DUSHANBE, April 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On April 25, leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), visited the Qushteppa jamoat (community) in Roudaki district to discuss with local residents the house demolition situation there.  Representatives from local authorities also attended the meeting.

“Judging by documents residents of the Pervoye Maya settlement have, they received lands for housing in accordance with decisions local authorities’ decisions,” Kabiri told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“In this connection, I as member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon will apply to the Majlisi Namoyandagon leadership with solicitation to set up a special commission to study legality of demolition of houses in the settlement,” said Kabiri, “I will insist on inclusion of representatives from local authorities, prosecutor’s office, parliament, diplomatic missions and media as well as residents of the settlement into the commission,” Kabiri noted.

He considers that illegal demolition of houses may undermine people’s trust in the country’s authorities.

“If mistakes were made by representatives of local authorities during allotment of land plots for housing in this settlement, the authorities should admit this and punish local officials responsible for illegal allotment of lands in the settlement and pay compensations to those whose house were demolished,” Kabiri noted.

We will recall that residents of the Pervoye May settlement have staged a protest against the imminent demolition of their homes, which the government says were built illegally.

Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda says all houses in the settlement were built illegally because Tajik law prohibits building residential property on agricultural or irrigated land.  He said people living in Qushteppa were warned last year not to build further houses and to relinquish plots of land they had occupied illegally.  As a result, he added, they cannot claim compensation for the homes or the property.  According to him, almost all the Pervoye May settlement residents acquired plots of land illegally because none were Roudaki residents.

On February 21, some 30 women from this settlement staged a protest outside the presidential palace in Dushanbe against the unannounced demolition of their homes.  They said some 50 newly built houses were destroyed, and officials warned they will also demolish older homes in the area, while the majority of them have all necessary documents, including land certificates.  However, local authorities in Roudaki district are continuing to demolish houses in the Pervoye Maya settlement.