DATE=2/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / CHECHNYA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259314
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
reports thousands of Chechens are crossing into the
neighboring republic of Ingushetia amid persistent
reports of human rights violations in Chechnya. Lisa
Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says increasing numbers
of people are fleeing heavy Russian air and artillery
bombardment in the rebel-controlled southern part of
Chechnya.
The agency says that since Wednesday, more than three-
thousand people have crossed into Ingushetia. It says
nearly five-hundred of them are believed to be from
areas south of the Chechen capital, Grozny, which is
now the focus of the Russian military push.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the bulk of those
going to Ingushetia are returning from trips to check
the situation in Chechen areas controlled by Russian
forces.
He says many of the 180-thousand Chechen refugees in
Ingushetia say they would like to go home. But he
says they are fearful because of reports about human
rights violations and detention in Chechnya.
/// REDMOND ACT ///
People returning to Ingushetia after brief look-
and-see visits to parts of Chechnya controlled
by the Russians have told of looting, burning of
property, beatings by Russian troops. Even
though we have no presence inside Chechnya and
therefor no first-hand information from the
ground, we are alarmed by these testimonies, as
well as those of abuse alleged in Russian
detention camps.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says the refugees report the worst abuses
usually take place in areas the Russian troops have
recently taken. He says the reported abuses occur
before any sort of civilian administration is put in
place.
Chechen refugees in Ingushetia have told human rights
groups that civilians are being tortured in Russian
detention camps. They say people are subjected to
severe beatings, rapes, and other atrocities. Russia
denies the allegations.
This week, the U-N's top human rights official, Mary
Robinson, criticized the Russian government for not
permitting her to go to Chechnya to investigate the
human rights situation. Under international pressure,
the Russian government has appointed an official to
investigate the allegations of human rights abuse.
(Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/ENE/JP
18-Feb-2000 10:34 AM EDT (18-Feb-2000 1534 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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