Rahmon’s “Reforms” Continued
When I quipped that Tajikistan President Rahmon was turning into a “Tajik-bashi” some time ago, citing several rather odd reforms of his, readers responded by detailing some of the logic behind those reforms not covered in the Western mainstream media. I still wasn’t completely convinced, but it was at least a better explanation than “he is being possessed by Niyazov’s ghost.”
For instance, Faramarz wrote regarding the new name laws and Rakhmon’s own name change:
He changed his name according to that law so that other people, especially officials follow his example. There is nothing wrong with it, the politics of Tajikistan should have Tajik face, rather than Russian. By the way, until now many bureacrats created obstacles before parents naming their children in traditional way.
And regarding the laws restricting car and cell phone usage:
Nowadays many tajik graduates collect huge money and hire cars and drive around the cities and towns with no order, violating all norms and rules, last year five graduates died in an accident west of Dushanbe, tajik Capital.
A recent Eurasianet article takes a rather dim view of even more reforms, ranging from the attempted elimination of buzkashi to more restrictions on social activities:
[A] newly adopted law – titled On Squaring Traditions and Rites – [] imposes strict limitations on the scope and expenses allowed for ceremonies concerning life and death. The Asia Plus weekly recently published extracts of the new law. Article 8, for example, states that Tajik citizens can celebrate their birthdays only within their families, adding that any festivities must occur between the hours of 10 am and 11 pm on weekends, or from 6 pm to 11 pm on weekdays. It concludes by mandating that birthday celebrations last no more than three hours.
The government’s position is that these restrictions will take the pressure off citizens to impoverish themselves by spending too much on customary activities. (There actually is evidence that customs such as paying for funerals, dowries, etc. are a serious cause of impoverishment.) The Eurasianet article, on the other hand, argues that the reforms constitute excessive government intervention and open up new opportunities for corruption - and it is sort of difficult not to agree with that argument, especially the corruption part.
This post ends with a question: Are there just motives for this continued, arguably excessive legislation that I am missing? Or is Tajikistan beginning to slide down the path of arbitrary and invasive decree paved by Turkmenistan?
on June 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 am
“Tajik citizens can celebrate their birthdays only within their families, adding that any festivities must occur between the hours of 10 am and 11 pm on weekends, or from 6 pm to 11 pm on weekdays. It concludes by mandating that birthday celebrations last no more than three hours.”
This is ridiculous! No one is going to abide to these laws. It might however provide an excuse for those who can’ t afford celebrations.
on June 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 am
Probably the columnist Ted Roll gives a good answer to these questions:
on June 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 am
Tajik Boy, why are you so sure that no one is going to abide to these laws? It is not going to happen in one day but if president Rahmon continues frequently passing the “bashi” laws, and enforce them with the help of law enforcement agencies which are becoming more repressive, finally Tajiks will end up living in “bashistan” and all these rules will be abided, whether they want it or not.
on June 25th, 2007 at 7:18 am
So, if the Pres is going down the path of banning akin to the deceased “bashi,” should we expect an introduction of “Tajik Ruhnoma” to our school curricula and/or the rediculous name change of the weekdays?
on June 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Dancing Dervish
Mmmm, The Tajik Ruhnoma actually seems classy from a bashi point of view, but as someone once said “theres no money in morality” so I guess if some of those big daddies up there find this fiscalisation as a way of earning money and if these motives are used as other corruptive measures for bribery, then I guess in the end the Tajik Ruhnoma won’t really be so class an idea after all
Tajikbashi - as long as bribery exists, noone will live in Bashistan - want it or not - people will always find a way of earning more and buying their way out of these absurd bashi-laws. The “kurpacha-ba nigoh karda poyata daroz kun” -age is over.
I agree that it can be a good means of excusing oneself for not having a lavish celebration.