LIMITED COMMEMORATION OF FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001396 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI TX SUBJECT: LIMITED COMMEMORATION OF FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT NIYAZOV REF: ASHGABAT 1381 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan commemorated the first anniversary of former President Saparmyrat Niyazov's death on December 21 with little fuss or true mourning. Reversing an earlier decision to let the people focus on the Kurban Bayram (Eid) holiday rather than the anniversary of Niyazov's death, President Berdimuhamedov nonetheless kept commemoration events to the bare minimum consistent with Turkmen religious traditions. And, notwithstanding media coverage of elders praising Niyazov's legacy, it is clear that most of Turkmenistan's citizens -- like their new president -- are ready to move on. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The Day of Remembrance for Niyazov's death coincided with the second day of a three-day Muslim holiday, Kurban Bayram (Eid-Ul-Fitr). President Berdimuhamedov had initially stated that he did not want to mar the happiness of the Kurban Bayram holiday by focusing on the "elder's" death, but reversed his initial decision during a December 17 cabinet meeting (reftel),noting that he had consulted with clerics. At that time, Berdimuhamedov indicated that he had decided to hold a "Kurban Bayram" meal to honor the former president on December 20 (the first day of Kurban Bayram) and a flower laying followed by a "sadaka" (a commemorative meal) at the Gypjak Mosque and Mausoleum on December 21, the second day of Kurban Bayram and the anniversary of Niyazov's death. A LOW-KEY, UNPUBLICIZED "KURBAN BAYRAM" MEAL... ¶3. (U) The meal in honor of a departed family member on the first day of an Islamic holiday, including Kurban Bayram, is traditional in Turkmenistan. There was no television coverage of the event, and the only public indication that the event went forward was a statement by an elder from Niyazov's home village of Gypjak that the meal took place. FOLLOWED BY A LOW-KEY, PUBLIC SADAKA ¶4. (U) By comparison, there was television coverage of the December 21 flower-laying and sadaka, which were attended by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, high-level government officials, and members of the diplomatic corps. During the sadaka, President Berdimuhamedov made a short speech about the late President, in which he reiterated previous statements that Turkmenistan will continue to follow Niyazov's policies and wished "the elder" to rest in peace. The Chief Mufti of Turkmenistan, Rowshen Allaberdiyev, recited a passage from the Koran and offered a prayer, both at the flower laying and then again at the lunch for invited dignitaries and close to 2,000 elders from all over the country. A DAY OF TV/MEDIA COVERAGE DEDICATED TO NIYAZOV ¶5. (U) Throughout December 21, all four state-run television channels provided remembrance coverage, broadcasting retrospectives of Niyazov's life, and readings of the Ruhnama and Niyazov's poetry. Contrary to the practice a year ago, however, the television coverage did not include any interviews of ordinary citizens. However, there were interviews of individuals attending the flower-laying and sadaka -- university professors and imams -- who uniformly started by praising Niyazov as a great leader, but who usually concluded their interviews by praising the new president, Berdimuhamedov. THE STEETS REMAIN QUIET ¶6. (SBU) Turkmenistan's flags around the country were at half mast and topped with black ribbons for the first half of December 21. Music was forbidden at the large swings which serve as a focal point for the public celebration of Kurban Bayram (in Turkmenistan, believers swing to work off their sins). However, flags in most locations were flying back at full mast by afternoon, allegedly by government order. Throughout the day, there was no restriction on alcohol consumption, and cafes, restaurants, and other places of entertainment were open. While security measures seemed slightly stronger than normal, it remained consistent with levels that are ASHGABAT 00001396 002 OF 002 usual during holidays. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: A year ago, the atmosphere was much different, with women hysterically crying on the streets and extremely heavy security. What was perhaps most extraordinary about the one-year commemoration of Niyazov's death was the normalcy of the day. As demonstrated by the Day of Remembrance, life in Turkmenistan has, for most, moved on without Niyazov. While it was clear that Berdimuhamedov was unwilling to offer up any more than the bare minimum consistent with Turkmen Islamic tradition to commemorate his predecessor's death, the fact that Berdimuhamedov reversed his original decision to celebrate the holiday in a more matter-of-fact manner was most likely a realistic adknowledgement of religious and, especially, cultural tradition of respect for the departed - even for Niyazov. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND