Deputies of the Kazakh parliament\'s Mazhilis (lower house) Serik Abdrakhmanov and Serikbay Alibaev told a news conference on 17 April that they and other deputies oppose adoption of a controversial draft Land Code that would permit private landownership, RFE/RL\'s Kazakh Service reported. The code was approved in its first reading by the Mazhilis in March and is subject to a second reading. Abdrakhmanov said that 122 amendments to the code have been proposed by deputies, adding that in his opinion the current laws on parliamentary powers, government, and regional administration must be changed before the Land Code is adopted. Otherwise, the code will protect only the wealthy. The government proposal to introduce private landownership in Kazakhstan as a necessary step in the further development of the country\'s economy has sparked passionate debate in parliament and among the population. (RFE/RL)