Russian Human Rights Activists Protest War

Reply-To: [email protected]
Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 18:53:36 +0300 (EET DST)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Russian Human Rights Activists Protest War

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Chris Hunter <[email protected]>

Russian Human Rights Activists Protest War


The following is an appeal by a group of prominent Russian human
rights activists "Common Action", protesting the bombing and the
escalation of war in Chechnya...
 
INITIATING GROUP "COMMON ACTION"
 
Support group of "Common Action": analytical department
 
phone: 
Moscow +7-095-291233,
Secretary +7-095-9234401 
e-mail:[email protected]
 
STOP THE ESCALATION OF WAR IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS!
 
Appeal of the initiating group "Common Action"
 
The absence of constructive and stable politics by Russian authorities
towards Chechnya has not given the opportunity for the creation of
political mechanisms for the peaceful regulation of crises. The
August-September military actions in Dagestan and terrorist acts,
which took place in Russian cities, have become the detonator of a new
war in the North Caucasus. Attacks on bases of armed extremists served
as the cause for the mass bombings of civilian objects and densely
populated regions of Chechnya. In the North Caucasus, a humanitarian
catastrophe is developing - a huge stream of displaced people from
ruined Chechnya is filling Ingushetia. It should be stressed that this
is happening on the eve of winter.
 
We insist on the immediate creation of adequate conditions, which will
allow the reception of refugees escaping from Chechnya because of the
bombing!
 
We are convinced that the fight against terrorists must be conducted
exclusively by highly qualified specialists. The tactics of destroying
Chechnya through bombing is leading to a significant number of victims
among the peaceful population; people of different nationalities,
including Russians. This will literally add thousands and thousands of
new fighters in Chechnya to the ranks of the terrorists. The mass
invasion of Chechnya will again force the Russian Command to use rank
and file solders, hardly trained, which will bring about huge losses.
The new war will be long lasting and bloody, and it is clear that it
will not be confined to Chechen territory.
 
Taking into account all the above mentioned, we appeal to the
President of Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian
Federation to stop the escalation of war, to stop the bombing of any
objects located in inhabited areas of Chechnya. We call for immediate
negotiations with the legitimate Chechen authorities on the basis of
the agreement on the political regulation of the conflict "On the
Principles of Peaceful Joint Relations" signed by Presidents Yeltsin
and Maskhadov in Moscow 12.05.97, taking into account that the
President of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov has condemned terrorist actions
and expressed condolence to the victims of the terror.
 
Separately we appeal to those journalists, who over the last days have
spoken increasingly about the necessity and irreversibility of war
with Chechnya: Stop! The blood of peaceful people can fall on you! A
new big war in the North Caucasus will bring catastrophic, tragic
consequences, which will touch everybody!
 
30.09.99.
 
Lyudmila Mikhailovna Alekseeeva, Moscow Helsinki Group;
 
Vyacheslav Ivanovich Bakhmin, Moscow Helsinki Group;
 
Larisa Iosivna Bogoraz, Human Rights Activist;
 
Valeriy Vasilievich Borshev, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian
Federation;
Public Committee on Human Rights;
 
Lyudmila Vsevolodovna Vakhnina, Human Right Centre "Memorial";
 
Svetlana Alekseevna Gannushkina, organization "Civic assistance";
 
Sergey Ivanovich Grigoriants, Public Fund "Glasnost";
 
Elena Leonidovna Grishina, Information Centre of the Human Rights
Movement;
 
Piotr Feliksovich Kaznacheev, Russian Public Movement, Anti-Facist
Youth Action;
 
Tatiana Ivanovna Kasatkina, Human Rights Centre "Memorial";
 
Victoria Vasilevna Malikova, Moscow Helsinki Group;
 
Malva Noevna Landa, Human Rights Activist;
 
Karina Akapovna Maskalenko, Centre for International Defense;
 
Lev Semenovich Levinson, Responsible Secretary of the Public Palace;
 
Rustam Ramzievich Maksudov, Public Centre "Legislative Reform";
 
Vladimir Naumovich Oivin, Human Rights Activist;
 
Oleg Petrovich Orlov, Human Rights Centre "Memorial";
 
Lev Aleksandrovich Ponomarev, Movement "For People's Rights";
"Hot Line";
 
Yurij Vadimovich Saamodurov, A.Sakharov Museum and Centre;
 
Marina Evgenievna Salie, "Free Democrats of Russia",
 
Sergey Egorovich Sorokin, "Movement Against Violence"; Coordinator of
"Common Action";
 
Gleb Pavlovich Yakunin, Committee for the Defense of Freedom of
Conscience.

-- 
==============================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe

Submissions: [email protected]  
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected] 
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==============================================================