The Tajik realities
One could find common features in most of the important events taking place in Tajikistan’s life. Most of the policy changes are done through either prohibition of something, displacement of officials or criminalization of some types of activities.
Just in the last couple of months we were witnesses of some decrees that forbade having the “ABC book holiday” for schoolchildren just starting their study “journey” and the “Last bell” ceremonies and proms for those who are to graduate from schools. These are events that are usually long awaited by schoolchildren and are mostly filled with joy and proud of either successfully finishing their “first book” or graduating from school after having spent their 10 years of their life. These are events that seem to be worth marking and the ones that school children do have right to celebrate.
In addition to that, the amount of people to be invited to the weddings is also now regulated by the law. People now cannot invite more people to the wedding than is stipulated by the law which is 150 persons. For traditionally extended families of Tajik people this may feel particularly strange and unusual.
Supposedly, the goal of the decree is to reduce the amount of money spent by the population to the above mentioned festivities and instead use them for education and other “more useful” purposes.
However, such measure may potentially become one more stimulus for corruption activities and not have real impact on people’s welfare and level of education afterwards. It diminishes citizens’ ability to create the society where they rule instead of being ruled over like in the 18th century caliphate!
As far as dismissals are concerned, according to Asia-Plus in the end of July, the city administration decided to establish the “recommended prices” to the essential goods, in the markets, including meat. As a result the “favorable” prices were set but the meat itself has disappeared from the counters: the merchants simply refused to sell their goods at the “recommended prices”. In their turn authorities responded by dismissing heads of the five main markets of Dushanbe. Similar situations took place in the past and still do when the Heads of Governmental Institutions are also dismissed for not having “fulfilled” their duties.
As for criminalization tactic, every journalist by now is aware of the new Media draft law submitted to the president for approval. The Law envisages criminal measure against defamation and slandering in the internet media.
One can already observe the circumstances of this initiative when following the case of three journalists who commented on the performance of a singer Raihona Rahimova in Afghanistan after which the singer appealed with a writ to the capital’s prosecution office resulting in initiating of the criminal proceedings against the journalists.
Does this mean now that journalists will be prosecuted for the job they do? I hope not. Otherwise, Tajikistan will gradually take one of the first places in the world among the countries with the lowest level of freedom of speech and get the lowest human rights indicators which in its turn will result in the decrees of the investment flow as well as the overall image of the country.
on August 23rd, 2007 at 12:07 am
Sometimes I think that our people are so narrow minded that 15 years of freedom hasn’t even given them a slightest idea of the world around them.
All these measures remind me of the old soviet system, which I am sure are best examples of how the government should function for many of those who are run the country.
Is that all you can do guys? Come on! Nomi Kulobihora past nazanen…
My advice: Let the smart people who can contribute do their job and watch the country flourish!
These cookie-cutter approaches won’t do any good. READ A.Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” and think about what I just said.
Seriously guys, you embarrass me!
on August 24th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Madina, you are making point here.. good one,, but what do you want to say with “However, such measure may potentially become one more stimulus for corruption activities and not have real impact on people’s welfare and level of education afterwards. It diminishes citizens’ ability to create the society where they rule instead of being ruled over like in the 18th century caliphate!”"”"??? to my mind this gives limit to the right of children for celebration, but what about the financial impact of it for their parents? I think it is a little, but at least a certain relief.. it is something… now I uderstand corruption is not an easy issue to fight but look at our isolation, and what can we offer to afford a better outside contribution or internally to pay officials more to do it right here,, i still think, there is need in “being ruled” and becoming a some kind of Zimbabwe, but still keeping at leat peace till the next gneration takes over…
on September 1st, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Sam,
Thanks for your comment. However, if all of us will be waiting for the “next” generation to take over, nothing is going to change for the better. And by saying this, I do not mean acting and calling for a war or anything like that.
It has been more than 10 years since the peace has been established in our country and I praise God for that, but it is time now to grow and make things work in our country! Something has to be done and I don’t think it will do any better if everything is done the way it is being done presently in our society by the “сильные мира сего”.
And as for the impact on parents’ financial situation, to my mind this is something to be decided by the PARENTS themselves, they don’t have to make the celebration of graduation ceremonies and the “first book” days the way that would make them not have anything to live on for the next half a year or so. This is all about the way children are brought up by THE PARENTS and has NOTHING to do with the state forbidding the celebration of these events.
And our State is poor not because we don’t have resources to live a better life or because of our isolation (which I agree has its own impact on overall situation of the country) but because the whole attitude and mentality needs to be reviewed.
Thanks again for the comment though….