permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

Kazakh leader evokes Ukraine as land protests spread | Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-protests-president-idUSKCN0XS1E1

"The protests which are entering their second week, were sparked by fears
that land reforms will allow foreigners to take over farmland, although
some analysts say many Kazakhs have attended the demonstrations to express
their general discontent.

A legal overhaul due to take effect on July 1 will allow the government to
sell farmland to joint ventures, provided they are controlled by Kazakh
residents, and lease it to foreigners for up to 25 years. Previously they
were only allowed leases for up to 10 years.

Opponents of the new law, who staged their first protest in the city of
Atyrau last Sunday, see the change as a threat to national security,
especially after the government announced several agreements with
neighboring China for agricultural projects.

Rallies have taken place in several cities during the week, despite
warnings from Nazarbayev and the prosecutor general's office that the
organizers would be punished."