US embassy cable - 05DUSHANBE1867

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001867 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, TI, Internal Politics 
SUBJECT: AGRARIAN PARTY OF TAJIKISTAN:  ANOTHER POCKET PARTY FOR 
RAHMONOV 
 
REF: DUSHANBE 1855 
 
1.  The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) is the brainchild of 
its Chairman, Amir Karakulov, or so he insists.  Karakulov, a 
former member of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, decided 
three years ago that he would like to form his own party to 
protect farmers' rights.  A self-proclaimed Soviet-Era man, he 
was the former (1972-1988) Deputy Minister of Agriculture.  He 
has served as Director of the Cattle Farmer's Institute since 
1989, and is also the Vice Rector of the Tajik Agriculture 
Academy. 
 
2.  The new APT claims to be an independent party fighting to 
protect the agricultural population's rights.  However, in a 
meeting with PolOff November 23, Karakulov stated his party 
respects Rahmonov, and he will personally support him because 
Rahmonov brought stability to the country.  With its small 
membership, APT will not put forth a candidate in next year's 
presidential elections.  Karakulov allied the party with the 
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) and the newly 
formed Party of Economic Reform (reftel).  He added he respects 
all other parties' goals and ideas and would even like to 
cooperate with them, but does not want his party to be divisive 
or provocative. 
 
3.  The APT's primary agenda includes poverty reduction, 
agrarian workers' rights, and creating an agricultural industry 
that is competitive with foreign companies.  Karakulov argued 
the government should pave the way for land privatization, 
structure SMEs around agriculture, and set policies to attract 
foreign investment.  He insisted that Tajikistan must have a 
permanent agro-industrial base.  The nation's political 
independence depends on its agricultural independence and food 
security.  He appreciated American grain and seed donations, but 
said Tajikistan needs aid for development, including new 
American technology and assistance in scientific research. 
 
4.  The Ministry of Justice registered the APT on November 15 
with members from every district in Tajikistan.  Karakulov, in 
response to criticisms his party is a "pocket party," insisted 
on showing PolOff the membership registration sheet with all 
1300 names, addresses, and telephone numbers.  He claimed that 
the Ministry of Justice took one month to inspect the entire 
membership.  Karakulov let slip an anecdote that the APT already 
had targeted members and simply asked farmers to sign on the 
dotted line.  One farmer, fearing government retribution, asked 
if this party was for or against Rahmonov.  The APT told him the 
party supported Rahmonov so that he would sign. 
 
5.  The majority of APT's members are farmers and peasants, but 
the upper echelon are agriculture specialists.  Karakulov was 
elected Chairman during the October 1 party congress.  The party 
has three deputies in the Sughd region, Khatlon, and Dushanbe, 
37 elected central committee members, and seven staff. 
Membership fees range from 50 diram to one somoni (or 16 to 30 
U.S. cents).  APT plans to fund operations by soliciting 
entrepreneurs, landowners and businessmen as sponsors. 
 
6.  COMMENT:   A subdued and complacent party such as the APT is 
precisely the type of "pocket party" Rahmonov would welcome to 
give the appearance of political diversity but really to 
guarantee his support and supposed legitimacy.   Karakulov's 
admission that members were recruited and targeted takes away 
from the independence of his political movement.  The party's 
membership solicitation style, broad platform, political 
compadres, and Karakulov's current government position and 
former membership in the CPT (another PDPT ally) all point to 
APT being an attempt by the government to manage the political 
system by providing the illusion of a multi-party coalition 
behind President Rahmonov.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND 
 
 
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