AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION NGO UNDER FIRE IN TAJIKISTAN

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002028

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPAO TI
SUBJECT: AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION NGO UNDER FIRE IN TAJIKISTAN

REF: DUSHANBE 00002012


1. Charge met with the American Bar Association/Central
European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI) on December 12
to discuss their ongoing struggle with the Tajik State-owned
media. ABA/CEELI's "Street Law" program in Tajikistan's
secondary schools (reftel) first came under fire in the press.
The press inferred that ABA/CEELI is turning students against
their teachers and parents with radical ideas. Now, the MFA is
stating that ABA/CEELI's secondary school programs are no longer
needed in Tajikistan.


2. Post continues to work with ABA/CEELI to reinforce the legal
obligation of the Tajik State-owned newspaper "Jumhuriyat" to
print their rebuttal letter to the negative article, published
November 24. Under Tajik law, print media must publish a
rebuttal letter within one month of the original article.
"Jumhuriyat" has yet to publish Ambassador's "open letter" to
their chief editor countering the original attack article
against ABA/CEELI, though the Tajik local independent print
media all published the letter in their weekly editions.


3. The diplomatic note to ABA/CEELI politely stated that the
Tajik Ministry of Education implemented a series of secondary
school programs, titled "Fundamentals of State and Law," and no
longer needs ABA/CEELI to "duplicate" these themes with their
"Street Law" program.


4. PAS learned that the Ministry of Justice is currently
investigating several secondary partner schools and informing
teachers that any who continue to work with international NGOs
will be fired. ABA/CEELI is also undergoing a Ministry of
Justice inspection of its charter to work in Tajikistan.


5. (SBU) COMMENT. Though mildly worded in typical Tajik MFA
fashion, the diplomatic note is believed to be either a direct
consequence of the "Jumhuriyat" attack article, or a companion
move against ABA/CEELI's secondary school program in Tajikistan.
The Ministry of Justice inspections are, unfortunately, a fact
of life for NGOs operating in Tajikistan. International NGOs
ride a roller coaster here in Tajikistan: sometimes relations
with the government are high, and sometimes they suddenly
plummet. ABA/CEELI is at that low point right now. Their
strategy for now is to highlight their programs and successes.
Post has requested a meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister to
raise this and other NGO issues. END COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER


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