DUSHANBE, August 14, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Some 200 entrepreneurs that were affected by an August 13 fire have appealed to President Emomali Rahmon.  

In an open letter released to the president, the entrepreneurs, in particular, claimed that the Korvon market fire had been arson and their commodities stored in special containers and warehouses had been stolen by unknown persons before the fire.

The letter notes that electricity supplies to the market are cut off every day at 4:00 p.m., and therefore, the fire could not be caused by an electrical malfunction.

According to them, the market administration two months ago took receipts from them that the market not bear responsibility for safety of their commodities in case of fire.  The entrepreneur asked the president to order the relevant agencies to thoroughly investigate into the incident.  

The entrepreneurs also asked the president for assistance with solving the issue of rehabilitation of their shops and exempting them from paying taxes during two years.  

“Over the past two year, several fires have occurred at the market; however, those to blame for the fires have not been detected and no distinct explanations of reasons for the fires have been given,” one of the entrepreneurs, Ms. Mahina Umarova said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  

As it had been reported earlier, the fire broke out at Dushanbe’s largest merchandise market, Korvon, on August 13 early in the morning, at around 1:00 a.m.  The fire destroyed an area of 2,100 square meters.  Fortunately, no casualties were reported.   Entrepreneurs working with the market said that the fire had destroyed some 60 containers and two warehouses, causing damage for hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

A special operation group is currently working in the fire site and the cause of the fire is under investigation.