DUSHANBE, February 21, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Several women and children from the May First settlement in the Qushteppa Jamoat of Roudaki district gathered near the building of President’s Executive Office today morning.  They tried to draw the leadership of the government’s attention to demolition of their houses by the Roudaki local authorities.

One of the women, who introduced herself as Kholisa Mahmadkhoujayeva, told Asia-Plus they organized demonstration to protest the imminent demolition of their houses.  According to her, the Roudaki authorities already demolished more than 50 houses on the night of February 18-19.  “Saturday evening, electricity and water supplies to our houses were cut off and police officers in masks cordoned them,” Ms. Mahmadkhoujayeva

Another resident of the May First settlement, Ms. Tukhtakhon Usmonova, noted that they acquired land parcels for housing in 2006.  “We have all necessary documents,” said Usmonova, “The authorities now say the buildings will be destroyed because they were constructed illegally, without official permission.”  They gave us one month to disassemble our houses, she added.

According to Ms. Mahmadkhoujayeva, representatives from president’s executive office said that the president would receive their three representatives during the day, while the remaining demonstrators were asked to disperse.

In, the meantime, some 50 residential buildings that according to the authorities were constructed illegally have already been destroyed in the settlement to date.  In all, more than 80 buildings are liable for demolishing in the May First settlement.