Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1588
2006-08-18 12:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:  

TAJIKISTAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY CONDEMNS ISRAELI ATTACKS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KISL TI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9776
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1767
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001588 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN
NSC FOR MERKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY CONDEMNS ISRAELI ATTACKS

REF: DUSHANBE 1557

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy,
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001588

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN
NSC FOR MERKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY CONDEMNS ISRAELI ATTACKS

REF: DUSHANBE 1557

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy,
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (SBU) At an internal party meeting August 16, several
Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan members spoke out
strongly against Israel's strikes in Lebanon and Palestine and
criticized the U.S. response. Since the beginning of the recent
Lebanon-Israeli conflict, the IRPT criticized Israel through the
press. The party petitioned the government for permission to
hold a public rally against the Israeli action. The Tajik
government, which never permits any group to demonstrate
publicly, rejected the application. Instead, about 500 people,
the majority IRPT members, gathered indoors at the party's
headquarters to show solidarity for the Lebanese and Palestinian
people. The public was not invited, with the exception of a few
journalists. A local Embassy staff member observed the meeting,
although his presence and Embassy affiliation was noted.


2. (SBU) Five IRPT officials gave speeches, including the
party's acting Chairman, Muhiddin Kabiri, which criticized the
United States, United Kingdom and Arabic governments for failing
to stop the attacks and save the lives hundred of innocent
civilians. Speakers took great care to point out they were not
denouncing the people of the United States, Britain or Arabs,
but criticizing the governments' policies and consider the
governments guilty. Muhiddin Kabiri also thanked the Tajik
government for expressing timely support for Palestinians and
Lebanese.


3. (SBU) At the meeting's conclusion, the party adopted a
resolution demanding that the United Nations and international
community:

-- Ensure the ceasefire is upheld in practice;
-- Restore and maintain peace in Palestine and Lebanon;
-- Institute criminal cases against Israel's military crimes;
-- Condemn state terrorism;
-- Demand Israel compensate for material and human loss; and
-- Provide the Palestinian and Lebanese people the right to
establish an independent state


4. (C) COMMENT: The government of Tajikistan has also made
public statements against Israel's attacks and Foreign Minister
Nazarov himself criticized Israel's recent actions (reftel).
However, such statements and the IRPT meeting should not be
viewed as anti-Semitic or a rally of popular support for Muslims
to unite against Jews and their supporters. The atmosphere of
the meeting was not hostile or intimidating and the IRPT made an
effort to distinguish between a state's policies and military
action and a nation's people.


5. (C) COMMENT CONT: The size and subject of the event itself
was significant, because Tajiks have been very reluctant to
demonstrate politically since the Civil War, which many feel
started due to rival pro-and anti-government demonstrations in

1992. Foreign Minister Nazarov mentioned the gathering in an
August 18 meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary Feigenbaum
(septel),and cautioned that political protests could only lead
to trouble and instability. The fact that 500 Tajiks felt
strongly enough about the conflict in the Middle East to attend
a political meeting suggests that public opinion about the
situation runs very deep. The Tajikistan government may feel
emboldened to criticize further Israeli actions. END COMMENT.

HUSHEK