Posted on 09/09/2004 8:26:08 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez
Moscow (AsiaNews) – Events in Beslan have had an unusual and unexpected impact in Chechnya. The local population, which had largely backed the actions by Chechen terrorists, seems to have turned against them. Separatists’ families, including those of anti-Russian resistance leaders such as Maskhadov, Basayev, Umarov –who are thought to have orchestrated the Beslan attack– have publicly condemned the actions of their relatives.
Pamzan and Ruslan Maskhadov, cousins of former Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov called on him to end terrorism. “Today, life is back to normal in the Chechen Republic. It is possible to work and receive a salary,” the two brothers said. “Consequently, the reasons for terror are neither present nor justified.” They urged Mashkadov to put an end to his actions once and for all and stop the gangs “who have killed hundreds of innocent children.” They also asked Ossetians for forgiveness.
Zholzan Abdulkadyrova, Aslan Maskhadov’s sister, appealed to her brother telling him to stop the crimes against helpless people. In the early phase of the Beslan crisis, Ms Abdulkadyrova had offered herself as a hostage in place of the children held. “Chechens,” she said, “do not want to be the enemies either of Ossetians, Ingushs or Russians.”
Junus Kurazov, deputy mufti in Chechnya’s Vedensky district and husband to Shamil Basayev’s cousin, expressed his solidarity with the people of North Ossetia. “These child-killing gangsters are terrorists and should be punished. These people will never receive forgiveness for their sins; only Almighty Allah might do it.” He added that “terrorism has no national or ethnic colour. Whoever they are, no matter their nationality, ethnicity or religion, they should be punished.”
In his Vedensky mosque, mufti Kurazov led Friday prayers for the murdered children and the people of Ossetia. “Ossetians have always helped Chechens, and in these heavy days, Chechens must pray and support them,” Kurazov said.
Umar Gudaev, Basayev’s father-in-law, and Nasir Sideev, husband to Basayev’s aunt, joined Kurazov in expressing their outrage. “The terrorists have crossed the point of no return into the world of cruelty and brutality. They have used weapons against defenceless children and women,” they said.
Relatives of Doku Umarov, another Chechen leader suspected of involvement in the Beslan attack, have also condemned the terrorist actions.
Despite the genuine revulsion on the part of terrorists’ relatives anger and resentment have boiled over and led some Chechens to prepare reprisal attacks against rebel leaders’ relatives. “Their lives were in danger,” said Ilya Shabalkin, official representative of the Russian federal counterterrorist services (FSB), “and we had evidence that ‘spontaneous groups’ were being formed in various areas of Chechnya to kill Chechen leaders” relatives. However, because of our preventive actions we were able to take them into protective custody and save them from retaliation,” the FSB general said.
The death of the innocent has provoked sorrow and angst throughout Chechnya. Many Chechens have joined the chorus of voices condemning the Beslan attack. Several demonstrations have taken place in the republic to denounce the terrorists and condemn the massacre. One demonstrator was quoted as saying: “As Chechens we can relate to what happened in Beslan. And we are ready to help the people hurt by the terrorists.” (AF)
PING
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A top Chechen figure has said there was "no justification" for recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by Chechens but called them "unavoidable" because of Russia's policies.
Aslan Maskhadov, a rebel leader and former president of Chechnya, said in a written statement Sunday that Chechen leaders condemned the acts.
"There can be no justification for terror against absolutely innocent citizens," said Maskhadov, who has steadily become more sidelined in recent times by more radical leaders in the Chechen fight for a breakaway Muslim republic.
But he also said there were "political reasons for this tragedy" and called "upon the world to condemn the policy which has made such tragedies not only possible but unavoidable."
Maskhadov cited the massacre at a school in Beslan, Russia that left hundreds dead, the downing of two Russian airplanes that killed 89, and a suicide bombing outside a Moscow subway station that killed nine people in addition to the bomber.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to place responsibility on external forces.
"In reality, the reason for the tragedy in Beslan and the never-ending cycle of violence in Chechnya and the environs is the policy of Putin himself, whose regime is guilty of the most massive crimes against humanity in Europe since World War II," Maskhadov said.
He accused Russia of carrying out a "genocide of the Chechen people."
Fighting between Russian forces and Chechen rebels has left untold thousands dead. Chechen rebels have carried out numerous attacks against civilians.
Maskhadov insisted the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Chechnya "are not doing this for religious fanaticism or abstract political ideas" but are motivated by personal revenge.
"But Russian brutality, international indifference, and the betrayal by the West do not at all mean that we have to fight against children and women.
"The Chechens who participated in similar actions are on the same level as Russian soldiers guilty of massive and systematic atrocities," he said.
"If we want to preserve ourselves as a people, to protect the moral rightness of our fight, we must decisively distance ourselves from those few whose consciousness has been darkened by revenge.
"That is why I am calling on all Chechens to grieve for the innocent victims and, in the name of the Chechen people, I express my condolences to their families."
Do you think they precieve the wrath of the Russian population comeing down on them ? The Russians aren't bound by the same political correctness as we are. Putin would probably tell the ACLU and CAIR to get stuffed, then call in an air strike on the mosques....
I would like to believe these sentiments are sincere and that all people are guinuinely repulsed by the senseless slaughter of innocents at Beslan.
I hope and pray they are sincere and not just saying these things to save their own hides from reprisals.
Do you think that every day ordinary people can witness children being massacred wholesale and NOT feel terrified?
I think an act such as this sort of makes everyone take a side, and most people would not side with the kind of inhuman beasts who would carry out such atrocities.
Except all Palastenians, Jordanians, Syrians, Sunis, and every other Musliim in the world (billions of them)
"billions of them"
There's not even a billion Muslims in the world.
They say 1.48B
And they breed like flies
http://www.islamicpopulation.com/
Yech -- how depressing
That's still not "billions".
The highest population estimate, is CAIR's 1.12 billion...and that's doubtable.
OK...
How about we agree on a figure:
TOO DAMN MANY!!
If true, this is very encouraging!
The other totally wrong part of your statement, is your assumption that every single Muslim approves of terrorism...Muslims are in fact victims of terrorism themselves, and are actually fighting terrorism alongside the US.
I'll stick my neck way out in here and say that most Muslims are not the monsters that Muslim terrorists would like us to believe they are.
true
Buahahahaha.
OK, not every single Muslim. Just those that follow the teachings of their "prophet" muhammed (may he burn in hell forever). If they want to ignore their founder, sure, they can probably avoid the call to Jihad. But if they acually READ the accursed Qu'ran then they're sorta stuck, since muhammed (mhbihf) said this is the greatest thing they an do (I have to search FR [as you can do also] to get the specific passages if need be).
So, a moderate Muslim is like a Mormon who doesn;t follow Smith.
Imperial Japan calls on US armed forces to stop attacking the home islands and to punish only the guilty Kamikaze pilots.
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