UZBEKISTAN: "THE MAHALLA," PILLAR OF UZBEK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001266 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SOCI PHUM UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: "THE MAHALLA," PILLAR OF UZBEK SOCIETY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Mahallas are a uniquely Uzbek social unit that serves as an intermediary between government and citizen. In a recent meeting the chairman of the Charitable Fund "Mahalla" described the role of the mahallas in Uzbek society and the work of his non-governmental fund. Both a charitable organization and a possible instrument of state control, the mahallas play a key role in organizing Uzbek society at the local level. Elections for Mahalla leadership get underway starting November 1. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On October 30 the Ambassador paid a visit to Anvar Akhmedov, Chairman of the Republican Council of Aksakals and the Charitable Fund "Mahalla." A mechanical engineer by training and a former deputy khokim (mayor) of Tashkent, Akhmedov told the Ambassador about the role of the mahalla -- an institution unique to Uzbekistan -- and the work carried out by the charitable fund he heads. THE MAHALLA IN UZBEK SOCIETY -------------- ¶3. (U) Mahallas are social institutions that were first mentioned in 10th century chronicles. The closest analogy in contemporary U.S. culture are neighborhood "block associations," but in Uzbek culture the mahallas have at times played a much more important role than their loose American counterpart. The latest revival of the mahallas dates from Uzbek independence in 1991. Incorporated into the official structure of Uzbek society by a 1993 law on self-governance, the mahallas today serve as an intermediary between individual citizens and the instruments of governmental power. At present there are 9067 mahallas in Uzbekistan, 474 of them in the city of Tashkent. ¶4. (U) Each mahalla is headed by an "aksakal" or, in literal translation from Uzbek, a "white beard." Historically the aksakal was a village elder, but today an aksakal can be a much younger member of the community, and some aksakals are women. Under a 2003 election law, aksakals are elected to two and a half year terms. The next round of nation-wide mahalla elections will begin on November 1; both vetting of candidates and the elections themselves will run through December. Being an aksakal is a full-time job, and aksakals therefore receive government salaries, as do some of their advisers. The mahallas receive operating funds from the local government. ¶5. (U) The role of the mahalla in the community is wide-ranging. The aksakal serves as an arbiter in domestic disputes and reinforces Uzbek family values that place preservation of the family above all other goals. When a wedding or other large family celebration takes place, the mahalla makes arrangements and even provides money if a family does not have sufficient means. It provides help to newlyweds and invalids, and it petitions the local municipal government on behalf of the community. The local government, in its turn, comes to the mahalla when it needs to enlist community support for government projects. CHARITABLE FUND "MAHALLA" -------------- ¶6. (U) The Charitable Fund "Mahalla" is a nationwide organization with offices in each province and many regions. Officially a non-governmental organization, the Fund has an annual operating budget of about 8-9 billion soum (USD 6-6.6 million) that it gathers from corporate sponsors (e.g., cell phone operator MTS) and from individuals who donate their work on two annual "khashars" (voluntary work TASHKENT 00001266 002 OF 002 Saturdays). The Fund reportedly receives no government funding. ¶7. (U) The Fund provides monetary assistance to individual mahallas when local government funding is insufficient. In particular, the Fund steps in to assist in the aftermath of natural disasters and to provide support to the neediest members of society. It also funds summer recreation and vacation programs for youth and programs that reinforce "Uzbek values." COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Akhmedov opened the meeting by saying this was the first time any Ambassador posted to Tashkent had paid him a visit. He clearly took great pride in describing the role of the mahallas and of the fund that he heads. He took particular pride in the upcoming Mahalla elections. ¶9. (SBU) Akhmedov avoided talking about the more intrusive and controlling aspects of the mahallas. For example, there have been complaints from some Uzbek women that mahallas force them to remain in abusive marriages for the sake of family preservation. Also, it is clear that the mahallas can serve as a vehicle to collect and pass on information on individual citizens. Nevertheless, the mahalla is a uniquely Uzbek social institution that anyone interested in working at the grass roots level in Uzbekistan needs to appreciate and understand. NORLAND