TAJIK REGIME ACTIVATES SATELLITE PARTY.

At its congress just held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s People’s Party defined its role as "supporting the legitimate authorities" while criticizing their possible "erroneous steps," but "without discrediting them." The party favors a multi-party system, but cautions against private ownership and an "uncontrolled market economy." Party leader Abdulajid Dostiev is a vice-chairman of Tajikistan’s parliament. (Interfax, April 1)

No Laughing Matter?