DUSHANBE, March 11, Asia-Plus — Three Tajik opposition parties – Democratic, Social-Democratic and Socialist (Mirhusein Narziyev-run wing) parties – released today a joint statement entitled “On the Crisis Situation in Tajikistan and Ways out of this Situation.”
The statement, in particular, says that the parties are seriously concerned over the present political and socioeconomic situation in the country.
There is no any sphere of public and state life that has an opportunity to normally function, while bureaucratic system, legal nihilism, crime and corruption have fertile ground for flourishing, the statement said.
As one of ways out of the crisis situation, the parties suggest that a referendum should be held on making amendments to the country’s Constitution.
They, in particular, offer expanding the number and powers of deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) due to reducing powers of the executive branch of the power.
They also suggest that functions of control over the system of the executive power, including the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption and the Prosecutor-General’s Office, should be handed over to the parliament.
The mentioned parties call for radically changing personnel policy and stopping selection and placing of personnel on the principles of regionalism, clan system and personal loyalty.
They also demand that an inquest into activities of the ministries and organizations should be ordered and heads of ministries, whose incapacity and negligence caused irreplaceable damage to the population, should be made answerable for that.
The statement demands that a transparent and critical report on all international humanitarian aid, loans and grants provided to the country and targeted use of them should be prepared and submitted for consideration to the public.
In the meantime, the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) refused to join this statement. The IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri said, “They did not invite use to take part in preparation of that document.” He stressed that even the president himself, speaking at the government session in late January, admitted that the situation is critical. “Moreover, we do not improve our image by criticizing the government,” Mr. Kabiri said, stressing that the IRPT as “constructive opposition” will help the government find solution to existing problems.
The Communist Party (CPT) also did not join the mentioned statement. Ismoil Talbakov, Secretary of the CPT Central Committee, noted that the CPT has different goals than representatives from those parties. “The Communist Party has its representatives in the parliament and it will promote its programs through the parliament.”
