TAJIKISTAN'S SOUTH SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF DEVELOPMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000175

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S SOUTH SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF DEVELOPMENT

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1. SUMMARY: Kulob, the President's home region and nearby
Qurghon-Teppa face the same corruption, high unemployment, and
political and free press restrictions that plague the rest of
the country. In meetings with PolOff January 23-24,
journalists, NGOs and community leaders from Kulob,
Qurghon-Teppa and Shahritus revealed that apathy and
self-censorship threaten to stagnate development in Tajikistan's
south. However, NGOs serve their communities well and can be a
catalyst for change. END SUMMARY.


2. Although President Rahmonov and many of his inner circle are
Kulobis, Kulob as a whole has not benefited from pork-barrel
funding. The head of Kulob's Islamic Revival Party of
Tajikistan (IRPT) criticized that funds invested in the city are
not going towards businesses or institutions that could help
Kulob grow long-term. Unemployment remains high and cotton
production has declined. As Kulob prepares to celebrate its
2700th anniversary this year, the national government and cities
across Tajikistan (on the government orders) have poured
millions into Kulob to build monuments and finance festivities,
but little has gone towards economic development or social
services.

RESIGNED TO A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT


3. Besides pressure from the government, media organizations
and political associations also have to contend with apathy and
poverty. Suhrobsho Farrukshoev, chairman of the Khatlon press,
notes that people worry too much about where their next meal
will come from to care about politics--a common refrain in
Tajikistan. The People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT)
is the ruling party in Kulob, but the Communist Party of
Tajikistan is the most popular, according to Farrukshoev. He
explained people believe quality of life was better under the
Soviet system and long for the Soviet days. With 180 local
members, the IRPT remains weak, despite tripling its membership
in three years. Other political parties, too, have a minimal
presence and little to no power. The Khatlon press serves as an
information center for Kulob, where people come to read
newspapers because newspapers from Dushanbe are too expensive
for the majority of the population. Kulob has only one,
state-owned television broadcast station.


4. Even the wealthiest and most influential businessman in the
region (at Vosse near Kulob) avoids politics. A former deputy
in parliament, Samariddin Fazliddinov did not run in the 2005
parliamentary elections because he knew the elections would not
be fair and his past criticisms of the government would prevent
him from even appearing on the ballot. He turned his energy
towards developing his businesses, including a textiles factory,
several hectares of farms, and an independent television
station. Even after leaving government, Fazliddinov still
confronts corruption. Each year Fazliddinov pays $150,000 in
illegal bribes to local and national government officials to
ensure that business can get done. Fazliddinov estimates that
illegal taxes account for 40 percent of his business expenses.
Corruption is so endemic that businesses see bribes and
kickbacks as standard operating procedure.


5. Because Fazliddinov is wealthy, has government connections,
and comes from a well-established family, his influence in the
region allows his independent television station to operate
freely without government interference. The station cooperates
with Internews and regional stations. Contrary to Fazliddinov's
ease, a journalist for the independent newspaper "Bomdod" in
Qurghon-Teppa, Mohsharif Qurbonova, said her newspaper avoids
government hassle by self-censorship. "Bomdod"'s editors often
tidy up reporters' critical articles. However, after receiving
training from the National Association for Independent Mass
Media in Tajikistan, Qurbonova and "Bomdod"'s editors are ready

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to be bolder.

THE RISE OF NGOs


6. The Civil Support Center in Qurghon-Teppa has seen NGO
membership increase to more than 300 since it opened in 1992.
Increasingly, the town relies on NGOs to provide social
services, and the Civil Support Center calls on more NGOs to
assist in economic development. The Civil Support Center said
the most successful NGOs in the region deal with women's or
children's issues. A lack of qualified personnel and fear of
government harassment have limited the number of political and
human rights NGOs. Qurghon-Teppa and the surrounding area saw
much violence during the civil war. Although the people are
tired of Rahmonov, they fear political activity that could
incite violence again even more.


7. In Shahritus, a town not far from the Afghan border, women
have emerged to become the entrepreneurs and leaders of their
community. As is common throughout Tajikistan, unemployment has
sent Shahritus' men to Russia as labor migrants, leaving the
women at home to be breadwinners. Several micro-finance
institutions readily lend to women, who are now the majority of
market vendors and owners of small enterprises. The chairwomen
of two local NGOs, supported by Embassy grants, report that they
enjoy great success in town and have a good relationship with
the local government, but worry a change in the local leadership
may have a negative effect on their activities.


8. COMMENT: The story in Tajikistan's south is not
encouraging: a government stranglehold on power and remnants of
civil war memories prevent political activities; corruption has
become the norm; and people rely on NGOs for support rather than
the government. Unlike the north, where there is an active
civil society focused on supporting political and human rights,
the southern region lacks the energy and resources to contest
the establishment. END COMMENT
HOAGLAND