Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT308
2006-03-22 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
"BULLDOZER" HAKIM USES TEACHERS TO BEAUTIFY
how-toVZCZCXRO7888 PP RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHMRE RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0308 0811146 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221146Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7112 INFO RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000308
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PINR EPET TX
SUBJECT: "BULLDOZER" HAKIM USES TEACHERS TO BEAUTIFY
CITY
Summary
-------
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000308
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PINR EPET TX
SUBJECT: "BULLDOZER" HAKIM USES TEACHERS TO BEAUTIFY
CITY
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Appointed on July 8, 2005, Ashgabat Hakim
(mayor) Orazmyrat Esenov has been conducting a series of
city beautification projects, including the elimination
of residential garages and private vegetable gardens.
From March 4 until the Nowruz National Spring Holiday,
March 20-22, teachers of all Ashgabat city schools and
kindergartens are assigned a division of the city to
clean on weekends. End Summary.
The Bulldozer - Dizzy with Success
--------------
2. (SBU) Orazmyrat Esenov was praised by President
Niyazov and promoted from Mary City Hakim to Ashgabat
Hakim July 8, 2005, for keeping Mary City clean and for
not promoting nepotism. He earned the nickname
"bulldozer" because he enthusiastically enacted the
president's "beautification" project and destroyed old
structures throughout Mary City. In Ashgabat, for the
sake of enhancing municipal "cleanliness and neatness"
Esenov has ordered the apartment residents of multiple
story buildings to get rid of garages or private gardens,
according to a local embassy staff member who lost both a
garage and a garden.
3. (SBU) Known for his rudeness to subordinates and
obsequiousness to superiors, Esenov tried to "improve"
the Ashgabat beautification campaign. Shortly after his
appointment, he announced a contest among Ashgabat etraps
(districts) for the best beautification results,
according to local contacts. Esenov managed to refurbish
and re-equip two abandoned sports complexes in Ashgabat,
although to do this he demanded labor and in-kind
contributions from various Ashgabat offices funded by the
state budget. From March 4 until the Nowruz national
spring holiday, March 20-22, all teachers of Ashgabat
schools and kindergartens were assigned cleaning
responsibilities for areas in the city. According to an
elementary school teacher, a sister of a local embassy
employee, the assigned areas are reportedly far from
their schools or homes. Furthermore, the teacher said
they were tasked with doing all considerable menial work,
including sweeping, digging, and gardening to both
residential and commercial areas of the city.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) Esenov has resurrected the Soviet style
Saturday cleaning sessions (subotniki) and extended them
to the entire weekend for one month probably in an effort
to put himself in Niyazov's good graces. By destroying
private garden plots, often used for self-sufficiency, he
will likely alienate city residents. Nevertheless, other
than increased grumbling, popular protests are not
expected. It is just one more burden to bear as
Ashgabatians enjoy their Nowruz holiday. End Comment.
Brush
\\ashgabatfp01\Notices-FormsAndShares\_POL-
ECON\2006\PGOV\Cables\06_03_03 - Ashgabat Hakim
Bulldozing.doc
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PINR EPET TX
SUBJECT: "BULLDOZER" HAKIM USES TEACHERS TO BEAUTIFY
CITY
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Appointed on July 8, 2005, Ashgabat Hakim
(mayor) Orazmyrat Esenov has been conducting a series of
city beautification projects, including the elimination
of residential garages and private vegetable gardens.
From March 4 until the Nowruz National Spring Holiday,
March 20-22, teachers of all Ashgabat city schools and
kindergartens are assigned a division of the city to
clean on weekends. End Summary.
The Bulldozer - Dizzy with Success
--------------
2. (SBU) Orazmyrat Esenov was praised by President
Niyazov and promoted from Mary City Hakim to Ashgabat
Hakim July 8, 2005, for keeping Mary City clean and for
not promoting nepotism. He earned the nickname
"bulldozer" because he enthusiastically enacted the
president's "beautification" project and destroyed old
structures throughout Mary City. In Ashgabat, for the
sake of enhancing municipal "cleanliness and neatness"
Esenov has ordered the apartment residents of multiple
story buildings to get rid of garages or private gardens,
according to a local embassy staff member who lost both a
garage and a garden.
3. (SBU) Known for his rudeness to subordinates and
obsequiousness to superiors, Esenov tried to "improve"
the Ashgabat beautification campaign. Shortly after his
appointment, he announced a contest among Ashgabat etraps
(districts) for the best beautification results,
according to local contacts. Esenov managed to refurbish
and re-equip two abandoned sports complexes in Ashgabat,
although to do this he demanded labor and in-kind
contributions from various Ashgabat offices funded by the
state budget. From March 4 until the Nowruz national
spring holiday, March 20-22, all teachers of Ashgabat
schools and kindergartens were assigned cleaning
responsibilities for areas in the city. According to an
elementary school teacher, a sister of a local embassy
employee, the assigned areas are reportedly far from
their schools or homes. Furthermore, the teacher said
they were tasked with doing all considerable menial work,
including sweeping, digging, and gardening to both
residential and commercial areas of the city.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) Esenov has resurrected the Soviet style
Saturday cleaning sessions (subotniki) and extended them
to the entire weekend for one month probably in an effort
to put himself in Niyazov's good graces. By destroying
private garden plots, often used for self-sufficiency, he
will likely alienate city residents. Nevertheless, other
than increased grumbling, popular protests are not
expected. It is just one more burden to bear as
Ashgabatians enjoy their Nowruz holiday. End Comment.
Brush
\\ashgabatfp01\Notices-FormsAndShares\_POL-
ECON\2006\PGOV\Cables\06_03_03 - Ashgabat Hakim
Bulldozing.doc