VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDBU #0042/01 0090457
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090457Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1311
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNS/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQ WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) 
INL/RM (BYRNES) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR EAID MASS PREL KCRM TI
SUBJECT:  Mission Law Enforcement and Stability Goals 
 
¶1. Introduction and Summary: A recent review of the Mission 
Strategic Plan provides a good snapshot of what we achieved in the 
last year and our top priorities looking ahead. This is the first in 
a series of cables to provide a goal by goal look of what Embassy 
Dushanbe is doing. The Border and Law Enforcement Working Group 
(BLEWG) coordinates the work towards the peace and stability goal. 
The BLEWG includes the DCM, POL/ECON, INL/DOJ ICITAP, EXBS, DAO, 
RSO, ODC, DEA, AID, CONS, and Public Affairs. Key goals are to 
disrupt criminal organizations, extend the reach of the national 
government into remote areas, expand rule of law, and promote 
stability. Key achievements in 2008 included improved law 
enforcement coordination, the delivery of effective training, and 
improved infrastructure. Key goals for 2009 include improved 
communication infrastructure, more joint Tajik-Afghan training, and 
demining work. End Intro and Summary. 
Top 2008 Accomplishments 
¶2. Much of our work was directed at achieving better coordination 
among Tajik law enforcement agencies within Tajikistan and more 
joint work with agencies in neighboring countries. With USG support 
and advocacy, the Drug Control Agency and the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs began to share forensics and intelligence technology. We 
linked border posts along Tajik-Afghan border by tactical radio 
communications. Our new initiatives with the State Committee for 
National Security (GKNB)include an agreement to train Afghan Border 
Guard and Law Enforcement officials. Various law enforcement 
agencies, but most notably the State Committee for National 
Security, agreed to create a Joint Intel Center. We negotiated 
agreement on construction and multi-agency use of a National 
Counternarcotics/ Counterterrorism Training Center at Karatog. DEA 
successfully conducted joint Tajik/Afghan Drug enforcement training 
-- the first time we have succeeded in getting Afghans allowed into 
Tajikistan for joint training. We supported one controlled delivery 
and two joint investigations between Tajik and Kyrgyz drug agencies. 
 We secured the establishment of a strategic planning committee to 
guide reform of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 
began curricula review and revision, and conducted an intensive 
summer seminar at the Academy for English language instructors from 
multiple law enforcement agencies. 
¶3. We made significant progress in improving infrastructure and 
working conditions for those on the front lines of border security. 
We increased the use of the Nizhniy Pyanj bridge/port of entry. 
Diplomatic pressure yielded 200 vehicles crossing per day. We 
furnished the existing facilities. We have made progress on 
completing leftover Phase I construction elements and the commercial 
customs facility. We are seeing some cross-border coordination with 
Afghan counterparts. We currently are renovating and equipping the 
GKNB analytical center, Kulma and Kyzyl Art joint border facilities, 
and the Murgab detachment barracks. We completed the Sari Gor border 
outpost.  We overcame obstacles to progress on projects underway in 
Ribhoz, Sayod, Kokul, Shogun and Khirmanjo border posts. 
¶4. We undertook a number of training events in which the units 
successfully demonstrated the benefits of training in later 
operations. The Defense Department completed four 
Counter-narcoterrorism training (CNT) events in 2008. One of the 
units trained, the Border Guard special force group, afterward 
Qunits trained, the Border Guard special force group, afterward 
conducted three successful operational missions resulting in drug 
seizures. We developed counterterrorism capacity within the Ministry 
of Internal Affairs OMON unit used for SWAT and other emergency 
response operations. The MVD's elite Militia Detachment for Special 
Purposes (OMON) drill at the Embassy demonstrated an improved 
anti-terrorist response and confirmed OMON's capacity after a change 
in leadership.  We did follow-on training with ARSOF CNT trainers, 
who were integrated into SOCCENT's CNT strategy. 
¶5. Other achievements included our successful advocacy in the Border 
International Group for OSCE's national border control strategy. Our 
Rule-of-Law initiatives improved the selection and training process 
for judges. We trained both prosecutors and defense attorneys in how 
to ensure balanced trials. We engaged the Islamic University Law 
Center on Shariah and secular law. 
Measuring Tajik Progress 
¶6. In efforts against human trafficking, Tajikistan maintained its 
place on the Tier 2 Watch list. In prosecutions in 2008 there were: 
six cases under TIP Law compared to zero  in 2007; there were six 
recruitment cases, down from 13 in 2007; there were 11 minors cases, 
up from 10 in 2007. While the statistics may not be reliable, the 
criminal justice system is nevertheless applying the new TIP law 
(i.e. six new cases) and increasing public education/awareness 
efforts. Forced cotton labor, which is a form of trafficking, is 
still an issue. There is a forthcoming collaborative project between 
ABA and IOM to advocate improved TIP legislation and a pending 
project with IOM to train law enforcement officials. 
¶7. In narcotics interdiction, according to DCA statistics, there 
were total 775 crimes connected to drugs in 2007 and 603 in 2008. In 
2008, DCA, BG and GKNB increased drug seizures, but seizures 
decreased in the MVD for reasons unknown.  Overall seizures 
increased 11%. There were over 5 metric tons seized in 2008 up from 
4.5 metric tons kg in 2007. In interagency and international 
enforcement cooperation DCA conducted 37 joint operations with 
Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan.  Joint Tajik-Afghan 
counternarcotics cooperation yielded destruction of four large drug 
labs.  Tajik drug liaison officers were deployed to Afghanistan. 
Looking Ahead - Top Goals for 2009 
¶8.  We plan to improve border security by upgrading Border Control 
Points or Border Crossing Points. We have four in progress, three 
planned, and four projected, not counting projects in Murghab. We 
plan to provide alternative energy for critical border 
infrastructure at remote posts.  In a related effort to improve 
communications infrastructure, we will conduct a Harris 
communications survey in the second quarter of FY 09 to expand the 
design and implementation of a system to allow voice/data 
communications by select law enforcement, military and security 
services at the operational and strategic levels, including 
SOCCENT-trained mobile units. 
¶9. Training will continue to be a major activity and will include 
joint Customs Service and Border Guards mentoring and training at 
Nizhniy Pyanj; training for Customs Service and Border Guards at 
border posts, railway crossing points, and railway freight yards 
including active and passive scanning units. We will provide English 
language training (ELT) to multiple agencies, including a four-month 
DoD training team for the Ministry of Defense and the National 
Guard, and will implement ongoing programs to create language 
laboratories in the law enforcement academies.   ELT links 
Tajikistan's law enforcement and security services to the 
international law enforcement and military community and creates the 
necessary platform to teach values such as rights of the accused, 
ethics, anti-corruption, public service, and technical courses such 
as crime scene procedures, chain of evidence, use of informants. Our 
overall CN/CT strategy includes tiered training to multiple military 
and law enforcement units:NG, BG SGSR, GKNB Personal Protection 
Services, MVD OMON, Spetznaz, CT investigation unit] with emphasis 
on train-the-trainer/leader development.  In 2009 we will design and 
begin to implement SOCCENT's National Training Center for U.S. and 
all Tajik law enforcement/military structures with a CN/CT mission. 
We will foster a partnership of the Customs Academy and Federal Law 
Enforcement Training Center and seek to establish a technical 
training branch to do training on interdiction equipment. Finally, 
we will work on ways to better measure the effectiveness of training 
and quantify the impact of training programs. 
¶10. In 2009 we will carry out the Global Peace Operations Initiative 
and support laws, regulations and cadre training needed to deploy a 
professional peacekeeping unit. We expect this project to tie in 
with military reform. We will also:  carry out Explosive Ordinance 
Device (EoD) initiatives; provide demining equipment; implement a 
second phase of bomb tech training with MVD; and, conduct EoD 
officer training. We will continue to work to improve intelligence 
sharing and collaboration among Tajik law enforcement agencies. We 
will launch a major new community policing project with funds 
provided by DOD through S/CRS. 
Major Challenges and Positive New Developments 
 
¶11. The most significant obstacle identified by the team to making 
more progress on this goal included the limited management platform 
in the Embassy to support staff needed to carry and oversee 
projects. The second most significant obstacle was the uneven 
Qprojects. The second most significant obstacle was the uneven 
cooperation and limited capacity in Tajik law enforcement agencies, 
for example the understaffed liaison office of the Tajik Border 
Guards. On the positive side, the establishment of the 
Inter-ministerial Commission on Trafficking in Persons looks to be a 
step forward on TIP issues. President Rahmon's public commitment to 
joint training of Tajiks and Afghan law enforcement officers is an 
opening we intend to pursue. 
JACOBSON