AMNESTY CONDITIONALLY GRANTED TO TAJIK OPPOSITION FIGHTERS.

At President Imomali Rahmonov’s initiative, the parliament of Tajikistan has approved a general amnesty for fighters of the opposition forces. Eligible for this amnesty are the approximately 5,300 to 5,500 fighters who have registered with government authorities and assembled at predesignated sites, awaiting demobilization or incorporation into government forces. The measure also covers the political and military prisoners held by the government. Opposition fighters who have declined to join the official screening process are not covered by the amnesty.

Rahmonov and the parliament acted after opposition leader Saidabdullo Nuri gave them twenty days to take that long overdue step. Originally stipulated in the 1997 pacification agreements, the general amnesty is one of many measures which were supposed to prepare the holding of general elections and a constitutional referendum by the end of 1998. The process runs well behind schedule. On May 15, the United Nations Security Council urged Tajikistan to hold the elections by the end of 1999. However, the conditions for holding elections are not yet in sight (Itar-Tass, AP, May 15-16).

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