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January 17, 2000 9:17 pm
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT FOR YOU WHO LIKE TO QUOTE IT
Rights body accuses
Chechens of war crimes
By Séamus Martin
Chechen rebels have been accused of executing prisoners of war and using civilians as "human shields" in a report issued by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organisation.
In the past HRW has even-handedly documented allegations of atrocities by Russian forces in Chechnya and by Serb forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Kosovo.
Interviews carried out by HRW workers in the northern Caucasus indicate that entire villages which do not want to be involved in the current hostilities have been used by rebels as cover for their attacks on Russian soldiers and aircraft. There have also been accounts of captured Russian soldiers having their throats cut.
"Chechen fighters are endangering civilians by trying to hide in their midst, but they are bound by the laws of war as much as any combatants. We call upon the fighters to take all necessary precautions to minimise civilian casualties," Ms Holly Cartner of HRW said.
HRW also pointed out that the execution of prisoners of war runs contrary to the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.
According to the organisation, rebel fighters in Dyshne-Vedeno in southern Chechnya subjected the head of the village elders and his 16-year-old son to severe beatings after they had tried to engage in peace talks with Federal Russian forces.
According to a village resident, the two men were detained by the rebels on December 17th, 1999. The elder's son was found badly beaten near the village cemetery the following morning. The elder was released a week later.
The same village resident told HRW that earlier this month he had found the body of a Russian soldier whose throat had been slit. He questioned rebels about this and was told that it was their standard practice to slit the throats of Russian soldiers they had captured.
Although this account was not independently confirmed by other witnesses, HRW described it as "consistent with accounts received about similar abuses committed by Chechen fighters elsewhere".
HRW accused Chechen insurgents of refusing to leave the village of Alkhan-Yurt before it was seized by Russian forces. It has been alleged that Russian troops then went on a rampage, summarily executing at least 19 and perhaps up to 40 civilians in the village.
Mr Waha Muradov, a respected elder and the Mullah of Alkhan-Yurt, told HRW that during the last two weeks of November he repeatedly tried to persuade the rebels to leave the village. "I begged them on behalf of the village: `Please leave, this is no place for you to fight.' "
The rebel commander replied that he would not retreat, and when the mullah insisted, the insurgents started firing into the air, threatening to shoot him and the other village elders if they did not leave immediately.
Human Rights Watch stressed that the abuses by Chechen fighters could not justify Russia's "widespread indiscriminate shelling and bombing campaign".
According to Ms Cartner civilians often found themselves caught between Chechen fighters who refused to leave their towns and Russian forces who were bombing and shelling their homes.
"Both sides need to take the necessary steps to limit the impact of their fighting on the civilian population, as required by the laws of war," she said.
Seamus Martin can be contacted at: @russia.com">seamus.martin@russia.com
January 17, 2000 9:18 pm
Turk, you are a good man. To me religion is private and thy neighbor should not be judged because he practices another, unless he himself hurts or judges others in the name of his religion. Is not the main goal of religion to instill peace and kindness towards others. nations that wage war in the name of God or as they call him Allah need to pull their head out of their ass and open their eye's because they will be judged in hell with the rest of the idiots.
January 17, 2000 9:28 pm
Igor,
Every person has his/her own reason to support the Chechens. I personally believe they are right. When I read their history, its clear that they are suffered enourmously at the hands of Russians. Now, that doesn't mean that Russians themselves had not suffered. That is the reason I am agreeing with the "Evil Empire" terminology. They want to control their own destiny and have their freedom. They have never given in to Russians, never been assimilated. I think they should be let free. In the long run, this will be much better for Russians too.
I know that my paradigm is different than yours. Being a Russian, you are naturally feeling humiliated when little known Chechens are resisting huge Russian Army so succesfully. But can't you see, this is due to Russian Army waging an unjust war, not because Russians are coward, or that they don't know how to fight. Russian soldiers know that they have no business in Chechnya, and they are not motivated to fight Putin's war.
I have a feeling that deep down you know Russia is wrong in waging this war, but all those stories on kidnappings, etc is making you weary.
January 17, 2000 9:32 pm
When the bandits start abusing non-Chechens that was enough reason to send army in. What about all the abuses they(bandits committed on their own people), or do you just ignore that part because it does not suit your argument?
January 17, 2000 9:34 pm
Turk read last post for site. http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/world/2000/0117/wor2.htm
January 17, 2000 9:46 pm
betterthanyou,
Again, I must agree with you. It always give me pleasure to see people who can agree on common norms of human behaviour, despite the differences on opinion of politics, religion, ethnic background, or basketball teams.
People deep down are not very different than each other. All of us want to have security, freedom, and opportunity to develop ourselves to full potential.
Both Christianity and Islam teaches us that we are raised from the same pair (Adam and Eve). Today modern genetic studies are tracing the origin of the human race to South Africa, which is supporting what the holly books are teaching us, but some still can not see we are all brothers originated from the same ancestry.
I must go now and finish the work in the Garden, otherwise my wife will"kill" me. Talk to you some other time.
January 17, 2000 9:47 pm
In Recent Weeks:
Amnesty International Publishes Report Of Torture & Harrassment for Chechens Sent to Russian "Filtration" Camps or Detained in Moscow?New York based Human Rights Watch Asks UN Security Council to Set up Independent Commission to Look Into Russian Abuses in Chechnya Now and in the Past.
Amnesty International published a report on December 22, 1999 saying that Chechens living in Moscow, or those detained in Russian security camps (called "filtration" camps), are routinely subjected to torture and harrassment. (RFE/RL, December 22, 1999). The report also states that fleeing civilians at checkpoints are detained, beaten and brought to "filtration camps." (In one of our articles below, we describe some of the atrocities which have gone on inside these filtration camps, including "The Pit"). Amnesty International urges Russia to allow an international investigation "ino allegations of human rights abuses in Chechnya." We invite readers to go to the web site for Amnesty International.
Meanwhile, New York Based Human Rights Watch, after documenting testimonies from refugees for nearly 3 months, has asked the United Nations Security Council to set up an independent commission to investigate Russia's behavior in Chechnya. The idea is that such a commission would start a process for future prosecution of those who have already committed (in the past, including the 1994-1996 war) serious violations of "international humanitarian law." Human Rights Watch goes on to ask Russia to abstain from using its veto on the Security Council in an effort to block the establishment of such a commission. If the Russians truly feel that what they have done is right in Chechnya, then they will welcome such an independent commission to investigate crimes against humanity. (The Moscow Times, December 23, 1999; Human Rights Watch, December 22, 23, 1999). We invite readers to go to the web site for Human Rights Watch.
January 17, 2000 9:50 pm
When Russian Soldiers Loot, Kill and Get Drunk In Russian Controlled Villages
Just over a month ago, a Chechen woman carrying a white flag in front of a convoy of fleeing civilians were all shot at close range by Russian soldiers for no apparent reason. 40 were killed in total; 7 wounded. (The Independent-UK and Radio Liberty, December 4, 1999). In late November, Russian-laid minefields near Achkoi-Martan blew up a Russian military carrier. Russians then shelled the town and killed 9, despite a truce reached with town officials. Later,a Russian commander would admit that the minefields were accidently laid by drunk Russian soldiers. (The Independent-UK, December 4, 1999). On November 25th, drunk Russian soldiers shot a Chechen woman to death in the border town of Sleptsovskaya in Ingushetia when she refused to provide them with alcohol at her vending station. A 10 year old boy and 20 year old woman were critically wounded in the attack. (AFP, November 26, 1999).Arima Akhiyeva, a Chechen who fled to Ingushetia in early November with her children, stated to international press, "Soldiers on their tanks run over our flocks, they drink vodkha and when they are drunk the open fire. There's no guarantee one of their bullets won't find you." (AP, November 7, 1999).In early December, drunk Russian soldiers shot and killed 41 civilians in Alkhan-Yurt. (BBC, December 22, 1999). New evidence emerging describes summary executions, at least one beheading, looting and shooting if anyone tries to leave the village (Washington Post, December 26, 1999).
January 17, 2000 9:51 pm
Abfool they must have filtered your brain cells at the camp..
January 17, 2000 9:55 pm
Alkhan Yurt Massacre: Testimonies vs. Russian Claims of No Wrong Doing
Russian authorities continue to deny what refugees report time and again regarding atrocities against civilians by Russian soldiers. Now, in Alkhan Yurt, a village along one of the "safe" corridors out of Dzhohar-Gala (Grozny), Russian denials of a massacre are rapidly evaporating with new evidence. In early December, villagers in Alkhan-Yurt reported that 41 civilians were killed over a period of 14 days by Russian troops who were drunk. Russia have denied this report for several weeks. However, amateur video footage shows Russian Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Koshman, on a recent visit to Alkhan Yurt, "angrily upbraiding army officers of the village", stating "you'll be personally responsible for this...there are eyewitnesses." Given the names of the dead and testimonies, Koshman was witness to Russian soldiers looting civilian goods, as well as one Russian soldier who yelled to the group (not knowing that it included Mr. Koshman and Russian generals) that "we will shoot you." (BBC, December 22, 1999).
January 17, 2000 9:57 pm
y igor ( - 206.47.244.62) on Monday, January 17, 2000 - 08:51 pm:
I want test your DNA to see Who is your FATHER? Because your mom always Question about your birth.
dady?
January 17, 2000 9:58 pm
Civilians of Alkhan-Yurt claim that the drunk Russian soldiers shot at civiilans who were trying to stop Russian looting. And these are not the only accusations. Village elders (like the mayors or town councils of a village in the west) appealed to Russian soldiers to end the shooting and let civilians leave once Russians took over the village. But Russian soldiers continued to shoot at anything that moved in the village, especially anything that looks male between the ages 17-middle age. People report that their village was not captured, but rather "leveled" by Rusian forces. Residents claim that the Russian military went on a rampage after capturing the town on December 1st: describing looting and summary executions for nearly 14 days. (Human Rights Watch, December 10, 1999; Moscow Times, December 23, 1999). People were not allowed out of their houses for most of the day, and anyone who disobeyed or protested was shot. (Boston Globe, December 12, 1999). A pro-Moscow Chechen businessman, who was with Mr. Koshman on his visit to Alkhan-Yurt, said that testimonies told of at least one beheading, burning of bodies, execution of anyone trying to leave the village. He stated that drunk soldiers would enter the homes, shoot people and take belongings. In the case of Alkhan Yurt, Russian General Shamanov rejected civilian pleas to let them out. He said his troops must first "cleanse" Alkhan-Yurt of possible Chechen fighters. And he warned people not to touch his soldiers as they were "undertaking a holy cause." (RFE/RL, December 9, 1999; BBC, December 9th; Boston Globe, December 12th; Washington Post, December 26, 1999).
January 17, 2000 10:00 pm
And now NY based Human Rights Watch has said that growing evidence suggests that a massacre did occur. The report states that Russian soldiers, mostly voluntary soldiers who command up to $1000 USD/month (very high for Russian salary standards), demanded vodka and women, looted and burned down homes. Witnesses gave consistent, independent testimonies which have convinced Human Rights Watch that atrocities occurred in Alkhan Yurt which need to be addressed and investigated. The testimonies also talked about Russian soldiers gathering civilians in fields, releasing those who agreed to leave Alkhan-Yurt to another town. (Moscow Times, December 23, 1999).
