The despotic president of Turkmenistan, known as Turkmenbashi, has celebrated his 66th birthday by creating a new set of gold and silver coins in honour of poetry he has written.
Last year, to celebrate his 65th birthday, Saparmurat Niyazov issued coins featuring his family tree. This year, it was the turn of four collections of poetry and two volumes of his Book of the Soul, known as the Rukhnama.
On one side of each of the six new coins is a different book. On the other, resides the presidential emblem. Worth about 1 000 manat each (about five US cents), they were issued on Sunday, to coincide with his birthday, which is also the Turkmenistani flag day.
Penned by Niyazov in 2001, the Rukhnama gives spiritual guidance to Turkmen citizens, of whom he sees himself as the figurative father, the literal translation of ”Turkmenbashi”.
The book, which is studied in schools and to which convicts must swear their allegiance upon release from jail, provides moral guidance, including respecting your elders, and giving lots of jewellery to women. Last year, a copy was blasted into space on a Russian rocket, inside a container bedecked with the national flag. It is hoped that it will return to earth in 150 years.
Niyazov, who has ruled the impoverished central Asian state since 1985, has built up a huge personality cult and dominates the struggling economy. The streets are lined with golden monuments in his honour, and he has reportedly banned smoking, gold teeth, recorded music and lip-synching to songs.
The national anthem ends thus: ”To my motherland, To her sacred banner, To Saparmurat Niyazov, Let my breath stop.” – Guardian Unlimited Â