Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1238
2008-09-16 14:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: STATE SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENED IN
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001238
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER KCRM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENED IN
THE WAKE OF WEEKEND VIOLENCE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001238
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER KCRM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENED IN
THE WAKE OF WEEKEND VIOLENCE
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) SUMMARY: On September 15, President Berdimuhamedov
held a session of Turkmenistan's State Security Council.
During the proceedings, the president acknowledged that there
had been significant casualties during last weekend's armed
clash between alleged drug traffickers and police. He also
criticized law enforcement and military officials,
questioning their competence to counter contemporary forms of
criminal violence, and called for the establishment of law
enforcement training centers to combat narcotics trafficking
and terrorism. He underscored the importance of creating
special counterterrorism units. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) As published in the official Neytralniy Turkmenistan
newspaper, President Berdimuhamedov convened the State
Security Council on September 15. The session was prompted
by the September 12-13 armed clash in Ashgabat between
alleged drug traffickers and law enforcement personnel.
Berdimuhamedov acknowledged that law enforcement agency
personnel had suffered casualties and ordered National
Security Minister Amanov and Minister of Internal Affairs
Amanmuradov to put forward the name of staff meriting awards
for their service in the incident. (NOTE: We have learned
from various sources that nine individuals died at the scene
and another 50 people were wounded. Twenty of those wounded
were taken to the Military Hospital and to Old Niyazov's
Hospital. A number of people who were wounded have already
died of severe trauma. We know specifically of the deaths of
four SWAT team members, one conscript soldier, one police
major, one Turkish citizen, and an MNB officer who had been
seconded to UNODC. END NOTE.)
4. (U) Berdimuhamedov expressed condolences to the families
of the deceased, pledged support to their families, and
instructed that their families be provided with indemnities,
allowances, and educational opportunities for their children.
He also instructed that the photographs of the fallen
officers be placed in classrooms, so that pupils would "learn
about the lives of these heroic people." He ordered that the
investigation of the incident continue.
MILITARY AND LEGAL REFORM
5. (U) The Council session then turned to the issue of
military and legal reform in Turkmenistan. The Minister of
Defense reported on preparations for the next round of army
conscription, and the head of the State Border Service gave
an update on the status of a construction project by which
all existing border posts are to be replaced with new
structures during the next several years. The Justice
Minister reported on the status of several draft laws related
to military reform.
FOCUS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY TRAINING
6. (U) Emphasizing Turkmenistan's active role in the
international arena on combating contemporary security
challenges, including counternarcotics efforts,
Berdimuhamedov pledged to strengthen the new State Counter
Narcotics Service and ordered the agency's head, Colonel
Islamov, to develop a project for the establishment of a
counternarcotics training center. He went on to underscore
the importance of creating special counterterrorism units.
SHORTCOMINGS REVEALED AND LESSONS LEARNED
7. (U) Berdimuhamedov said that the September 12-13 armed
clash had revealed shortcomings in law enforcement and the
military. He questioned the competence to counter
contemporary forms of criminal violence. Saying, "we must
firmly block any attempt (against the ) security and peaceful
existence of our people." Berdimuhamedov told the law
enforcement and military chiefs to study the means used in
ASHGABAT 00001238 002 OF 002
attempting to apprehend the criminals, including the
shortcomings, so that tragedies like this can be avoided in
the future.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: The September 12-13 armed clash has
awakened Turkmenistan's leadership to the need for better
prepared police and military. The incident clearly caught
law enforcement unawares, and Berdimuhamedov used the forum
of the Security Council to publicly air his dissatisfaction
with their level of competence. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER KCRM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENED IN
THE WAKE OF WEEKEND VIOLENCE
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) SUMMARY: On September 15, President Berdimuhamedov
held a session of Turkmenistan's State Security Council.
During the proceedings, the president acknowledged that there
had been significant casualties during last weekend's armed
clash between alleged drug traffickers and police. He also
criticized law enforcement and military officials,
questioning their competence to counter contemporary forms of
criminal violence, and called for the establishment of law
enforcement training centers to combat narcotics trafficking
and terrorism. He underscored the importance of creating
special counterterrorism units. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) As published in the official Neytralniy Turkmenistan
newspaper, President Berdimuhamedov convened the State
Security Council on September 15. The session was prompted
by the September 12-13 armed clash in Ashgabat between
alleged drug traffickers and law enforcement personnel.
Berdimuhamedov acknowledged that law enforcement agency
personnel had suffered casualties and ordered National
Security Minister Amanov and Minister of Internal Affairs
Amanmuradov to put forward the name of staff meriting awards
for their service in the incident. (NOTE: We have learned
from various sources that nine individuals died at the scene
and another 50 people were wounded. Twenty of those wounded
were taken to the Military Hospital and to Old Niyazov's
Hospital. A number of people who were wounded have already
died of severe trauma. We know specifically of the deaths of
four SWAT team members, one conscript soldier, one police
major, one Turkish citizen, and an MNB officer who had been
seconded to UNODC. END NOTE.)
4. (U) Berdimuhamedov expressed condolences to the families
of the deceased, pledged support to their families, and
instructed that their families be provided with indemnities,
allowances, and educational opportunities for their children.
He also instructed that the photographs of the fallen
officers be placed in classrooms, so that pupils would "learn
about the lives of these heroic people." He ordered that the
investigation of the incident continue.
MILITARY AND LEGAL REFORM
5. (U) The Council session then turned to the issue of
military and legal reform in Turkmenistan. The Minister of
Defense reported on preparations for the next round of army
conscription, and the head of the State Border Service gave
an update on the status of a construction project by which
all existing border posts are to be replaced with new
structures during the next several years. The Justice
Minister reported on the status of several draft laws related
to military reform.
FOCUS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY TRAINING
6. (U) Emphasizing Turkmenistan's active role in the
international arena on combating contemporary security
challenges, including counternarcotics efforts,
Berdimuhamedov pledged to strengthen the new State Counter
Narcotics Service and ordered the agency's head, Colonel
Islamov, to develop a project for the establishment of a
counternarcotics training center. He went on to underscore
the importance of creating special counterterrorism units.
SHORTCOMINGS REVEALED AND LESSONS LEARNED
7. (U) Berdimuhamedov said that the September 12-13 armed
clash had revealed shortcomings in law enforcement and the
military. He questioned the competence to counter
contemporary forms of criminal violence. Saying, "we must
firmly block any attempt (against the ) security and peaceful
existence of our people." Berdimuhamedov told the law
enforcement and military chiefs to study the means used in
ASHGABAT 00001238 002 OF 002
attempting to apprehend the criminals, including the
shortcomings, so that tragedies like this can be avoided in
the future.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: The September 12-13 armed clash has
awakened Turkmenistan's leadership to the need for better
prepared police and military. The incident clearly caught
law enforcement unawares, and Berdimuhamedov used the forum
of the Security Council to publicly air his dissatisfaction
with their level of competence. END COMMENT.
CURRAN