Putin must heed Gorbachev’s call

THE UN alarm over the state of affairs in Chechnya is understandable. The strong concerns expressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, following her visit to Chechen capital, Grozny, and the refugee camps in neighbouring Ingushetia on Tuesday were the spontaneous response of a conscientious soul to the suffering of her fellow beings.

Published: Thu 23 Feb 2006, 9:45 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 5:07 PM

Ms Arbour was appalled by the terrible living conditions of the Chechens who are living in their thousands in refugee camps in Ingushetia where they have fled to escape the atrocities of the pro-Moscow Chechen militias and Russian forces. Things in Chechnya itself are not any better.

The strong-arm tactics of the Moscow-installed government forces and Russian security forces have alienated the majority of ordinary Chechens, who would just want to live in peace and, of course, with some degree of respect. Unfortunately, Moscow has repeatedly failed to respect these aspirations of a proud people who have defied successive czars for centuries. Instead of honouring the Chechens’ desire to determine their own affairs, Moscow has tried to impose its own writ on a fiercely free-spirited people.

Which is really unfortunate. It’s this contempt for the indigenous people’s democratic aspirations that is at the heart of this long-running, and bloody conflict that has inflicted heavy losses on both sides. International human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in addition to Europe’s own rights watchdog, have repeatedly expressed their concern over the continuing humanitarian disaster that is Chechnya.

Besides, it is the only issue that appears to drive a wedge between Russia and the rest of the Muslim world which otherwise has no problems with Moscow. Of late, Russia has demonstrated its keenness to play a more positive and proactive role in the Middle East and the Muslim world. Be it on the Iran question or the Palestine-Israel conflict, Moscow under Putin has gone out of its way to play a more assertive and harmonising role on the Middle East stage. Which is really welcome. However, with its Chechen front forever burning, Russia can never hope to strengthen its ties with the Muslim world.

Putin would do well to take the visionary Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev more seriously if he wants to bring lasting peace to Russia’s troubled frontiers. Gorbachev’s sensible formula of resolving the Chechen question by granting it autonomy still holds good.