SOUTHERN TAJIK REGION, MUTINOUS COLONEL JOIN FORCES.

Residents of the southern town of Kurgon-Tepe yesterday continued a week-long protest rally — apparently encouraged by Col. Mahmud Hudoiberdiev — demanding the restoration of Kurgon-Tepe region and its secession from the Hatlon region. Hudoiberdiev, whose rapid deployment brigade is based in Kurgon-Tepe, is now backing the call for secession and demanding that his own nominee be appointed regional governor by Dushanbe. Hudoiberdiev holds the strategic Fahrabad mountains pass 30 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe, and he threatened yesterday to send troops into the capital unless the government meets his demand regarding Hatlon region. (Voice of Free Tajikistan, NTV, June 18)

The Monitor is a publication of the Jamestown Foundation. It is researched and written under the direction of senior analysts Jonas Bernstein, Vladimir Socor, Stephen Foye, and analysts Ilya Malyakin, Oleg Varfolomeyev and Ilias Bogatyrev. If you have any questions regarding the content of the Monitor, please contact the foundation. If you would like information on subscribing to the Monitor, or have any comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us by e-mail at pubs@jamestown.org, by fax at 301-562-8021, or by postal mail at The Jamestown Foundation, 4516 43rd Street NW, Washington DC 20016. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of the Monitor is strictly prohibited by law. Copyright (c) 1983-2002 The Jamestown Foundation Site Maintenance by Johnny Flash Productions