Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT402
2008-03-31 10:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST SAYS HER
how-toVZCZCXRO8842 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0402 0911043 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311043Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0525 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3569 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1387 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1254 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1823 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2371 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000402
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST SAYS HER
OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ACHIEVED NOTHING
REF: ASHGABAT 0326
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000402
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST SAYS HER
OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ACHIEVED NOTHING
REF: ASHGABAT 0326
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) POLOFF recently met with civil society activist
Natalya Anurova-Shabunts, the co-director of a center that
assists the disabled in Ashgabat. She was the author of a
lengthy but well-thought-out letter sent to President
Berdimuhamedov in February criticizing the government for its
failure to reform in a number of social and economic sectors
(Reftel).
3. (SBU) Shabunts indicated that since her letter was widely
posted on the Internet at the end of February, she has not
been harassed or threatened in any way. But she said the
biggest disappointment of the entire exercise was the fact
that, after dozens of calls from supporters around the world
and offers of financial assistance, Turkmenistan's government
has been completely silent. Further, although she had
specifically petitioned the president's assistance in helping
overcome local government barriers and cultural biases that
had prevented the center from being established in a new
location, the government at all levels has done nothing. She
believes that President Berdimuhamedov did not see the
letter, and asked that post try to pass it directly to the
president if possible.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is a sign of progress that the Turkmen
author of such a critical letter, citing the details of the
government's socio-economic failures, is not suffering
blowback from the letter's publication. Disappointing as it
might be that the president did not respond to Shabunts'
letter, however, it might have been unrealistic to expect a
formal response from that level. We will continue to stay in
contact with Shabunts to monitor her and her center's
progress. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST SAYS HER
OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ACHIEVED NOTHING
REF: ASHGABAT 0326
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) POLOFF recently met with civil society activist
Natalya Anurova-Shabunts, the co-director of a center that
assists the disabled in Ashgabat. She was the author of a
lengthy but well-thought-out letter sent to President
Berdimuhamedov in February criticizing the government for its
failure to reform in a number of social and economic sectors
(Reftel).
3. (SBU) Shabunts indicated that since her letter was widely
posted on the Internet at the end of February, she has not
been harassed or threatened in any way. But she said the
biggest disappointment of the entire exercise was the fact
that, after dozens of calls from supporters around the world
and offers of financial assistance, Turkmenistan's government
has been completely silent. Further, although she had
specifically petitioned the president's assistance in helping
overcome local government barriers and cultural biases that
had prevented the center from being established in a new
location, the government at all levels has done nothing. She
believes that President Berdimuhamedov did not see the
letter, and asked that post try to pass it directly to the
president if possible.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is a sign of progress that the Turkmen
author of such a critical letter, citing the details of the
government's socio-economic failures, is not suffering
blowback from the letter's publication. Disappointing as it
might be that the president did not respond to Shabunts'
letter, however, it might have been unrealistic to expect a
formal response from that level. We will continue to stay in
contact with Shabunts to monitor her and her center's
progress. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND