TAJIKISTAN: STRIKE A BLOW AGAINST DRUGS

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001381 SIPDIS INL/AAE (BUHLER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: STRIKE A BLOW AGAINST DRUGS ¶1. Summary: INL Dushanbe in conjunction with the Karate-do Federation of Tajikistan conducted the 5th International Sato Tecuo Karate-do tournament under the motto "Strike a Blow Against Drugs". The Federation conducted the INL-sponsored tournament in Dushanbe on October 25-26. The tournament launched a larger peer-to-peer demand reduction program which includes karate champions' outreach to young people in selected schools to provide a demonstration of the sport as well as deliver an anti-drug message, and an essay competition among junior high and high school students. The winners of the contest receive free karate or English lessons. End summary. ¶3. The essay competition which asked students to answer the question "Why Drugs Are Evil" was announced widely in the national news papers and on the radio. An interagency embassy committee selected the four best essays and winners were announced by DCM Necia Quast at the karate tournament. The four successful essay authors received prizes including a free self-defense course conducted by one of the karate champions or English lessons from a local NGO. ¶4. (SBU) After the tournament, INL arranged for champions of the International Karate-do tournament to travel to selected schools in the largest cities of Tajikistan to promote a healthy and drug-free lifestyle through karate-do performance and interaction with schoolchildren. Karate champions will speak on the negative aspects of drug use and serve as positive role-models for leading a drug-free lifestyle. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: INL Dushanbe will continue to use sports themes to stop drug addiction at its source by bringing drug demand reduction information to young people in their schools. The program draws on demand reduction data assembled under a previous USAID project and complements other U.S. counter-narcotics initiatives aimed at improvements in traditional narcotics interdiction and law enforcement institution-building. JACOBSON