DUSHANBE, October 14, 2010, Asia-Plus – Representatives of the government met today in Gharm, the administrative center of Rasht district with former opposition commanders Shoh Iskandarov and Mirzokhouja Ahmadov.

One of local residents told Asia-Plus the meeting began today publicly at the bridge at the entrance to Gharm and then continued in the building of local house of culture.  According to him, Shukurjon Zuhurov, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), who is in Rasht on a working visit, also attended the meeting.

“We have seen Shoh Iskandarov in the district regularly for already several days.  It is said that it was Shoh Iskandarov that persuaded Ahmadov to surrender and lay down arms in exchange for full amnesty,” the source said.  According to him, many residents of Gharm saw Mirzokhouja Ahmadov going out of the building of local administration in the afternoon and greeting people.  “He said he want people to see that he returned in peace,” the local resident said.   

Tajik law enforcement authorities refused to comment on the information saying that the negotiations’ results would become known in the evening.  “As soon as official information is prepared, you will be informed,” the source at one of the country’s power-wielding structures said.

In the meantime, informal sources say that one of the key conditions for truce is laying down weapons within two days in exchange for full protection against criminal proceedings for destabilization of the situation in Rasht.

We will recall that Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 12 that President Emomali Rahmon has offered full amnesty to all armed insurgents fighting government troops in Rasht on the condition they declare a cease-fire.