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Friday, 25 April 2003

TAJIK PARTY CALLS FOR CANCELLATION OF REFERENDUM

Published in News Digest

By empty (4/25/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Saying that if Tajikistan\'s Constitution can be changed so can decisions of the parliament, the Tajik Democratic Party has issued a statement calling for the cancellation of the referendum on constitutional amendments scheduled for June. The Majlisi Namoyandagon (parliament) approved holding the referendum on a series of amendments that are supposed to modernize the constitution but which have generated a storm on the political scene. The most controversial of the amendments would lift the restriction that a president may serve only one seven-year term in office.
Saying that if Tajikistan\'s Constitution can be changed so can decisions of the parliament, the Tajik Democratic Party has issued a statement calling for the cancellation of the referendum on constitutional amendments scheduled for June. The Majlisi Namoyandagon (parliament) approved holding the referendum on a series of amendments that are supposed to modernize the constitution but which have generated a storm on the political scene. The most controversial of the amendments would lift the restriction that a president may serve only one seven-year term in office. Various opposition figures and political commentators have made dire predictions about the probable effect of the referendum and the proposed amendments on the still-fragile peace in the country. The Democratic Party statement repeats these fears and notes that since the majority of voters will be unable to participate in the referendum because they are outside the country, their constitutional rights will be violated. The statement adds that some of the proposed amendments contradict one another and asserts that if the president and parliament do not accept the Democratic Party\'s proposals, its leadership will call on party members and supporters not to vote in the referendum. (Asia Plus-Blitz)
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