DUSHANBE, June 13, Asia-Plus — Bill requiring amendments to the RT Law “On Veterans” has caused lively discussions among deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
Abdumannon Kholiqov, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Public Order, Defense and Security, presenting the bill has noted that amendments made to the law provide for excluding article on tax privileges for veterans from the law as this article is in contrary with the country’s tax code, adopted in 2004. Under this article veterans are exempted from paying five of seventeen taxes.
A regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the third convocation presided over by its chairman, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on June 13.
Speaking to journalists before the sitting, Kholiqov noted that those contradictions between the law on veterans and the tax code should be removed.
Asked about the possibility of making changes to the tax code, Tajik MP noted that firstly, the law should be brought into compliance with the tax code and only after that, amendments can be made to the tax code.
According to him, amendments to the law on veterans will be effective beginning on January 1, 2008 and in the remaining five months to January 1, 2008 the government will manage to prepare amendments to the tax code and veterans will retain their privileges.
Tajik MP also leader of Tajik Communists Shodi Shabdolov expressed his disagreement with the bill.
“It is disgraceful that veterans of war, Heroes of the Soviet Union and full holders of the Glory Order, are deprived of these privileges,” said Shabdolov, “At present only one Hero of the Soviet Union and one full holder of the Glory Order live in Tajikistan.” “In 1994, heads of state from 12 CIS states signed a special agreement, under which all veterans of war and labor will enjoy all privileges that they had had in the Soviet time,” said Shabdolov, “Moreover, it meant that privileges will not reduce and the heads of state undertook that they will take it into consideration in the laws”
Today, when all countries have their own laws on veterans, Tajik lawyers interpret these amendments incorrectly, according to him. “By the way, when were adopting the law on veterans, the resolution passed by the Majlisi Namoyandagon pointed to the necessity of bringing the country’s legislation into compliance with the law on veterans,” said Shabdolov, “But even ten years later, this was not done.” He called the bill “flouting at rights of veterans.” If the public keeps silent veterans may be deprived of all their privileges, according to Shabdolov.
However, of 57 deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon attending the session, only 11 voted against the bill and six others abstained from voting.
