Residents of 4 more cities join protests in Kazakhstan

AKIPRESS.COM - Residents of Aktau, Aktobe, Karaganda and Shymkent cities joined today the rally expressing their support to Zhanaozen residents, who are protesting against construction of Chinese plants in Kazakhstan, Vlast.kz said.
According to Lada news agency, in Aktau, more than 1,000 people reportedly gathered at the Yntymak square.
Diapazon newspaper says the number of protesters in Aktau was several dozens. They were holding posters with the inscription "No to China expansion". The report says that local authorities during this time were discussing the president's address to the nation. The first deputy governor of the region Marat Tokzhanov came to the protesters for a talk.
Radio Azzattyk reported that more than 10 people came to the center of Karaganda to support residents of Zhanaozen. Among those gathered are civil society activists and public figures. Participants of the rally were claiming they are against "Kazakhstan being subject to Chinese expansion" and the sale of natural resources of the country. The activists touched the issue of the wolfram fields in Karaganda region as well.
The demonstrators were asking what Kazakhstan and Karaganda region will gain from these investments. Among other questions is why Kazakhstanis can not work.
Dozens of people gathered in front of the building of Shymkent administration. They put forward their demands to local authorities to publish the list of people, who own land plots in Kazakhstan on the website of the government. Local authorities meeting the protesters said that they are violating the law by holding unsanctioned rally.
Protests against the Chinese economic expansion started in the country in parallel with the rally in Zhanaozen city, where locals were demanding to stop construction of 55 Chinese plants on the territory of Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Minister of Interior Yerlan Turgumbayev rejected reports on construction of Chinese plants and called the information "false" warning the law enforcement bodies will have to suppress the unsanctioned rallies.