TAJIKISTAN'S RASHT VALLEY CALM-- FOR THE TIME BEING?

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000180

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PREL, PGOV, PINR, SNAR, TI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FOR SCA CEN
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S RASHT VALLEY CALM-- FOR THE TIME BEING?

REF: A. A. Dushanbe 0139

B. B. Dushanbe 0162


1. (SBU) Summary: Despite serving as the headquarters of the
Islamist opposition during the Tajik Civil War, PolOffs
encountered a quiet Rasht Valley during their January 22-24
visit. Local government leaders argued Islamic extremism did
not exist in Rasht, due to the "increased religiosity" of its
people and its distance from the Uzbek border. However, the
potential for extremism exists if the region does not achieve
economic development and receive international assistance,
particularly for health care. End Summary.

EXTREME FAITH WITHOUT EXTREMISM


2. (SBU) Muhammadsharif Tolibov, Chairman of the Rasht
District, told PolOff the Rasht Valley did not have any problems
with Islamic extremism. By contrast, he posited, the Sughd
Region was fighting extremism due to its close proximity to the
Uzbek border, which facilitates the movement of people and funds
to and from Uzbekistan. Further, the Rasht people are observant
Muslims who would not take to such excessive expression of their
religion.


3. (SBU) Hoji Qurbon Barotov, imam of the Garm Friday praying
mosque, the largest in Rasht Valley, claimed he enjoyed good
relations with the government and occasionally traveled with
local government representatives to surrounding villages to
explain government policies and discuss the dangers of
extremism. Many local religious leaders receive their religious
education outside of Tajikistan, particularly in Saudi Arabia
and Pakistan. He admitted that exposure to different sects of
Islam sometimes created friction with local leaders after their
return home. (Note: Baratov serves as the regional coordinator
for the imams of all mosques in Jirgatol, Tajikobod, Nurobod,
Tavildara and Rasht districts. Approximately 20-25 people
worship daily at his mosque, and close to 1,000 every Friday.
In an unusual display of entrepreneurship, he built a small
power station at his mosque, which includes a generator, and
sells energy to his neighbors to generate proceeds for his
mosque. End Note.)


4. (SBU) Junaydullo Niyozov, the Prosecutor of Rasht District,
confirmed that extremism posed no threat to Rasht's stability.
He stated that his region was very calm overall, and that 96
percent of local crimes had been solved in 2006. The only two
"serious" crimes had been a woman who killed her illegitimate
child, and a man who killed his sister for having a child out of
wedlock.

CALM BUT DESPERATE


5. (SBU) Tolibov requested U.S. health care assistance. A
sufficient number of specialists worked in the region, but they
lacked modern equipment to care for patients. Garm's hospital
was responsible for treating people from 152 different villages,
but lacked a way to transport people to and from the hospital.
He specifically queried potential U.S. assistance in providing a
new ambulance which could serve patients located in rural areas.
Tolibov then claimed Rasht does not have a high-level of drug
use or HIV cases, since people were more religious than other
parts of the country, and abstained from illegal activities as a
result.


6. (SBU) Comment: The request for health care assistance
echoes comments heard during trips to Khujand and Isfara. Post
plans to provide the contact information for two health-care
assistance implementing partners, NGO's Project Hope and
Counterpart. While the U.S. government will likely be unable to
meet their medical needs, sending even a small amount of
supplies would be a positive first step.


7. (SBU) The Embassy's humanitarian assistance partners
occasionally deliver medicines and medical supplies to the
region. Post will endeavor to better publicize such deliveries.
This kind of assistance, with an American face on it, will make
it more difficult for an unemployed, poor youth to believe
anti-U.S. extremist propaganda that the U.S. government is
waging a war against Islam. While none of the above individuals
would admit that a problem with extremism existed, all
recognized the potential for radicalism, should the government
prove unable to improve the economic situation for their
citizens. End Comment.

JACOBSON