Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1283
2006-07-06 09:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN: MODERATE IRPT DEPUTY REFUSES PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP
how-toVZCZCXRO0161 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHDBU #1283 1870910 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 060910Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8019 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1703 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1689 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1660 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1672 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1626 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1597 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1599 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1470 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1416 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1620 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1667 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1210 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0994 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9318
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/6/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF KISL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: MODERATE IRPT DEPUTY REFUSES PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP
CLASSIFIED BY: HOAGLAND, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/6/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF KISL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: MODERATE IRPT DEPUTY REFUSES PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP
CLASSIFIED BY: HOAGLAND, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan's (IRPT) First
Deputy Chairman, Muhiddin Kabiri refused to accept the party's
chairmanship. Kabiri told PolOff at the Embassy's July 4th
celebration that the party's current chairman, Said Abdullo
Nuri, asked Kabiri to be the next IRPT head, but Kabiri declined
citing that he is too moderate and does not have Nuri's popular
appeal. Nuri has been suffering from stomach cancer and Kabiri
suggested that he only has 2-3 years to live, optimistically.
Kabiri claimed that he is comfortable in his position as the
First Deputy Chairman and is confident that the party will be
able to find someone else to lead them.
2. (C) Kabiri firmly believes that President Rahmonov does not
want him to be IRPT chairman. Rahmonov has already approached
Nuri and asked him to select someone who is religiously
conservative. Kabiri said that Rahmonov would like to see an
"extremist" lead the IPRT, insinuating that Rahmonov wants to
appoint someone who would polarize the party. Thus far, Nuri
has refused Rahmonov's advice.
3. (C) COMMENT: Rahmonov's advice to appoint a religious
conservative as IRPT chairman would serve his own political
interests. If an Islamic conservative were to lead the party,
it would further divide the party into a moderate wing and
religiously conservative faction, thereby weakening the IRPT,
the strongest of the political parties not viewed to be a
government creation. Rahmonov's reported suggestion to Nuri is
out of character with government statements decrying religious
extremism. With the appointment of an extremist, it could give
the government greater ammunition to use against the IRPT and
more excuses to crackdown on the party's activities. With the
party's leadership uncertain, there is a danger that Central
Asia's only legally recognized Islamic political party will be
in jeopardy.
4. (C) COMMENT CONT'D: Kabiri has also received pressure from
other quarters. Kabiri told DCM that Mayor of Dushanbe and Head
of Parliament, Ubaidolloyev pointedly asked Kabiri if he met
with President Bush during Kabiri's trip to the United States to
plot a "color revolution." From the Embassy's perspective, it
is a shame the talented and articulate Kabiri has removed
himself from the higher stakes political game. He has always
been a transparent and forthcoming leader. That said, we do not
believe his political career is over. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/6/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KIRF KISL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: MODERATE IRPT DEPUTY REFUSES PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP
CLASSIFIED BY: HOAGLAND, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan's (IRPT) First
Deputy Chairman, Muhiddin Kabiri refused to accept the party's
chairmanship. Kabiri told PolOff at the Embassy's July 4th
celebration that the party's current chairman, Said Abdullo
Nuri, asked Kabiri to be the next IRPT head, but Kabiri declined
citing that he is too moderate and does not have Nuri's popular
appeal. Nuri has been suffering from stomach cancer and Kabiri
suggested that he only has 2-3 years to live, optimistically.
Kabiri claimed that he is comfortable in his position as the
First Deputy Chairman and is confident that the party will be
able to find someone else to lead them.
2. (C) Kabiri firmly believes that President Rahmonov does not
want him to be IRPT chairman. Rahmonov has already approached
Nuri and asked him to select someone who is religiously
conservative. Kabiri said that Rahmonov would like to see an
"extremist" lead the IPRT, insinuating that Rahmonov wants to
appoint someone who would polarize the party. Thus far, Nuri
has refused Rahmonov's advice.
3. (C) COMMENT: Rahmonov's advice to appoint a religious
conservative as IRPT chairman would serve his own political
interests. If an Islamic conservative were to lead the party,
it would further divide the party into a moderate wing and
religiously conservative faction, thereby weakening the IRPT,
the strongest of the political parties not viewed to be a
government creation. Rahmonov's reported suggestion to Nuri is
out of character with government statements decrying religious
extremism. With the appointment of an extremist, it could give
the government greater ammunition to use against the IRPT and
more excuses to crackdown on the party's activities. With the
party's leadership uncertain, there is a danger that Central
Asia's only legally recognized Islamic political party will be
in jeopardy.
4. (C) COMMENT CONT'D: Kabiri has also received pressure from
other quarters. Kabiri told DCM that Mayor of Dushanbe and Head
of Parliament, Ubaidolloyev pointedly asked Kabiri if he met
with President Bush during Kabiri's trip to the United States to
plot a "color revolution." From the Embassy's perspective, it
is a shame the talented and articulate Kabiri has removed
himself from the higher stakes political game. He has always
been a transparent and forthcoming leader. That said, we do not
believe his political career is over. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND