Alex Bantsikin
Some of the great said: “Be creative about his myth – the gods started that way!” Some of our opposition to follow this dictum, as the guide to action. The protest in sufficient detail Zhanaozen and regularly covered sites of so-called “Socialist Resistance of Kazakhstan” (whose office is somehow located in Kyrgyzstan). Style of presenting information to the pain resembles Soviet correspondents reporting from Northern Ireland or Honduras. The same vocabulary – “oppressed”, “workers”, “in unison.” And most importantly, all signs of the Soviet myth: on the one hand the legendary heroism of “rebels”, they almost ancient power, on the other – perfidy and baseness “oppression-capitalists.”
Soviet propagandists and their successors to Kazakh traditions have in common one – biased opinions and methods of treating the public consciousness. All traditional, Soviet-style. Any Irish terrorist bomb blew up a school bus in Belfast, immediately declared a patriot and a “victim of police brutality.” But the Afghan student of Kabul University, who tried to do the same, immediately became a “right-wing Islamic radicals.”
Something similar is happening today. Absenteeism is treated as an expression of discontent of the workers. Trying to impose a limited group of opinion to all the staff – billed as a protest. Although in reality, the only change is an assessment for the event – from minus to plus.
The formula of the conflict
Recall that in early March, a group of thirty-two contractors working Production Branch “Ozenmunaygaz” (structural unit of JSC “Exploration and Production,” KMG “), blocked the movement of service buses, carrying oil to the oil fields. Paralyzing transport links, the drivers were shouting calls for a strike. Their discontent caused handed out before the painting under notice of upcoming changes in the wage system. Moreover, the amendment itself, for anyone not news: two consecutive years, the company’s management led to the union unending dialogue, trying to come to a common denominator. As a result, the union won wage increases guaranteed by almost a third – from 55 to 77 percent. Until that time, the constant part was minuscule compared to the bonuses for exceeding production plan. In terms of reserves and the fall-out depending on the plan, it’s not bad. And then, when it failed, broke new scandal.
The company has in the past there were conflicts. The source of their workers were service businesses – drivers, electricians, locksmiths, cooks. Not taking part directly in the process of extracting oil, they nevertheless believe that the system of payment of premium for the plan of production should be extended not only to drillers. Sharikovskoe understanding of justice – the principle of “all share”, – compounded, so to speak, the natural inequality.All the same, anyway, and the salary of a qualified master or masters of drilling for underground repair of wells, where the driver’s salary Pobol lacking at times not only special but also complete secondary education. Most of them – migrants from the neighboring republics of the economically disadvantaged.
There is another category of Protestants. This former executives of bankrupt enterprises service, bought for the debts of the company JSC “Exploration and Production” KazMunayGas “. The subsequent restructuring, caused their demotion and, therefore, wages. Changed its status and the need to obey the leaders of Astana, they perceived as an infringement of their natural rights. Two groups of “depressed” found each other. Human ambition of the former local commanders and financial aspirations of migrants who arrived in the oil region “for the big money” has become a point of contact. Experience the service of some intrigue, greed, and multiplied by the claims of others – these are the two important elements of an explosive conflict-mixture.
Detonators and catalysts
Now let’s talk about what supports this critical mass of popular discontent in a state of alert. First, the overt neglect Zhanaozen. Guide field, carried away by other, more global problems, the problems of the city left without attention. All the energy of Governor Mangistau Krymbek Kusherbayev spent on lobbying project on the development of tourist infrastructure on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The project “Kazakhstan in Dubai,” so firmly seized the minds of local officials that everything else has long faded into the background. What to say when near akimat even planted palm trees in the Arab … tubs! Rumor has it that each tree cost the local budget of 10 thousand dollars.
Meanwhile, the socio-economic situation of homeless Zhanaozen worse every day. The city’s population, calculated according to the Master Plan for 60 thousand people rose to 116 thousand. Increase provided the settlers, whole families gather to smell the petrodollars. Depreciation of municipal engineering facilities (power, heat, water) was one hundred percent. Regional reacted paradoxically: It was agreed an unprecedented decision to limit the expansion of the city. Deny could not settle, but they were forbidden to build. The result? No! The number of residents has not declined, social tensions rose. In addition, the redundancy of labor still does not correspond to a limited number of jobs in the “Ozenmunaygaz.” Everybody wants to earn money, “as oil,” but whether or not a “oil industry” to accept all comers? Zhanaozen firmly stuck with oil fields. So much so, that he offered to townspeople that work now, he just burst out laughing in the face. And there is none, other spheres of activity! Over the last ten years of akimat there was not a single proposal to create entries of any new urban enterprise. Even the clothing factory, and that rests exclusively on the orders of “KMG EP” or poshivayuschey here overalls, which runs the entire city.
Chapter Mangistau region shifted frankly cares about the welfare of the city on the shoulders of management of JSC “Exploration and Production” KazMunayGas “. Each year, make selections from a half to two billion tenge to solve problems Zhanaozen, but the money sunk into the general budget expenditures. To find out what exactly they had been exhausted, no longer possible. (Incidentally, this year again forced oil companies to sign a memorandum stating that “Ozenmunaygaz” will provide the infrastructure of 970 million tenge.). Local government is actually a parasite on the oil companies, allocating to the management of “upstream” to perform his functions to provide a favorable social and economic climate. Oilers build everything here – from shift to the campuses of health posts, schools and hospitals. And yet, this little, little, little …
On the “samovar” and the trumpet-nurse
Talking about the elements of conflict, we can not overlook another circumstance. The city is surrounded by a dense ring of thin oil refineries – “samovar.” When issuing a permit for construction of a mini-refinery, city administration has not bothered to even the field of the main question: how processors will take the raw materials? Meanwhile, PF “Ozenmunaygaz” of their “extra” oil is not. All resources are mined here in the common fund companies’ exploration and production of “KazMunayGas”, is pumped into the pipeline, on which are exported to Europe and China.
At the same time and mini-refinery shortage of raw materials do not. The secret of their business is simple: oil on these plants come … stolen! In Zhanaozen have long formed the team of “black oil”, each with its own specialization. Some are preparing “caches” – undermining the pipe sections of the pipeline to which the bottom is welded pipe-invisible removal. Then the “caches” are sold for the subsequent operation of the buyer. The task of the new owner of the “enterprise” – pour oil into a tanker, to take away and sell it to agents of owners of mini-refineries.
Do away with the petrol mafia is easy. But the opportunities for private security of pipelines is limited. Virtually unarmed security guard, and has no right even to prosecute drivers of tank vehicles. The police also turn a blind eye to the transgressions of owners of mini-refineries that use the patronage of local government. Allegations of theft of oil, as a rule, are not considered, or revert back to an exhaustive statement of the “responsibility for the safety of their property is the owner.”
However, several police raids led to a stunning discovery. It turned out that among the manufacturers of “caches” and “transporters” of stolen oil … oil-producing enterprise employees themselves! More precisely, the employees of their service departments. Yes, the same drivers and fitters, who consider themselves unjustly deprived. This can be considered a coincidence, but I have noticed that in labor disputes “Ozenmunaygaz” always flare up amid rumors of impending police raids on the “black oil”. It is known that finpol Mangistau region planned inspection of the mini-refinery in early March. But at this time in protest Zhanaozen broke. Coincidence?
Technology scandal
We note how a small group of Protestants in a short time excited the public, and forced to see a serious political opponent. The first thing that was done: a group of initiators of the action attracted the attention of the potentially active citizens. This was not difficult to achieve, since the protest potential of the city, forgotten by local authorities, and so splashed out on any occasion. Stopping the service hours for buses has become a kind of Hyde Park, where everyone had the opportunity to pour out his heart in curses and slogans.
On this occasion, the initiative group here on the Square, held an impromptu meeting of trade union, and re-elected chairman of the trade-union … “Ozenmunaygaz!” Of course, this decision was illegitimate. First, because the collection was carried out without compliance with procedural requirements, it was not formalized by the corresponding protocol. Second, members of the union pension fund “Ozenmunaygaz” were presented to the workers of the two service companies – JSC “Cruz” and LLC “Zhondeu.” Third, consider whether it is worth booth on the square “union meetings” if the ballot was attended by people from the street? Can decide the fate of their professional community can be trusted with the oil of housewives, pensioners and the unemployed? But the deed was done, and thus, 30 initiators of the protest annulled all the previous work of thousands of trade-union and employer agreed a new pay system. All agreements, to this day meet most of the workers were “democratic” way broken the opposition minority. The Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (TUFRK) tried to warn against this demonstration, but they were quickly deprived of speech.
The core of the initiative group was already formed, and got some semblance of organization. The case remained for small – to articulate what they want. It did not happen. Encouraged by the support of the crowd, the initiators of the strike immediately crossed the line separating unionists from public politics. Instead of specific proposals, sounded abstract calls and threats to the government and employers. Strikers shook from one extreme to another. First, they demanded a plan to reduce oil production, but to increase premiums. Then he agreed to the isolation of “Ozenmunaygaz” from the national company, and creation on its base “of the local businesses with local leaders.” Then he demanded to remove the mayor Zhanaozen … In general, everything that happens reminded anecdote – “The terrorists seized the distillery and now the third day could not formulate the requirements.” Only when management “Ozenmunaygaz” filed a claim for recognition of the strike illegal, the instigators of the action became sober and relate their appeals to common sense. Alas, the initiative was lost. The Court denied the strikers to accept their demands as legitimate. However, the same judge issued a partial definition to the leadership “Ozenmunaygaz” pointing “to the lack of outreach.” It is this document has become a trump card in future political bid.
Position of power or lack thereof?
And then followed a series of unexpected concessions from the management of JSC NC “KazMunayGas”. Arrived on the scene, the president of the national company Kairgeldy Kabyldin not only sat on strikers at the negotiating table, but agreed by almost all their requirements. A little later, with the Governor of Mangistau region signed a memorandum of allocation of 900 million tenge to “support the social infrastructure Zhanaozen.”
From the side it seemed that this “work made justice.” That’s right, choking euphoria commented on the outcome of negotiations, the “Socialist Resistance”. But very soon the mayor of Krymbek Kusherbayev actually disavowed the intention behind the scenes action script “working” of protest.Relying on the private court ruling, he said that “lack of effective asset management” Ozenmunaygaz “and almost agreed with the idea of changing its ownership. It is clear that the mayor is interested in this much more work, for which the independent status of the company, in fact, nothing will change. But for the mayor … is enough to look through the Tax Code, to understand the appeal of this idea for the guide field. Derivation of oil production “Ozenmunaygaz” of the consolidated structure of the national company, means an increase in taxes to the local budget. With this financial support you can forget about the need to attract investors into the real economy of the region, and just deal with only the redistribution of oil revenues.
The views of Governor in this regard are not far from the way of thinking zhanaozenskogo migrants who cherish dreams of the “Dubai of life”, where nobody works, but only gets the royalties from oil exports. Note also that independence “Ozenmunaygaza” beneficial owners and the mini-refinery, supporting Mayor. In this case, they will get legal access to the coveted oil. It is easy to understand why the regional city administration and the police deliberately did not intervene in the conflict. By declaring a strike, “an internal affair of the company,” they patiently watched, whose side will take up. And for all the possible accusations of inaction, they had harvested an indulgence – a private decision of the court to the leadership “Ozenmunaygaz.”
When hungry myth
The Myth of zhanaozenskom protest began living separate lives, and everyone hurried to get more out of their propaganda advantage. Victims fiasco representatives of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (TUFRK) in order to keep a good face on a bad declared it an example of the working class-consciousness. That is, they say, there was a danger unmanaged conflict, but the workers have chosen their representatives, and entered into negotiations. Keep it up guys! The fact that the deputation from the area had no right to represent anyone, “pro” prefer not to mention.
“Socialist Resistance Kazakhstan” focused public attention on the mass action. Armed with his method of counting, representatives of the movement said they gathered in the square “about ten thousand people.” But what does that prove? Any owner of a supermarket will tell you that at the time of sale he is going to the people no less. Apparently aware of this, “sotssoprotivlentsy” tried to bolster the argument of critical mass, examples of participation in the action of ordinary citizens. Thus, by the way, had another myth about a “pensioner Popova,” a hunger strike to show solidarity with the workers Zhanaozen. What happened to her then, no one knows. All attempts to find its journalists were unsuccessful. And here the locksmith, allegedly died during a hunger strike in Zhanaozen know all too well. Only relatives working here were not fond of them struck the attention of journalists. The reason of their coldness became clear after it emerged: daring, “the victim of arbitrary capitalists” suffered death by poisoning of low-quality alcohol product.
Rhythm of revolutionary phrases can obscure the truth. Too strongly vary the traditional way of the proletariat, not having “nothing but their chains,” with a real portrait of modern zhanaozentsa. Unwittingly, the strikers have attracted national attention to the level of their earnings. It turned out that the average wage worker “Ozenmunaygaz” order of magnitude higher wages of skilled professionals in other industries and regions. Moreover, it became known that a small town in the desert is the undisputed leader of Kazakhstan, both in terms of consumer credit per capita, and the number of cars purchased on credit. The reaction of ordinary Kazakhs is quite predictable: “With the fat rage!”. But the strikers do not think so. Here’s what spokesman told the strikers Iklas Shangereev of an opposition newspaper:
- To get a decent wage, to plow the heart. But life – it’s not only worked for eight o’clock, come home, and tomorrow morning back to work. We need to raise children, teach, marry, have to correct health, preferably every summer vacation. That this is not enough, although it should be … In addition, all loans now, you know …
Live in a market society and resent the fact that “we must plow from the heart” – is at least curious! However, the new “socialist” these oddities do not interfere with the growth of a declaration of the class consciousness of the working of Kazakhstan. The well-known activist Aibek Kurmanov even wrote an essay on this subject, entitled “Growth of the protest and the labor movement in Kazakhstan,” a stroke of the pen identifying the word “protest” and “working.” Report was presented to Moscow this public, but serious reactions are not caused – what do Zhanaozen Moscow before?
Unraveling the myth! Mythmaker not even mention helped Zhanaozenskih events of 1989, which, obviously, was to bear witness to the historical tradition of protest. Materials based on archival documents the Russian Interior Ministry were too stingy. Maybe that’s why they “reinforced” the evidence of the convicted for terrorism Rahat Aliyev. It is true that he “witness” at that time in New Uzen was not, and mainly operates rumors. More objective information to journalists could provide the current opposition leader Zharmakhan Tuyakbai. That he, as Attorney-Guriev region (in 1989 it temporarily merged with the Mangyshlak), performed by the public prosecutor at the trial zhanaozentsev convicted of massacres of Chechens, Dagestani and Ingush, and inciting ethnic hatred. Prosecutor brilliantly executed the order of Moscow, found in Kazakhstan and any excuse for a mass anti-corruption measures in an “Uzbek affair ‘…
“And perched above the earth …”
But worst of all else. Connivance of the authorities, and the haste of the employer, desperately trying to localize the conflict and to prevent possible damage from falling oil production, led to a serious shift in the consciousness of the workers. They appeared illusion that all manufacturing problems can be easily resolved in its favor blackmail – threatening to strike. The result was immediate. At the enterprise level has plummeted production discipline, cases of sick leave and absenteeism change without good reason, registered unprecedented in the “oil industry” facts drinking alcohol in the workplace. Line managers throw up their hands in helplessness – the workers do not obey the instructions of managers. Consider whether it is also testimony to the “growth of the working class-consciousness”?
“Workers Zhanaozen conscious of themselves as a political force” – say in the opposition press. This is a happy? Look at neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where the people have the habit to solve social and economic problems of the country by the “Tulip Revolution”. What won the fraternal republic, showing the world the true face of “democracy”? The wave of violence that struck Bishkek, looting, robbery, arson and pogroms of private apartments for a long time discouraged investors from the Kyrgyz economy. Apparently, the new “socialist” mythmaker crave repetition Kyrgyz scenario in Kazakhstan. Does not this goal so inflated myth of Zhanaozenskoy strike?
The author once again stresses that all the above is the personal opinion of the journalist, are familiar with the situation in Zhanaozen.
http://www.platon.kz/30587.htm
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