His Holiness A.C. Bhaktivaibhava Swami is current GBC Executive Committee chairman. His tenure looks set to be characterized by publicly visible proactivity. On ISKCON News.net right after the announcement of his election to the chair you can read a letter from Maharaja where he commands (ok, “requests” ) all ISKCON temple presidents and GBCs to report back to him by May 8th about what they are doing about the Kazakhstan situation.

There is no centralized response or strategy, but priorities are being set from the platform. It’s the first visible pronouncement from ISKCON’s governing body that I’ve seen in a long time.

Here is the latest from Anuttama das, of ISKCON communications, on the Kazakhstan situation. It’s in the same style I took in approaching the situation. Of course, you need to have people laying down the smack in order to do this. Good cop, bad cop. Here Anuttama das plays good cop:

Update from my end in Wash, DC:

I spoke today for 1/2 hour with the political consulate for the Kazahkstan embassy. The ambassador is in Kaz. I followed the strategy Saunaka recommended and discussed that the situation is heating up around the world (AP stories, Indian media, protest in Hungary) and that WE need to try to find a reasonable solution to this.

I told him our people around the world are increasing disturbed and that there will likely be protests building. Not a good time for this as the US Vice President in in Kaz this month, bad for the govt’ reputation, etc.

He seemed genuinely relieved to have me speak from the point of looking for a solution.

I told him that apparently the 5 day notice (or something to that effect) had been delivered today and that the national government–that is concerned about international issues and reputation– needs to get involved and slow down these guys locally.

He at first tried to explain the legal arguments for the action against Krishnas, but after I pointed out that human rights organizations “on the ground” are telling the media that it is persecution and land grabbing, he agreed it is not proper.

I was pushing him to at least get his govt to buy some time and not let the locals demolish any property. If that happens, I told him, there will be an international outcry of a size they don’t want to deal with.

He is calling his people in the capital and promised to call me back tomorrow. My effort will be to get them to stop the immediate confiscation and demolition so that cooler (national) heads can intervene and find a solution.

Ie, “if they papers are wrong fix it. Don’t demo the place…”

Your servant,

Anuttama dasa