Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE2033
2006-11-06 14:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REPORT #1
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 002033
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REPORT #1
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 002033
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SENSITIVE
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STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REPORT #1
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The polls have yet to close, but
Tajikistan's presidential election seems to suffer from many of
the same problems as the 2005 parliamentary election. The
pre-election period did witness positive cooperation between
international organizations (especially the United Nations and
IFES) and the Central Election Commission, with some
improvements to procedures and wide-spread poll worker training
and voter awareness programs. However, the resulting high
turnout, and commitment on the part of some election officials
to implement proper procedures, has been marred by pervasive
evidence of family and proxy voting and lack of participation
from true opposition political parties, and also some instances
of ballot box stuffing and political coercion. Two days prior
to the election, three Democratic Party of Tajikistan officials
were imprisoned for staging a demonstration in front of the
Ministry of Justice protesting the ministry's decision to
recognize a rival faction of the party. Embassy observers, who
are also registered as OSCE observers, were deployed to the
Qurgon-Teppa, Kulyob, Istaravshan, Garm and Vahdat regions.
Embassy staff also visited Dushanbe polling stations where the
mood was festive. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) In almost all polling stations in Dushanbe, loud
festive music blared from stereos, some featured live musicians.
At some stations, dancing girls in traditional costume even
performed. In Vaksh district, PolOff reported loud music woke
residents up in the early hours summoning them to the polling
stations. Flowers were handed out to first time voters and
gifts were granted to senior citizen voters. Overall, the mood
and atmosphere were festive. Embassy observers have not
reported any incidents of violence.
3. (U) Typical voting patterns saw most Tajiks casting their
ballots during the first half of the day. Voters ranged from
the young, minimum 18 years of age, to senior citizens. Women
were also well represented. Some students at the Pedagogical
Institute in Dushanbe waited for up to 3 hours to vote. By 2:00
pm local time November 6, the Central Commission on Elections
and Referenda reported that 76% of registered voters have
already cast their ballot. According to Tajik law, a minimum of
50% voter turn-out assures the legitimacy of the election.
VOTING PROBLEMS- A REPEAT OF PREVIOUS ELECTIONS
4. (SBU) Generally, EmbOffs had access to all polling stations
and were welcomed with the usual gracious Tajik hospitality and
had their fair share of tea and plov. Polling stations appeared
organized and well-managed. Most officials were open, answered
questions and were eager to demonstrate to observers the "free
and fair" election process. EmbOffs report that some OSCE
observers were denied access to military polling stations.
5. (SBU) The main problem that reoccurs in every Tajik
election is family voting and proxy voting. Although illegal,
the pervasive cultural mentality that heads of households can
vote for other members makes family voting prevalent in
Tajikistan. An Embassy source commented, "It is impossible to
think that a Tajik wife would vote differently than her
husband." At nearly all polling stations, EmbOffs witnessed
evidence of family voting and proxy voting. Between 10 percent
to well over 50 percent of votes cast were by family voting or
proxy voting. Polling officials told PolOff that they know this
is wrong, but are reluctant to do anything about it because they
understand if a family member cannot come to vote. It is not
only men who cast votes for the family; observers saw many
instances of women casting multiple ballots, perhaps in some
cases on behalf of male family members working abroad. In some
cases, election officials did strictly prohibit this practice.
DUSHANBE 00002033 002 OF 003
6. (SBU) EmbOffs witnessed three blatant acts of ballot
stuffing and indications that a number of other boxes may have
been stuffed. Ballot boxes are weakly secured and can be easily
tampered with. Tajik rules allow registration at the polling
place upon proof of residency, but not all officials were
vigilant about checking identification and allowed some people
to vote even though their names were not on the official
register. In one extreme case, EmbOffs walked into a polling
station at 5:00pm, three hours before polls closed to find
officials stuffing open ballot boxes and falsifying signatures
on the registrar's list. The official tried to justify his
action by explaining that Tajikistan is a young democracy with a
lot to learn. He was irate and chased EmbOffs out of the
station. This is a clear indication of where Rahmonov's message
to conduct free and fair election was defied by at least one
eager-to-please local official.
7. (SBU) Embassy Officers observing in southern Tajikistan
reported that in one town, prior to election day, election
officials campaigned and urged voters to vote for Rahmonov, then
on election day, voters were bused into the polling stations to
vote. Although campaign posters are prohibited in polling
stations the day of the election, EmbOffs in the same region
noticed large campaign posters for Rahmonov.
8. (SBU) Noticeably, most signs in polling stations were in
Tajik, not Russian. In northern regions, some signs were also
in Kyrgyz. No provisions were made for people with poor
eyesight or illiterate voters. Instructions on how to vote were
not clearly displayed and PolOff witnessed voters query on how
to mark the ballot. In Tajikistan negative voting is employed,
where voters cross off the names of candidates they do not want
to be president.
9. (U) Some Embassy observers who also participated in the
Parliamentary 2005 elections noted that there are more women
voters this year. This could be indicative of a higher turnout
by women or by the fact that more men are abroad as labor
migrants.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS IMPRISONED DAYS BEFORE ELECTION
10. (U) Plain clothes law enforcement authorities broke up a
protest orchestrated by the Democratic Party of Tajikistan
November 4 in front of the Ministry of Justice. Police arrested
Rajabi Mirzo, head of the DPT's Dushanbe chapter and also editor
of the party's newspaper, Adolat. They also arrested Timur
Iskandarov, the younger brother of the party's imprisoned
chairman, Mahmadruzi Iskandarov, and Khairiddin Gulyaev, the
Deputy Head of the DPT's Dushanbe chapter. Media reports say
the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) and the
unregistered faction of the Socialist Party of Tajikistan (SPT)
also helped to organize the protest.
11. (U) Media reports say that five people held banners
protesting the Ministry's decision to recognize the new faction
of the DPT headed by Masud Sobirov. Twenty people gathered in a
show of support at the side of the building. Mirzo alleged that
the party's phones were tapped as only a tight circle of people
knew about the planned protest and informed the media only 30
minutes before the action.
12. (U) The protest which only lasted a few minutes before
police broke it up had been peaceful. According to Tajik law
though, it is illegal to organize a demonstration unless a group
has received permission from the government. The three men have
been detained and sent to a city prison. They will be held for
up to fifteen days.
DUSHANBE 00002033 003 OF 003
POLITICAL PARTIES ABSENT FROM OBSERVATION
13. (U) OSCE/ODIHR and CIS observers were frequently seen
around Dushanbe and out in the regions. Notably, some CIS
observers are able to travel around town using official
government plated vehicles. Several bilateral missions also
have observers including the Chinese and Kazakh Embassies.
14. (SBU) Embassy observers have seen members of the
president's People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) at
several polling station as well as members of the Communist
Party of Tajikistan and the Party of Economic Reform of
Tajikistan. PolOff noted that in Qurgon-Teppa, prior to
election day, a People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan member
confessed that he was told by the government that he was
accredited to observe as a Communist Party member and not as a
PDPT member.
15. (SBU) "Opposition" political parties have been
conspicuously absent from polling stations. Media sources say
the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan has only sent
observers to one or two polling stations, near former chairman
Nuri's home in Dushanbe. Muhiddin Kabiri, the party's current
chairman, has been out of the country during the important
election day and several days leading up to the election.
Embassy observers encountered one Social Democratic Party of
Tajikistan observer, but none from other parties.
16. (U) Polls will officially close at 8:00pm local time, at
which point ballot boxes will be opened, votes counted and the
results sent to the district election commissions and back to
Dushanbe. Both the Commonwealth of Independent States and
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe missions
will give statements at 11:00am and 2:30pm respectively,
November 7 on preliminary findings.
JACOBSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
NSC FOR MERKEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REPORT #1
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The polls have yet to close, but
Tajikistan's presidential election seems to suffer from many of
the same problems as the 2005 parliamentary election. The
pre-election period did witness positive cooperation between
international organizations (especially the United Nations and
IFES) and the Central Election Commission, with some
improvements to procedures and wide-spread poll worker training
and voter awareness programs. However, the resulting high
turnout, and commitment on the part of some election officials
to implement proper procedures, has been marred by pervasive
evidence of family and proxy voting and lack of participation
from true opposition political parties, and also some instances
of ballot box stuffing and political coercion. Two days prior
to the election, three Democratic Party of Tajikistan officials
were imprisoned for staging a demonstration in front of the
Ministry of Justice protesting the ministry's decision to
recognize a rival faction of the party. Embassy observers, who
are also registered as OSCE observers, were deployed to the
Qurgon-Teppa, Kulyob, Istaravshan, Garm and Vahdat regions.
Embassy staff also visited Dushanbe polling stations where the
mood was festive. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) In almost all polling stations in Dushanbe, loud
festive music blared from stereos, some featured live musicians.
At some stations, dancing girls in traditional costume even
performed. In Vaksh district, PolOff reported loud music woke
residents up in the early hours summoning them to the polling
stations. Flowers were handed out to first time voters and
gifts were granted to senior citizen voters. Overall, the mood
and atmosphere were festive. Embassy observers have not
reported any incidents of violence.
3. (U) Typical voting patterns saw most Tajiks casting their
ballots during the first half of the day. Voters ranged from
the young, minimum 18 years of age, to senior citizens. Women
were also well represented. Some students at the Pedagogical
Institute in Dushanbe waited for up to 3 hours to vote. By 2:00
pm local time November 6, the Central Commission on Elections
and Referenda reported that 76% of registered voters have
already cast their ballot. According to Tajik law, a minimum of
50% voter turn-out assures the legitimacy of the election.
VOTING PROBLEMS- A REPEAT OF PREVIOUS ELECTIONS
4. (SBU) Generally, EmbOffs had access to all polling stations
and were welcomed with the usual gracious Tajik hospitality and
had their fair share of tea and plov. Polling stations appeared
organized and well-managed. Most officials were open, answered
questions and were eager to demonstrate to observers the "free
and fair" election process. EmbOffs report that some OSCE
observers were denied access to military polling stations.
5. (SBU) The main problem that reoccurs in every Tajik
election is family voting and proxy voting. Although illegal,
the pervasive cultural mentality that heads of households can
vote for other members makes family voting prevalent in
Tajikistan. An Embassy source commented, "It is impossible to
think that a Tajik wife would vote differently than her
husband." At nearly all polling stations, EmbOffs witnessed
evidence of family voting and proxy voting. Between 10 percent
to well over 50 percent of votes cast were by family voting or
proxy voting. Polling officials told PolOff that they know this
is wrong, but are reluctant to do anything about it because they
understand if a family member cannot come to vote. It is not
only men who cast votes for the family; observers saw many
instances of women casting multiple ballots, perhaps in some
cases on behalf of male family members working abroad. In some
cases, election officials did strictly prohibit this practice.
DUSHANBE 00002033 002 OF 003
6. (SBU) EmbOffs witnessed three blatant acts of ballot
stuffing and indications that a number of other boxes may have
been stuffed. Ballot boxes are weakly secured and can be easily
tampered with. Tajik rules allow registration at the polling
place upon proof of residency, but not all officials were
vigilant about checking identification and allowed some people
to vote even though their names were not on the official
register. In one extreme case, EmbOffs walked into a polling
station at 5:00pm, three hours before polls closed to find
officials stuffing open ballot boxes and falsifying signatures
on the registrar's list. The official tried to justify his
action by explaining that Tajikistan is a young democracy with a
lot to learn. He was irate and chased EmbOffs out of the
station. This is a clear indication of where Rahmonov's message
to conduct free and fair election was defied by at least one
eager-to-please local official.
7. (SBU) Embassy Officers observing in southern Tajikistan
reported that in one town, prior to election day, election
officials campaigned and urged voters to vote for Rahmonov, then
on election day, voters were bused into the polling stations to
vote. Although campaign posters are prohibited in polling
stations the day of the election, EmbOffs in the same region
noticed large campaign posters for Rahmonov.
8. (SBU) Noticeably, most signs in polling stations were in
Tajik, not Russian. In northern regions, some signs were also
in Kyrgyz. No provisions were made for people with poor
eyesight or illiterate voters. Instructions on how to vote were
not clearly displayed and PolOff witnessed voters query on how
to mark the ballot. In Tajikistan negative voting is employed,
where voters cross off the names of candidates they do not want
to be president.
9. (U) Some Embassy observers who also participated in the
Parliamentary 2005 elections noted that there are more women
voters this year. This could be indicative of a higher turnout
by women or by the fact that more men are abroad as labor
migrants.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS IMPRISONED DAYS BEFORE ELECTION
10. (U) Plain clothes law enforcement authorities broke up a
protest orchestrated by the Democratic Party of Tajikistan
November 4 in front of the Ministry of Justice. Police arrested
Rajabi Mirzo, head of the DPT's Dushanbe chapter and also editor
of the party's newspaper, Adolat. They also arrested Timur
Iskandarov, the younger brother of the party's imprisoned
chairman, Mahmadruzi Iskandarov, and Khairiddin Gulyaev, the
Deputy Head of the DPT's Dushanbe chapter. Media reports say
the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) and the
unregistered faction of the Socialist Party of Tajikistan (SPT)
also helped to organize the protest.
11. (U) Media reports say that five people held banners
protesting the Ministry's decision to recognize the new faction
of the DPT headed by Masud Sobirov. Twenty people gathered in a
show of support at the side of the building. Mirzo alleged that
the party's phones were tapped as only a tight circle of people
knew about the planned protest and informed the media only 30
minutes before the action.
12. (U) The protest which only lasted a few minutes before
police broke it up had been peaceful. According to Tajik law
though, it is illegal to organize a demonstration unless a group
has received permission from the government. The three men have
been detained and sent to a city prison. They will be held for
up to fifteen days.
DUSHANBE 00002033 003 OF 003
POLITICAL PARTIES ABSENT FROM OBSERVATION
13. (U) OSCE/ODIHR and CIS observers were frequently seen
around Dushanbe and out in the regions. Notably, some CIS
observers are able to travel around town using official
government plated vehicles. Several bilateral missions also
have observers including the Chinese and Kazakh Embassies.
14. (SBU) Embassy observers have seen members of the
president's People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) at
several polling station as well as members of the Communist
Party of Tajikistan and the Party of Economic Reform of
Tajikistan. PolOff noted that in Qurgon-Teppa, prior to
election day, a People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan member
confessed that he was told by the government that he was
accredited to observe as a Communist Party member and not as a
PDPT member.
15. (SBU) "Opposition" political parties have been
conspicuously absent from polling stations. Media sources say
the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan has only sent
observers to one or two polling stations, near former chairman
Nuri's home in Dushanbe. Muhiddin Kabiri, the party's current
chairman, has been out of the country during the important
election day and several days leading up to the election.
Embassy observers encountered one Social Democratic Party of
Tajikistan observer, but none from other parties.
16. (U) Polls will officially close at 8:00pm local time, at
which point ballot boxes will be opened, votes counted and the
results sent to the district election commissions and back to
Dushanbe. Both the Commonwealth of Independent States and
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe missions
will give statements at 11:00am and 2:30pm respectively,
November 7 on preliminary findings.
JACOBSON