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“Is it a real victory - so many victims? The tragedy of
the musical did not spring out of the blue. It is not the end, but
the beginning. Now we shall live in fear, as we see our children
and our elderly go out into the street. Perhaps this is how Chechen
people live?” - Anna Politkovskaya, Russian journalist who
went in to talk to the hostage takers.
Russia’s very own war on terrorism came back to haunt it last
weekend when Chechen rebels took hundreds of people hostage in a
Moscow Theatre. Their demand was that Russia pull out of Chechnya
which over the past few years has been bombed back to the iron age
- retribution for a number of bomb attacks in Moscow that were blamed
on the rebels. Russian troops captured the capital Grozny - already
a pile of rubble after the last war with Russia five years earlier
- and in the process killed up to 40,000 civilians. Although the
‘conventional’ war has largely ceased, human rights organisations
have reported a rise in the disappearance, torture and summary executions,
in what is called the ‘Wild West’ of Russia.
There is a catalogue of human rights abuses perpetrated by the Russian
Army: In June, a ditch containing 50 mutilated bodies was discovered
near the Russian army post in Chankala. The corpses were missing
eyes, ears, limbs and genitals. In July in the village of Meskyer
Yurt, 21 men, women and children were bound together and blown up,
their remains were thrown into a ditch. The list goes on...
Some those who survive sometimes wish hadn’t. In Zernovodsk
this summer, townspeople say they were made to watch women being
raped. When the men tried to defend them, 68 were handcuffed to
an armoured truck and raped too. After this episode, 45 of them
joined the guerrillas in the mountains. One older man, Nurdi Dayeyev,
who was nearly blind, had nails driven through his hands and feet
because it was suspected that he was in contact with the fighters.
The Russians do not deny that these things happen, there’s
even an official order issued banning such abuses.
Last weekend’s tragedy has refocused attention on the conflict,
which Russia has repeatedly claimed is winding down, even though
its soldiers continue to die at a rate of two to three a day. Russia’s
President Putin has tried to sweep the embarrassing brutalities
of the ongoing ‘anti-terrorist’ operations under the carpet,
whilst the West has turned a blind eye so they could get Russian
support for their own wars of terror in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
The problem according to Krystyna Kurczab-Redlich, a Polish reporter
is that “the brutality of the Russians has also resulted in
a growing radicalisation of their opponents.” Russia has tried
to link the rebels to al-Qaeda, as some of the Chechen leaders no
doubt see the conflict as a holy war. Now Chechen’s everywhere
face a further crackdown. Soldiers are surrounding refugee camps,
while Chechen’s in Russia are being rounded up and arrested.
Russia has tried to stop the World Chechen Congress in Copenhagen,
they persuaded Denmark to arrest Akhmed Zakayev, Chechnya’s
top European representative, who was to be the main speaker, who
they accuse of playing a part in the theatre siege. As one Russian
journalist commented “The search for participants in the terrorist
act is turning into a cleansing operation to rid Moscow of all Chechens.”
* For conspiracy theories that it was the Russian secret police
who carried out the 1999 bombings of apartment blocks that sparked
the latest war with Chechnya and swept Putin to power see http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=24275
* Amnesty International this week published a new report on the
human rights situation in Russia and Chechnya. For copies 020 7814
6200 www.amnesty.org
Both Russia and the US are fighting the ‘war on terror’
to justify attacks on (largely) Islamic societies with racist rhetoric
about the need to combat ‘fundamentalism’, but the real
reason behind it is justification for anything the state does to
protect its interests. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the
former Soviet republic of Georgia.
Back in July, this tiny country was granted $64 million of aid by
the US government, making it the third largest recipient of US aid
in the world. The reason? Both the US and Russia reckon that Georgia
is in the frontline of the ‘war on terror’. Russia argues
that Georgia’s mountainous Pankisi gorge, which sits along
the border with Chechnya, is a hideout for Chechen rebels, who are
able t o move across the border to launch attacks on Russian troops.
The US reckons that amongst these fighters there might be as many
as a dozen Al-Qaeda members. The $64 million is for counter-insurgency
training and equipment for the Georgian army, allegedly so that
it can flush out these bad guys. Russia was furious about this move,
which amounts to the US establishing a base for its Special Forces
on the Russian border. Russia accused Georgia of ‘complicity’
with international terror and Putin wrote to the UN saying that
Russia reserved the right to use ‘pre-emptive strikes’
on Georgia to defend itself.
The US claim that it’s pouring money on the Georgian military
so that they can take out al-Qaeda, one journalist wrote, ‘why
would the dozen or so suspected al-Qaeda terrorists hang around
until a new force is trained?’ But what other reason would
there be for making sure the Georgian army is tooled-up like the
Green Berets? Hmmm, maybe it’s got something to do with the
massive oil and gas pipelines that the US and Britain want to run
through Georgia, to take oil from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Ceyhan in
Turkey. For the last 10 years the US and Britain have been investing
in central Asian oilfields, but have been struggling to find a way
of getting the oil to the West without taking it through Iran or
Russia. The proposed solution is the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, which
if built would transport 1 million barrels of oil a day along a
route that runs across (amongst other things) 20 major rivers and
2 dense primary forests, and borders on several zones of conflict.
The consortium of companies backing the pipeline is only offering
to provide 30% of the £3 billion costs. BP, the company heading
the consortium, has said that the project would not be possible
without masses of ‘free public money’ (i.e. our money),
including £65 million from the UK’s own Export Credit
Guarantee Scheme. It will also need military or paramilitary patrols
all along the route to protect the pipe from sabotage and theft.
Campaigners opposing the pipeline say that the proposed route ‘as
well as passing through war zones, cuts through villages and bisects
peoples’ lands. Many will be evicted, or forced to trespass
on oil company property in order to lead their daily lives. Similar
situations in other countries (such as BP’s pipeline in Colombia)
have led to major human rights atrocities.’ Whilst Georgian
peasants worry that Russia’s ‘new hard-line’ approach
to Chechnya will drag their villages back into conflict, Western
greed for Central Asian oil is driving plans that, if carried out,
will ensure that Georgia is threatened by war and environmental
crisis for decades to come.
More info: www.bankwatch.org
For kicking a balloon…
One of Turkey’s most famous singers, Hulya Avsar, faces the
prospect of six months in jail for kicking balloons displaying the
Turkish flag. Avsar allegedly kicked some balloons that were in
her way as she walked to meet guests on her TV show. Unfortunately
for the popular singer it’s illegal in Turkey to display the
flag on objects and near blasphemy to have the sacred flag on the
ground. The TV crew and the balloon makers also face a six month
stay in jail for the malicious act.
 
Last Tuesday (22nd October) workers on the Birmingham Northern
Relief Road were able to enjoy an unscheduled break when a dozen
people stormed the construction site of a bridge over a canal and
disabled diggers and a crane. The protesters say it represents the
start of a new phase of the campaign against car culture and climate
change in the face of a renewed road building program under the
Labour Government. The action happened one day before the start
of the British International Motor Show and the UN climate conference
in New Delhi, India (COP 8).
At the Motor Show in Birmingham, Europe’s largest car show,
actions continued highlighting how the car industry is part of the
problem of climate change.
It’s not just people in the west who have been protesting against
climate change. Those communities most affected (mostly in southern
countries) met at a Climate Justice Summit held at the same time
as the UN climate conference to provide a platform for climate change
impacted communities from around the world. “The negotiations
to solve the climate change crisis have been hijacked by corporations
and industrialised nations, especially the US. These meetings resemble
a trade meeting to push globalisation over developing countries
rather than a meeting to address the genuine needs of people,”
said Medha Patkar of the India Climate Justice Forum. The summit
was followed by a 5, 000 strong rally in New Delhi.
And while the people directly affected by climate change met to
discuss the issues affecting them the world’s Governments met
to carve-up another commodity - the earth’s climate. The conference
looks like being yet another failed opportunity, with the initial
draft resolution in combating climate change being described as
“unacceptable” and “worthless”. Expect more
storms and floods of hot air from the conference which finishes
today. www.corpwatchindia.org
Car show actions: www.anticarshow.net
* 600 protesters managed to shut down all 28 Esso petrol stations
in Luxembourg last Saturday in a climate change protest by Greenpeace.
Last Thursday protestors used D-locks, Superglue and good ol’
determination to blockade the US spy base in Menwith Hill, Yorkshire.
The blockade started at 5am with protestors D-locking themselves
to the main gates and then handcuffing themselves to each other.
With alternative gates sealed off by Superglue and locks, all traffic
was blocked and the 3 scheduled shift changes were disrupted. Most
employees were prevented from entering the base to do their daily
spying and so ended up heading back home. After 4 ½ hours
the ever-friendly men in blue were threatening arrests and the protestors
ended the blockade, happy with the results.
So what’s this spy base about then? Well, it’s an ‘interception
centre’ that would be used to co-ordinate any bombing of Iraq.
It’s part of America’s murky ‘Echelon’ programme
set up during the Cold War – a network of ‘listening posts’
able to intercept millions of phone, fax and e-mail messages. Our
upstanding government assures us that ‘communication interception’
is covered by strict legal guidelines - honest! But the EU parliamentary
committee set up to investigate ‘Echelon’ reckons that
Uncle Sam uses it for industrial espionage to benefit US companies.
So the committee recommends that all EU capitalists encrypt everything…now!
* Fylingdale Star Peace Camp, outside the US airbase, which is now
5 months old, have received eviction papers and are appearing in
court next week. Vigil outside the court 10.45am,6th Nov, Whitby
Law Court, Waterstead Lane, Whitby. The camp also urgently needs
funds send money payable to ‘WoMenwith Hill Women’s Peace
Camp’, P.O. Box 105, Harrogate HG3 2FE. Tel 01947896481 www.FreeFylingdalesNetwork.co.uk.
- Sick of prefab pop music? To help the sporadic network
aimed at bringing down ‘Pop Rivals’ visit www.killpop.org
- The global arms trade has flourished since the end of the Cold
War. Find out in the ‘No-Nonsense Guide To The Arms Trade’
– available for £7 from CAAT, 11 Goodwin Street, London
N4 3HQ www.caat.org.uk
- Taking Aim – a Revolutionary Conference for the
liberatarian left, activists and other rebel-rousers, will be
held in Bradford next year. To get involved email conference@riseup.net.
- Sic – Chumbawamba’s very slick er ‘zine’
is out. All good stuff with Mark Thomas and others contributing,
available now for a fiver
www.chumba.com/_sic.htm
- To get a copy of Que Se Vayan Todos, the excellent newsprint
publication about the events of the last 12 months in Argentina
send SchNEWS a 41p SAE
- Zapatista - A benefit for Mayan autonmous communities,
Tues 4th downstairs at the Sanctuary, Brunswick St, Hove. With
food, info and world and rebel beats. Kicks off at 7pm with the
film Zapatista
- Remember Barry Horne. Anniversary of the death of the
animal rights prisoner who died on hunger strike against the government
broken promises of animal welfare reform. Memorial demo Tues 5th
2pm followed by night vigil at HLS, Alconbury, Cambs.0845 458
0630 or 07899 775493
- Scottish Anarchist Day School Sat 9th, Kinning Park Centre,
Glasgow, Scotland. 10.30am-5pm. Workshops, discussions, and much
more! £3/1. Anarcho-scots@lists.mutualaid.org
http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/anarcho-scot
- Runway No Way Demonstration against Stanstead Airport,
2nd Nov Montessori School, Mole Hill Gn, nr Broxted. 07817 708113.
- Public meeting to discuss the current aviation consultation
14th November at Plants Brook School, Upper Holland Road, Sutton
Coldfield, West Midlands 7.30pm.
- Remember the fuel blockades a couple of years ago by truckers
and farmers? Welsh farmer Mr Brynle Williams one of its leaders
claimed to have no political bias: “I’m not a politician,
I’m just a simple farmer.” Well guess who has been selected
as Conservative candidate for Clwyd West? But then he did say
“I don’t want a career in politics at all” so maybe
joining the dinosaur Conservative Party is the right thing to
do.
The Woodside Caravan Park – a legitimate campsite in Bedfordshire
bought in 1997 by 27 gypsy families – is under threat of eviction
from this Friday (1). A protest camp has been set up to help the
community resist eviction, and needs more people and tat. This comes
a week after a gypsy from another camp, a 22 year old father of
two, was subject to a murder attempt and dumped in a coma outside
Woodside in a racially motivated act of intimidation. For Woodside
residents this is even more reason to remain on the site as they
feel safer together. Info. 01767 681 651 www.f-f-t.demon.co.uk/fft/woodside.htm
Barred
for life
The indefinite detention of 12 people without trial in the UK under
last year’s knee jerk Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act
(see SchNEWS 363), has been deemed legal by the High Court. In July
an appeal by those detained under the Act, led to an immigration
appeals commission to rule that it contravened the European Convention
on Human Rights. That decision has now been overturned by the High
Court who believed the government that these 12 people are a threat
to the nation’s security in this ‘time of emergency’.
And what evidence did the government need to produce to show that
we’re in a state of emergency- well the evidence put forward
by the government to back it’s argument remained secret and
was not considered by the court in it’s decision. As according
to the judges the government is in a better position than the courts
to make such important decisions. Two of those detained have now
left the country, the remainder now face indefinite imprisonment
for the duration of the ‘emergency’.
Inside
SchNEWS
Pelle Strindlund from Bye Bye Meat Industry - a group that
carries out “animal rights ploughshares type actions”
- has been given 8 months for rescuing hens from a battery farm.
He’d appreciate letters of support. Pelle Strindlund, Ostragård
kriminalvardsanstalt, Box 215, SE462-23 Vanersborg, Sweden
Cassidy Wheeler an US anarcho-primitivist serving 8½
years for petty theft is looking for penpals to keep up with what’s
going on whilst he’s inside. Cassidy Wheeler #1428456, SRCI,
777 Stanton Blvd., Ontario, Oregon 97914-8335, USA.
...and
finally...
Boom, Boom…For those readers old enough to remember Basil
Brush the country’s favourite fox, you’ll remember that
he wasn’t all sweetness and light. Well he’s back on TV
screens and he’s still causing a bit of a stir, not only is
he fatter and now allegedly a bit camp, but his fox’s natural
instinct to dislike farmers has resulted in an episode of his series
being ‘temporarily withdrawn’ by the BBC. The episode,
which featured Basil calling a bad-tempered farmer ‘manure
breath’, and then ALF-style liberating the farmer’s chickens
from a chicken pie fate. The BBC insisted that the programme was
not being screened because it was “not yet ready for transmission”
and that it was nothing to do with complaints from Richard Haddock,
a member of the National Farmers’ Union council, who said:
“I am absolutely disgusted. The BBC in London seems to be going
down this anti-farm agenda.” Which is obviously laughable considering
the unquestionable support they gave to last month’s Countryside
Alliance March.
This story was stolen from October’s brilliant Shoreham Protester-
which includes loads of interesting info about the Countryside Alliance.
50p plus SAE from The Shoreham Protester, 7 Stoneham Road, Hove,
BN3 5HJ. www.shoreham-protester.org.uk
Disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all warmongers to stop taking the peace. Honest.
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