“Panorama Shymkenta”, 24/10/2008
E. Berdigalieva

   Yes, this scourge has spread in our region like a monster, like a monster is newly restored and growing bigger. Frank impudence and shameless, undisguised acts of corruption in the south have taken such scope that it can be handled with strict criminal penalties and permanent disqualification from positions and responsibility; however, another alternative to handle the situation is to not see it.
   Members at a “round table” said, a major role in the fight against corruption will be an attitude of intolerance and a civil resistance to this evil. With the goal to create mass awareness against corruption in the field, the Department of Internal Affairs of SKO and NGOs organized the initiative “Stop Corruption”, which was held from October 1-20. As part of the initiative, the following events were held: leaflets were distributed in the areas around Tsum, MegaCenter, YUKGU, and city parks, and a confidential hotline was operated.
   At a seminar in Turkestan, with the participation of representatives from the government, NGOs, and the public, the causes and socio-economic consequences of corruption and the legal aspects to fight against this vicious phenomenon were discussed. A similar seminar was held in the village Aksukent, Sayramskogo area. Students from Gymnasium number 8 were among the participants. M. Dulati held a debate on the topic of “The fight against corruption - a challenge” to the format of political debates “online”.
   Expressive and promising organizers identified the purpose of the hearings: intensifying the civil position of youth in the fight against corruption and developing a sense of responsibility for development of order in his country.

   In order to fight corruption the public must fight corruption, the South Kazakhstan branch of the PDP «Nur Otan» and participants of the “round table” told S. Tursynbek, deputy chairman of the board. Systematically at this meeting, telephone signals were used to define the confidence of citizens.
   The council members have received the most high-profile cases of corruption in City Akim Zhetysu, Suzak district of Kentau, and Sayramskogo area. Some of the area directors were found taking bribes and were dismissed from the party and the director was dismissed from one of the Ordabasinskih schools Abisheva.
   In general, there are a lot of famous names and positions in the fight against corruption. It is a pity that the deputy head of anti-corruption and economic crimes DA Isaev, did not attend the meeting and that we did not listen to his report in person “Corruption as major as the main flaw in the social development of society”, declared in the “round table”. However, through the communication media, many are aware of the penalties incurred in the city and the personalities. It is scary for our children who will live and work in this unhealthy moral and psychological climate. Indeed, corruption in the society generates social apathy, unbelief in justice, and even worse - a vicious influence of the phenomenon of impunity. Furthermore, those people who are examples of corruption suggest that the only possible way to survive is through today's conditions.
   During the meeting, the representative of the Independent Trade Unions commented on the situation in schools. School Number 64, where the director managed to dismiss the work of 25 professors, had many complaints to the authorities of the aggressive management at the school, according to the speaker who remains anonymous. “Like water off a duck”, - this conclusion has arrived based on the facts confirming impunity, the appearance of persons who have suffered for this punishment, and the new seats which have become even steeper.
   “It is necessary to revise our personal actions. We often appoint managers based on kinship, cronyism. No consistent career employer at the managerial position should appoint a person that does not at least have basic levels of professional growth in their work,” said KT Alipova, BA Ruzanov, and SH.ZH. Zhamalbekov, the leaders of social organizations and the “round table”. This is not the only causes of corruption and this phenomenon in our area. Whether it is demanded that directors do not employ people within divisions and departments of education, which have no legal relationship to their destination, is the prerogative of local authorities.

   Interesting statistics have been revealed on the size and structure of domestic corruption in South Kazakhstan by K. Abysheva, president of the Legal Center for Women's Initiatives “Sana Sezim” and the part-time representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan on ASIP YUKO.
   It turns out that in terms of potential corruption SKO ranked first in the country. About a third of those surveyed residents (respondents were 500 people) faced a situation where the prompt and efficient solutions to important issues for them were directly related to the giving of bribes to officials. The most common are bribes to fix the revenue problem, higher education, purchase and registration of land, assistance to the police, the flow of pre-school institutions, tackling customs, and housing services. In doing so, urban residents are much more susceptible to the pressure of corruption than villagers.
   The leaders in the field of domestic corruption (as in the regional center) are: high schools (which account for 14.8% of corruption cases); health care (14%) in the rural center; Health care (15.5%); and acquisition of land (11.3%).
   In the current quarter, compared with the previous year, cases of corruption have increased 1.2 times: from 52,2% to 63,4%. The regional center for this indicator at 0.7% ahead of the rural district center: 63.6% versus 62.9%. The intensity of corruption in the regional capital is 1.2 times higher than in rural regions. In terms of the number of bribes, Region 8, took first place in the republic.
   On the average size of bribes in the lead:

• The housing market (average bribe of about $ 1284) - 5th place in the country;
• The courts (about $ 1026) - 8th place;

   In the regional center:

• Universities (about $ 1150);
• Acquisition of land (about $ 814);
• The courts (about $ 733);

   In rural regions:

• The housing market (more than $ 3163);
• Courts (more than $ 2883);
• Drawing up the rights to social benefits (about $ 2000);

   The average size of bribes by random corrupt bargains over the past year is more than $ 514 (7th place in the republic). In rural regions the rate (more than $ 2571) is 1.4 times higher than in the administrative center of the area (more than $ 1844).
   In general, the commentary to such statistics is doubt that government policy on prevention and suppression of corruption should be given to the partnership and unity of social forces to fight against this terrible scourge.
   The viciousness of this phenomenon is that it exposes innocent people, those who entrust their destiny to others. And lastly a parable through a sermon.
   One student came to Confucius, and said:
   - What are the main characteristics of a good government?
   - Confucius responded: Food, weapons, and the confidence of the people.
   - And if you imagine that you were asked to get rid of one of them, what would it have been?
   - Weapons.
   - And if you would have to abandon the second?
   - Food.
   - But people without food would be dead!
   - Since the beginning of time, death has met many human beings. But people, who do not trust their government, are really lost…