The narrative is of travels through Tajikistan, the poorest country
economically in Central Asia. As the Soviet Union disintegrated,
the economy collapsed, the people suffered extreme privation and
large elements of the country reverted to what became known as a
"yak economy." Shortly after the declaration of independence in
1991, the country descended into Civil War, with open hostilities
between the warring factions only coming to an end in 1997. The
country is still recovering from the economic devastation wrought
by the conflict and today, over half the population is deemed to be
in poverty, surviving on an income equivalent to or less than
US$2.00 per day. Tajikistan is the smallest nation in Central Asia
with over 50 per cent of the land-mass being more than 3,000 metres
above sea level. It is also the most water rich country with lakes,
major glaciers and more than 900 of its rivers over 10 kilometres
in length. The journey follows the border with Afghanistan and
traverses the High Pamirs and the so-called Pamir Knot. This term
identifies the junction of the Himalaya, Karakoram, Tian Shan,
Kunlun and Hindu Kush mountain ranges. Collectively, these
mountains form the roof of the world. The ethnic composition of a
population of 8 million is 60 per cent Tajik, who include the
Pamiris who occupy much of the Pamir region, followed by 23 per
cent Uzbek. The balance is made up of Russian, Kyrgyz and several
other smaller minorities. The majority of Tajiks are Sunni Muslims,
while the Pamiris are almost exclusvely followers of the Ishmaeli
sect of Shia. Tajikistan is a secular republic and elections are
held for the presidency and the parliament. However, since the
collapse of the Soviet Union, the system has been dominated by the
same power structure, and Emomalii Rahmon, the President, came to
power in 1994 following a disputed election, and has remained in
place through a sequence of similarly disputed ballots. His regime
is seen to be corrupt and he has been described as running the
country for his own pesonal profit and is prepared to use threats
and intimidation to remain in power. The narrative considers the
issues of corruption and poverty and how the majority of people
were focused on survival and didn't wish to be distracted by those
things over which they had no control. However, they do know that
the aspirations they have for their children and the future will
not come to pass unless the constraining knot of poverty,
dictatorship and corruption is loosened and brought undone. Only
then with the human spirit prevail.
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