Turkmenistan: Rain on Berdymukhamedov's Parade

Turkmenistan Golden Age

Top: Turkmenistan Independent Day Celebration; Bottom: Turkmenistan Broadcast Center

Turkmenistan celebrated its 20th year of independence on October 27, but there was no dove available to light on President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's shoulder this time.

During months and months of rehearsing in the searing heat of this desert nation, people were so exhausted in their heavy, hot native costumes they sometimes fainted. Then on the day of show, the weather failed to cooperate -- or perhaps the heavens expressed their sentiment. Pouring rain and cold winds ruined the festivities in Ashgabat, the independent emigre web site chrono-tm.org reported

Soldiers in a military parade were soaked to the bone but had to keep marching. Thousands of citizens pressed into service to stand along the parade route were not allowed to bring umbrellas or raincoats. Then, shivering in their still-wet clothing, they were forced to head off to a concert near the Monument of the Constitution and watch some rather fizzled fireworks -- which only served to remind people of the tragic explosion in Abadan in July, which had begun with the sparking of some fireworks stored for the holiday and spread to a munitions depot, killing and injuring numerous people.

Arkedag ("protector"), as the Turkmen leader is now dubbed by his sycophants was showered with greetings from leaders all over the world, from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. He also in turn conferred medals on various ministers, public figures and foreign friends of Turkmenistan from Russia and Turkey, and was lavishly praised by all his minions himself for his reforms in the "Era of New Revival". Much like Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, Berdymukhamedov granted himself the Hero of Turkmenistan medal.

There were numerous ceremonies to mark Independence Day, notably the opening of the Wedding Palace of Happiness with the release of balloons and ritual dances, a new hotel with 2,000 rooms, and a 20,000-seat stadium, built by Polimeks, the president's trusted Turkish construction company, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) reported.

A theatrical and laser show with holographic effects was staged and a new narrative, involving a book of wisdom said to replace the sacred Ruhnama, called Turkmennama, was enacted involving a wise, old teacher and his apprentices telling the story of how the "proud and freedom-loving Turkmen people" formed themselves into "a monolithic nation," beginning with the Prophet Noah and going through the era of Oghuz Khan, the founder of the Turkmen nation, and other national heroes culminating with the president and his "Era of New Revival," TDH reported.

Turkmenistan also got its ostentatious new TV tower into the Guinness Book of Records -- the eight-pointed Oghuz Khan star, the state symbol, is the largest constructed star in the world. (Turkmenistan is also in Guinness for the highest flagpole in the world; the largest hand-woven rug; and the largest number of fountains in a public park.)

In honor of the holiday, the president declared an amnesty, but the number of convicts released was not publicized as on other occasions. As far as is known, the first and only political prisoner to be released under Berdymukhamedov was the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Dovletmyrat Yakuliev.