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ASTANA, 4 April 2011 – Yesterday’s presidential vote in Kazakhstan revealed similar shortcomings as those noted in previous elections in the country, international observers said in a statement issued today. They noted that reforms necessary for holding genuine democratic elections have yet to materialize.

While the election was technically well administered, the absence of opposition candidates and of a vibrant political discourse resulted in a non-competitive environment. A limited field of candidates did not seek to challenge the incumbent.

By Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

Sunni and Shia Muslims from Kazakhstan's ethnic minorities have told Forum 18 News Service of great difficulties they face from the state and the state-backed Muslim Board in opening mosques for people of the same minority ethnicity. When they have been able to register Islamic houses of prayer, they are subject to state or Muslim Board limitations on religious activity - such as being banned from conducting Friday prayers. Muslims are often extremely reluctant to discuss why ethnic minorities cannot conduct religious activity together, including hearing sermons in their own language.

Ramazan Esergepov, Chief Editor of Alma-Ata Info, being held in general regime prison in Taraz has been again refused to be transferred to penal settlement. This is the fifth refusal which he thinks to be groundless. He has problems to appeal against these decisions as he is not allowed to have a defence lawyer. 

On polling day, 100s of voters were denied the right to vote merely because of closing time deadline currently set by law at 5pm. Complains were recorded mostly from densely populated constituencies in urban areas. The issue is attributed mainly to lack of adequate polling booths in the concerned constituencies.

On may 27th, at Puerto Cabello, a trade port located in the central-western coast of Venezuela, in Carabobo State, a lot of containers was discovered, holding tons of decomposed food stuffs.

After the intervention of Banco Federal, owned by Nelson Mezerhane, share-holder of opposing TV channel Globovisión, in a national broadcast President Chávez warned that the Venezuelan Government could become a share-holder of Globovisión: “If the owners of the Bank (Federal) do not return to the country, if they run away, we are looking at their properties. I just found out that they own some shares of Globovisión”.

Included in the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, H.R. 4213, congressional leaders announced this morning they would unveil new legislation to extend through the end of 2010 various tax incentives for charitable donations, including gifts made by older people from individual retirement accounts.

Arizona’s strict new immigration law does not take effect until the end of July, but charities that serve Arizona’s large Latino population—30 percent of the state—are already feeling the impact.

Some groups that serve Latinos are already seeing new demands by prospective foundation supporters, including requests for assurances that the charities aren’t serving undocumented immigrants.

Civil liberties violations.