AGRARIAN PARTY OF TAJIKISTAN: ANOTHER POCKET PARTY FOR

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001867

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TI
SUBJECT: AGRARIAN PARTY OF TAJIKISTAN: ANOTHER POCKET PARTY FOR
RAHMONOV

REF: DUSHANBE 1855


1. The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) is the brainchild of
its Chairman, Amir Karakulov, or so he insists. Karakulov, a
former member of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, decided
three years ago that he would like to form his own party to
protect farmers' rights. A self-proclaimed Soviet-Era man, he
was the former (1972-1988) Deputy Minister of Agriculture. He
has served as Director of the Cattle Farmer's Institute since
1989, and is also the Vice Rector of the Tajik Agriculture
Academy.


2. The new APT claims to be an independent party fighting to
protect the agricultural population's rights. However, in a
meeting with PolOff November 23, Karakulov stated his party
respects Rahmonov, and he will personally support him because
Rahmonov brought stability to the country. With its small
membership, APT will not put forth a candidate in next year's
presidential elections. Karakulov allied the party with the
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) and the newly
formed Party of Economic Reform (reftel). He added he respects
all other parties' goals and ideas and would even like to
cooperate with them, but does not want his party to be divisive
or provocative.


3. The APT's primary agenda includes poverty reduction,
agrarian workers' rights, and creating an agricultural industry
that is competitive with foreign companies. Karakulov argued
the government should pave the way for land privatization,
structure SMEs around agriculture, and set policies to attract
foreign investment. He insisted that Tajikistan must have a
permanent agro-industrial base. The nation's political
independence depends on its agricultural independence and food
security. He appreciated American grain and seed donations, but
said Tajikistan needs aid for development, including new
American technology and assistance in scientific research.


4. The Ministry of Justice registered the APT on November 15
with members from every district in Tajikistan. Karakulov, in
response to criticisms his party is a "pocket party," insisted
on showing PolOff the membership registration sheet with all
1300 names, addresses, and telephone numbers. He claimed that
the Ministry of Justice took one month to inspect the entire
membership. Karakulov let slip an anecdote that the APT already
had targeted members and simply asked farmers to sign on the
dotted line. One farmer, fearing government retribution, asked
if this party was for or against Rahmonov. The APT told him the
party supported Rahmonov so that he would sign.


5. The majority of APT's members are farmers and peasants, but
the upper echelon are agriculture specialists. Karakulov was
elected Chairman during the October 1 party congress. The party
has three deputies in the Sughd region, Khatlon, and Dushanbe,
37 elected central committee members, and seven staff.
Membership fees range from 50 diram to one somoni (or 16 to 30
U.S. cents). APT plans to fund operations by soliciting
entrepreneurs, landowners and businessmen as sponsors.


6. COMMENT: A subdued and complacent party such as the APT is
precisely the type of "pocket party" Rahmonov would welcome to
give the appearance of political diversity but really to
guarantee his support and supposed legitimacy. Karakulov's
admission that members were recruited and targeted takes away
from the independence of his political movement. The party's
membership solicitation style, broad platform, political
compadres, and Karakulov's current government position and
former membership in the CPT (another PDPT ally) all point to
APT being an attempt by the government to manage the political
system by providing the illusion of a multi-party coalition
behind President Rahmonov. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND


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