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