#6014 #6015
[Third Issue of the Day]
#5
BBC Monitoring
Russian general says no end in sight to Chechen war
Source: Chechenpress web site, Tbilisi, in Russian 9 Jan 02
9 January, Chechenpress state news agency correspondent S. Spasokukotskiy: High-ranking representatives of the Russian power [defence, internal affairs and national security ministries] bodies assert that the Kremlin won't go along with supporters of what they call "premature ending of the war in Chechnya". In their opinion, such a "cessation of the military operations in Chechnya would only play into the militants' hands". Russian generals are confident that for the first time in recent years the Kremlin has put into effect "the correct tactics to protect state interests".
What do the Russian generals mean by this? That they intend to continue the so-called anti-terrorist operation with its infamous clearance operations until acts of sabotage and terrorism carried out by Chechen militants are ended, the militants themselves are isolated, and their leaders are either exterminated or tried in court. The Russian military top brass is counting on the Kremlin not making a political decision to start peace talks with Aslan Maskhadov's administration. They predict that "by the spring all groups of fighters still capable of resisting federal forces will be destroyed".
In an interview with your correspondent, one of the Russian generals admitted that the tactics of clearance operations, including "certain punitive measures against the civilian population" have fully justified themselves. According to him, punitive measures affect primarily those families that render direct assistance to Chechen fighters.
The general maintains that "due to the extensive efforts taken by the Russian special services and their agents among the local population", the federals possess up-to-date information on practically every Chechen family and are well aware of those who fight against them and of those among the civilian population who support the fighters". According to the general's information, "it is a bit more difficult to monitor the situation in refugee camps in Ingushetia." The Russian general is most angered by Chechen families that frequently move about, especially from Ingushetia to Chechnya, and vice versa. The general believes that "the number of those supporting Chechen fighters is especially high" amongst these refugees.
When asked "What next, when new generations of Chechens grow up? What are you (the federals) counting on?" the general muttered evasively: "We will first accomplish our key anti-terrorist operation missions, appoint normal people to govern Chechnya, give the nation order and tranquility, and then, who knows, the younger generations may start learning the lessons from the accounts of their elders and will not want to go into this hell again!"
"But history proves the opposite?!", I objected. "Then we will give them (Chechens) what-for. Repetition, as Suvorov used to say, is the mother of learning. And they cannot do a damn thing (the style of the interview has not been changed) to Russia. If they want to live like people, they will, if they don't, we will crush them to powder!"
"All of them?", I queried. "If we have to, we will!", was the answer. "And how about the right of nations to self-determination? Democracy, at last?", I tried to argue. "I don't give a damn about your democracy! And the rights too! Things will be the way the country needs them. And those who care about the country will understand such democracy. To explain is not our business. Our fucking business is to protect the Motherland!" (the general's style has been left unchanged), our interlocutor concluded.
P.S. I will not dignify this with any comment, as I think the opinion provided needs no commentary at all!
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