Review of press in Tajikistan on parliamentary elections

February 19-22

Promotion tour of chairman of CPT

Information agency Asia-Plus reported that chairman of Communist Party of RT Shodi Shabdolov visited the city of Kulob during his election propaganda tour to Khatlon region. Main purpose of the visit is study of election campaign in Kulob and in entire region. As A-P correspondent in Kulob was informed by Shodi Shabdolov himself, this visit is to show support to the candidate of the city organization of Communist Party – Jumakhon Sharifov, Professor of State Pedagogical University of Kulob. At the meeting with electorate, Shodi Shabdolov paid special attention to the issue of activity of communists in the new parliament, and expressed hope that the people still sympathize with Communist Party. "It inspires confidence in victory in forthcoming elections".

Elections – 2000: A step towards democracy?

Newspaper Najot published an article by A.Suhrob, in which the author asserts that the current election campaign differs from previous elections. By his opinion, leaders of all kinds do not have now the advantages that they had in Soviet time. The author explains it with the strict law requirements to bosses of all levels. The other positive side of the forthcoming elections, by opinion of the author, is the large number of women among pretenders. He expresses confidence that elections of 2000 will undoubtedly be another step towards democracy in Tajikistan.

Experts from Japan to monitor parliamentary elections in RT

Information agency Asia-Plus reported that the government of Japan intends to send its representatives to Dushanbe to monitor the elections of parliament. By information of Central Commission for Elections and Referendum, the group of observers will be headed by former minister of foreign affairs of Japan Keidzo Takemi. The agency refers to information of Radio Japan, which said that the government of Japan had been lately giving the priority to development of economic and political relations with all countries of Central Asia.

Peculiarities of party lists

Newspaper Vecherni Dushanbe published an article by Salima Vahobzade, in which the author tried to analyze the lists of candidates of political parties by national ballot. By opinion of the author, the parties, with the purpose of attracting votes, included in the lists renowned people, and list of each party has its specific features. For example, the Socialist Party included two famous singers. The lists of Adolatkhoh included many representatives of the parties and movements that were not registered for parliamentary elections. The list of Islamic Revival Party includes many women. The Communist Party, by opinion of the author, had not proposed a single ordinary Communist. The list of People’s Democratic Party has many high-level persons.

PDPT will win the elections

Narodnaya Gazeta – the printed media of government of RT published the article by V.Vorobiyov, in which the author expressed assurance that PDPT will win an impressive victory at the elections. The Communist Party and the Islamic Revival Party will follow. The perspectives of other parties, by opinion of the author, are not clear. The current election campaign is estimated as a more calm compared to campaign of 1995. Though, by opinion of the author, some facts of pressure upon voters already had taken place. As the example, the author referred to the explosions in the city on February 7, bombing of the city bus on February 2, etc.

Monitoring of events in the campaigning for parliamentary elections in Tajikistan

The main conflict situations in election campaign in Tajikistan were related to the moments of nominating and registering the candidates. Especially much disagreement was connected to the work of election commissions. By opinion of opposition politicians, the elections commissions did not observe the principle of openness in their work, they were overly demanding to some pretenders and too liberal to others, etc. Many influential opposition politicians were denied registration. Among them are the former pretender to the post of president Saifiddin Turayev, chairman of the abolished party Adolat Va Tarakkiyot Rahmatillo Zohirov, chairman of the banned Agrarian party Hikmatullo Zohirov, etc. The Central Election Commission also cancelled registration of former chairman of National Bank Kayum Kavmiddinov, and explained that the latter violated the norms of election propaganda. Especially large conflict was caused by the fact that the election commissions registered just 12 persons out of 31 as candidates. The main reason for denying registration is violation of rules for collecting signatures in support. At present, the Supreme Court is considering the claims of unregistered pretenders against election commission. These cases do not increase popularity of the commissions. For example, it would be difficult to believe that Saifiddin Turayev would not be able to gather five hundred votes in his support, while he gathered dozens of thousands votes in November of 1999. Many claims and complaints were considered by election commissions and by courts with obvious violation of term defined by the law. It is only natural that the election commissions do not enjoy trust of people, even those who are loyal to the current power.

Such mistrust to election commissions is caused by the following factors. First of all, they consist of people either depending on the power or loyal to it. Until now the protocol was not implemented on the 20% representation at election commission of members of United Tajik Opposition. Besides, most of election commissions are located in premises of Hukumats of cities and districts, which already causes doubt in their independence.

Many problems were caused by the imperfect election legislation. The new law on elections defined that financing of all promotion activities should be financed only by the government. Since the allocations were miserable, many political parties and candidates began complaining on shortage of funds. As a result, the Central Election Commission decided on direct violation of law through use of non-budget funds. The parties were allowed to use up to TR4 million, and independent candidates – up to TR500,000.

Some candidates ran into open pressure by criminal elements. For example, unknown persons threatened Safarmamad Rustamov and his relatives; as a result, the latter refused o continue the campaign. Obviously, the notorious attempt to life of Mayor of Dushanbe Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev is also related to the elections. However, most of such facts had not been published, by various reasons.