots were occupied by
"samozahvats". Local leaders are worried that someone will get 4
hectares of land instead of 5 hectares but no one is concerned that many
Crimean Tatars will get nothing. The Resolution, signed by S. Kunitsin on 24
May 1999, which foresees the solution of this problem by the local
administrations and representatives of the Republic’s Committee dealing with
the land resources, was sabotaged. We have great expectations from the
Parliamentary hearings. The rate of unemployment among the Crimean Tatars is
very high, equaling 80% in some districts. There are no Crimean Tatar
representatives in the autonomy’s parliament since the percentage of their
representation in the organs of executive power is very low.
The Prime
Minister, S.Kunitsin, noted that discussing the problems of the deported is one
more step towards their solution. He also noted that “everyone should try to
walk in their shoes - having worked during their whole life in the place of
exile, most of them are compelled to live without even an elementary means of
accommodation.”
N. Julinskiy
agreed that the fact that it was necessary to follow the law, and in
particular, to fulfill the President's Decrees. He emphasized that the
repatriates' problem in Ukraine was extremely urgent. He thinks that the most
important is the solution of their socio-economic problems. The Vice Prime
Minister of the Ukrainian government thinks that it is necessary to solve
current problems by means of a close partnership between the Parliament and
government.
Lentara Halilova, "Golos
Krima", #14(333), 31 March 2000, pg. 1.
L. Grach:
"Mejilis must join the lawful field of Ukraine"
The meeting of
the Crimean Supreme Court chairman, Leonid Grach and the Vice Prime Minister,
Nikolay Julinskiy was held on March 28
L.Grach* spoke
about the current problems in Crimea, including difficulties which are
experienced by the Crimean Tatars who returned from the places of exile. During
the discussion, N.Julinskiy emphasized that the most important current problems
were socio-economic and related to electrification and water supplies for
villages where the formerly-deported live in close quarters, their medical
treatment, in obtaining plots of land and so forth.
Speaking of
some political problems, such as "The Status Of The Native Nation" he
opined that these problems have had no precedent in the world, thus far.
O.Volodin, "Krimskaya Pravda", #58(22471), 30 March
2000, p.1.
*Editor’s Note: The chairman of the Crimean
Parliament, Leonid Grach is also the head of the Crimean communists.
Land
reforms.
L.Kuchma is
worried about the situation of land division.
The President
of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma "is worried about the way the problem of land
division in the Crimea is solved. In the autonomous regions, where most Crimean
Tatars have no possibility of becoming members of the Collective Agriculture
Enterprises (CAE), and are also deprived of right to get plots of land,
"this problem is transferred into the political plane". "We are
interested that the problem of land division should be solved fairly, and with
no complaints,"- stated the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Nikolay Julinskiy.
"Krimskiye Izvestiya",
#60(2064), 31 March 2000, pg. 1.
Picket
participants demand that the law acts regarding land should be reconsidered
A picket by
Crimean Tatars, related to division of land, was held near the Crimean
government building on March 27. It was the third such action held in
Simferopol demanding the reconsideration of law deeds.
Today, 73% of
260,000 Crimean Tatars who have returned to their motherland live in rural
areas. Crimean Tatars comprise 25% of the rural population. A yet smaller
portion of them works in the Collective Agriculture Enterprises (CAE), (for
example, Tatars comprise only 3% in the district of Simferopol). The current
Land Code was adopted 40 years ago and, of course, does not take into account
the interests of the banished (Tatar) native nation. Thus, the majority of
repatriates may remain without the main means of production and the main
condition of existence in the rural zone in the result of land privatization.
The Crimean
Tatars demand that the President's Decree "About Land Privatization"
should not be put into effect until a new Land Code of Ukraine, guaranteeing
the native nation's right for the land, is adopted. They insist on conducting
the land re-division only with the participation of the Crimean Tatars'
representatives and the obligatory participation of the Mufti of the Crimea,
returning vakuf* lands to the Moslem communities, as well as considering and
solving the problem of all property that was unlawfully withdrawn in 1944*.
"Avdet",
("Return"), #6(240), 29 March 2000, p.1.
Editor’s Notes:
*The so-called “vakuf lands”
were the ones belonging to religious communities before the Soviets came in
power in the Crimea. These lands were used for helping poor people, for opening
new mosques and for supporting others, and for other charital aims.
**Crimean Tatars had all of
their property withdrawn when they were deported in 1994. The property has not
yet been returned.
The land
division is over. Was it fair?
The land plots
privatization campaign is practically over in the autonomy of Crimea. As many
as 300,000 Crimean Tatars who have returned to their historical motherland
definitely disagree with the results of this land division. This was decisively
stated by the Chairman of the Crimean Tatar nations’ Mejilis, Mustafa Djemilev,
at a meeting with journalists. In particular, he believes that in some
districts, having an abundance of land, there is no need for land re-division.
But in those areas where everything has already been divided, and the Crimean
Tatars have remained without land, the land re-division is essential. Besides,
the issue is not about special privileges or advantages for the Crimean Tatars,
it is about everyone having equal rights.
The land, which
essentially belongs to everyone is currently being divided only among workers
of former kolkhozes (collective farms) by so-called “agro reformers”. The
resulting inequity of this strategy was directly demonstrated by the example in
Crimea. After having returned from their places of exile, Crimean Tatars have
mostly been situated on various land parcels, but without being allowed to own
any of it. And all this is still
happening after 10 long years of the mass return of Tatars to Crimea.
In order to
prove this, let's recall some numbers. We should at first warn that the numbers
are rounded off, but this does not change the main idea involved.
Today,
approximately 25% of "local" dwellers have gotten a land plot in the
Crimean autonomy, but only 6% among the repatriates have received land plots.
So, we see a four-time difference between "slavic" and
"non-slavic" parts of the rural zones on the peninsula. However, with
all fairness, it should be said that it was a five-time difference, two years
ago. So, the tendency of equalizing seems to be working. Even with the most optimistic forecast, all
we may expect during the coming months is a change to a three-time difference. This is even if, at long last, Resolution
#182 (dated 24 May, 1999, from Sergey Kunitsin, the Head of the Ministry of the
Council of Crimea), which foresees giving land to every third Crimean Tatar
living in the rural zone, does not work. Even if the Kunitsin Resolution is
more widely implemented, it is lower in rank in comparison to the President's
Decree of land reform. This is why it does not work - its being blocked by the
Office Of Public Prosecutor. Nevertheless, Kunitsin has no intention of
abolishing his own resolution: "This is a political document, which was
adopted, being grounded. The price of responsibility is too high".
Currently, a
median size of a land plot is approximately 5 hectares. The area of divided
agriculture land is about 1 million hectares. There are 170,000 owners of land
certificates today. There will soon be some 30,000 more people, meaning that
there will be 200,000 lawful landowners. And the land will actually be
completely divided. Consequently, in order to fulfill the May Resolution of the
Crimean government, according to the median norm of 5 hectares per person, it
is obligatory to have at least 250,000 -300,000 hectares. But so much land is
not available in the autonomy if we take into account that available undivided
lands of the reserve fund makes up some 300,000 hectares. The Mejilis intends to reserve some land for
those who haven't yet returned to the Crimea.
So, once again, land re-division is the only solution, which means that
the size of the land plot must be decreased, especially in such critical
districts as Simferopol, Bakhchisarai and Belogorsk. Besides, the specific
weight of landowners among the "local" population is approximately
two times higher then among the repatriates.
It's also clear
that proposition of land re-division is reasonable but there is doubt whether
or not it is possible to carry it out.
Further, there is no point in relying on the conscience of current
landowners. It was much easier to give land in the past, than take it back now.
However, Mejilis leaders insist on land re-division. Its also interesting that
Mr.Kunitsin stated that he didn't exclude the fact that they might have to
conduct meetings related to the problems of land re-division.
V.Darg, "Golos
Krima", #14(333), 31 March 2000, p.3.
Culture.
Education.
New public
cultural-and-educational center was opened in Sari-Su
A solemn opening ceremony for
the public cultural-and-educational center was held in the Belogorsk district
village of Sari-Su on 28 March. It was opened due to the help of the Mejilis
chairman, Mustafa Djemilev, after he had received the Nonsen Premium.
The representatives for the
development and integration of the Crimea Program (PROK) UNO, people were
introduced to the ideas that PRIK UNO planned to expand the activity of the
Center, where they planned to open a reading hall, a library and a computer
laboratory. They also intended to run rapid training programs in English. The
aged people will have an opportunity to spend their time having a cup of
coffee.
Leylya Alyadinova, "Golos Krima",
#14(333), 31 March 2000, p.1.
A unique
sacred place is located on the territory of the mental hospital
A new documentary film about
the Moslem educational establishment Zindjirli-Medrese will be made in Crimea.
It was opened
in Bakhchisarai by Mengli-Girey khan in 1500. There was an iron chain of
half-body height found at the entrance ("zindjer", which means
"chain"; "Zindjirli Medrese" means "Medrese with a
chain"). It all had a symbolic idea behind it: that “everyone entering the
temple of knowledge would take a bow, thus demonstrating the equality of khans
and simple persons when it came to the topic of education.
There was an
academy based on the Medrese of the 17th century. Even a womens’ department was planned to open. And, at the
beginning of the present century, they gave instruction not only in religious
subjects, but also secular ones ( to both rich and poor people, alike).
Now, the
Medrese is in very poor condition. Moreover, it's located on the territory of a
mental hospital. The restorative work is also complicated by the fact that
there is an enormous gap in the materials concerning the Medrese functioning,
at least the materials used for the last 3 centuries are very poor.
The project
initiators are the "Ansar Foundation Association” and the interoblast
organization, "Arraid". At present, these are working to collect
additional information about this educational establishment and also about
Medrese graduates. Zindjirli Medrese has become popular in Crimea and
beyond. This year, we are celebrating
its 500th anniversary.
Gayana Yuksel,
"Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraine", #59(875/22285), 31 March - 7 April
2000, p.14.
The
presentation of the collection of selected works by writer Shamil Alyadin was
held at the Tauriaya National University on 23 March. The collection includes
the prose of the postwar years and is written in the Russian and Crimean Tatar
languages, works including: "I'm Your Tsar and God", "Invitation
To The Devil's Feast", "Kreml Kurbanlari", an uncompleted
historical novel named "Tugay Bey" and other works.
Shamil Alyadin
(1912-1996) was the founder and the first editor of "Yildiz"
("Star") magazine, "Lenin Bayragi" ("Lenin's
flag") newspaper, editorial office of radio broadcast in the Uzbek
language, the Crimean Tatar editorial staff of the publishing house named after
Gafur Gulyam were opened due to his initiative. He trained a whole Pleiades of
Crimean Tatar literature activists.
Elmas Sedvapova,
"Avdet", ("Return"), #6(240), 29 March 2000, p.4.
Editor’s Note: The "Yildiz"
magazine and the "Lenin Bayaragi" newspaper were the only works
published in the Crimean Tatar language, in Uzbekistan, during the time period
of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars.