DUSHANBE, July 2, 2008, Asia-Plus — Visit of a government commission led by Interior Minister Mahmadnazar Solehov to Khorog, Gorno Badakhshan following rallies protesting news that the government had sent additional troops to the region has promoted stabilization of the situation in the region, Imomnazar Imomnazarov, one of local informal leaders and former field commander of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in Gorno Badakhshan, said.
He highly appraised a protocol of intention signed in Khorog on July 1. “The minister of interiors has held meetings with former field commanders and the public in Khorog and that was a wise thing of him to do,” said Imomnazarov, “Thereby, he has removed a serious threat to security of the country.”
“However, the risk of recurrence of such protests in any region of the country will remain high until the situation in the social sphere and the situation with observance of laws improve,” Imomnazarov said, noting that the main reason for the “Khorog crisis” was administrative dereliction and the fact that local authorities have little to do with problems facing the population.
On the issue of collection of illegally possessed weapons from the local population, Imomnazarov said, “We have already handed over all illegally possessed weapons and rendered assistance with collection of weapons from the Khorog population.”
“However, if cases of illegal possession of arms are revealed, we will see the weapons handed over to the law enforcement agencies within established time.” “We do not need arms,” said Imomnazarov, “We have never counted on weapons; we have always relied on support of the people and supremacy of law.”
