North Caucasus NGO Monitor
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Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 09:45:44 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: North Caucasus NGO Monitor
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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North Caucasus NGO Monitor
NORTH CAUCASUS NGO MONITOR
In the last issue of the "Monitor" we wrote about the tragic situation
developing in the North Caucasus, as well as about the danger that the
fighting in Dagestan might lead to an inter-ethnic conflict inside the
republic between the local Chechen population and other ethnic groups.
We mentioned specific actions to be taken in order to prevent such an
escalation of events.
Over the past month the situation in the North Caucasus continued to
change rapidly. Russian federal forces, encouraged by the support of
the local population they have received during the fighting in
Dagestan advanced into Chechnya. Unlike in the past, most Russian
media gave a favorable picture of the Russian army and the majority of
the population supports these actions. Unfortunately this means, that
we should expect a further escalation of violence in Chechnya and new
terrorist acts in the Russian Federation remain highly probable.
Yet in Dagestan itself, we have reasons to believe that our efforts
were not in vain, and though the situation remains highly tense, the
danger of an inter-ethnic conflict evolving has diminished. What is
especially encouraging, is that a number of nongovernmental
organizations have visibly contributed toward this result. We devote a
major part of this issue of the "Monitor" to this important and
unfortunately unique experience.
1. Chechen youth organization "Laman-Az".
The Chechen organization "Laman-Az" has been created in the beginning
of 1997 by a group of young people (mainly students of the local
university) after a international conference "Peace to the Caucasus"
which took place in Grozny in January 1997. It was officially
registered by the Chechen ministry of Justice in May 1998.
One of the first activities of this organization was called "Clear
air" - an effort to plant trees in one of the districts of Grozny,
which was devastated by war. In 1998 members of "Laman-Az" took part
in a number of events. They participated in a conference "New steps to
a future without landmines" which took place in Moscow in May 1998;
were observers on Georgian-Abkhaz youth meetings; took part in the
organization of the Caucasus Forum of nongovernmental organizations.
The organization collected information about the NGOs in Chechnya and
initiated a meeting of Chechen NGOs that took place on July 15, 1999
in Grozny. This was the first such meetings of Chechen NGOs, and it
was an important step in consolidating NGO efforts. Unfortunately, due
to the current war, many ideas and plans discussed during that meeting
could not be implemented.
Before the current outbreak of violence "laman-Az" had a number of
plans and specific proposals for future work, such as:
� publishing information about the situation and the needs in
Chechnya;
� Setting up an Internet page about Chechnya and the activities of
"Laman-Az";
� Organizing computer and language courses for young people;
� Working on the landmines problem in Chechnya;
� Organizing meetings of Chechen, Georgian and Abkhaz NGOs on
environmental questions;
� Creating a Center for youth initiatives.
Unfortunately, the current tragic events forced "Laman-Az" as well as
other local NGOs to suspend its usual activities and focus on bringing
out information about the real situation in the war-torn region. This
is especially important since most Russian media does not give a
balanced picture of events - unlike in the past war (what is largely a
result of continuos criminal attacks against reporters and kidnappings
over the past years).
Address: gorodok Mayakovskogo, 129, apt. 43
Staropromyslovski district, Grozny, Chechnya
Chair: Roman Gashaev
2. New Ingush organization is gathering information about local NGOs.
The Ingush youth organization "Assa" was organized in the end of 1998.
The people who created it were concerned by the refugee situation in
Ingushetia, which still hosts over 40,000 forced migrants from the
Prigorodny district of North Ossetia as well as a significant number
of refugees from Chechnya (obviously the latest crises had
substantially aggravated that situation, brining it to the verge of a
humanitarian catastrophe). Another motive for organizing this group
came from the example of the work of the "Laman-Az" organization.
Though the working experience of this organization is quite limited,
it already took active part in a number of meetings of the Caucasus
Forum of NGOs.
Local activities in Ingushetia include:
� Assisting other NGOs thrrough the work of volunteers. "Assa" works
especially well with the Committee of Ingush Women "Almos" , headed by
Leila Tsoroeva (whom we wrote about in previous issues of the
"Monitor").
� Participating in the organization of a meeting of forced migrants
with deputies of the Ingush Parliament.
� Collecting information about the work of various NGOs in Ingushetia
and Chechnya for preparing for the publication of a directory of them
and their activities.
The information that is being gathered for a directory includes three
components. First of all, that is the official information about the
organization (name, registration date, number of members and
volunteers, equipment). Secondly its the working experience of each
organization, its goals and objectives, its partners among local and
international organizations. Finally, information is collected about
the plans of the organization for future activities, as well as its
suggestions and requests for other NGOs.
Though the current developments have seriously influenced the
activities of most Ingush NGOs, a publication of the first directory
of such organizations could still be an important information resource
for international organizations that plan to work in the region. And
the young people from the NGO "Assa" may be helpful in carrying out
humanitarian activity in Ingushetia, which is currently receiving the
bulk of refugees from war-torn Chechnya.
Address: Demchenko street, 45, apt. 5
Ingushetia, Russian Federation
Chair: Dakhilgov Umatgiry
Concerns over Dagestan - success of NGO conflict prevention efforts?
As we have mentioned in the previous issue of the "Monitor" our
organization, Nonviolence International, together with other NGOs was
involved in efforts to avoid a inter-ethnic conflict in Dagestan
between the local Chechen population and other ethnic communities,
which could develop as a result of the hostilities in Dagestan's
border districts.
The fighting that took place in some western districts of Dagestan
between intruders from neighboring Chechnya and the federal troops
together with the Dagestan militia, provoked to a rapid growth of
tensions between most of the local population and the local Chechen
community. Despite the fact the overwhelming majority of the Chechen
population in Dagestan denounced the invasion and announced that they
were ready to fight in order to protect their homes together with
other peoples of Dagestan most Dagestan people were very suspicious of
their real position. Certain incidents were reported in the media of
some local Chechens supporting the invaders.
Though these were a few separate incidents and they were often not
verified, they have created a wave of negative attitudes toward the
Chechens in Dagestan. This was further exacerbated by the fact that
the fighting took place in the Novolakski district, which was disputed
between local Chechens and other ethnic groups. Chechens were deported
from this district in 1944, and since then other ethnic groups have
moved in (mainly the Laks and the Avars). A program to return the
Chechens to this district was adopted a number of years ago, but its
implementation was hindered by the lack of financing and corruption.
As the federal forces (who were backed by the Dagestan militia) drove
out the invaders from Chechnya, incidents were reported of the looting
and burning down Chechen houses by some groups of the Dagestan
militia. At the same time leaflets were being spread around Dagestan
calling on a total and irreversible deportation of the local Chechen
population. Following are some excerpts from these leaflets:
"...Today we say - enough! It is time to resist! Chechens have no
place in Dagestan, in the Caucasus, in Russia. Force them out from
everywhere. Let's organize a people's deportation of 1944, which they
have forgotten. Let them travel without any homeland or shelter. In
all Chechen villages organize pogroms, take away their property and
houses. Our refugees will need this. Demand that Chechens be fired
from all administrative, management and business positions. Remember
people, it is with the hope on them that bandits crossed our
border..." (It is unclear, who prepared and distributed such leaflets,
however the damage was done.)
All these events created a situation when an inter-ethnic conflict in
Dagestan seemed not only possible but highly probable. Some leaders of
the Avar community have also made provocative statements (avars are
the largest ethnic group in Dagestan, about 30% of the total
population of the republic).
However, as this situation has escalated, certain NGO activities were
carried out in order to prevent an outbreak of violence. An important
role in this belonged to the fact that there already has been an
active local NGO "on the scene", among the Dagestan Chechen
population, which had contacts with a number of organizations in
Russia and internationally. This was the Dagestan Regional Charitable
Fund "SOS-Salvation" (formerly - the Hasavyurt Regional Charitable
Fund "Salvation"), which we wrote about in previous issues of the
monitor.
At the very beginning of the fighting in the Novolaksky district of
Dagestan a group of NGOs from various NIS states signed a letter to
the Russian, Dagestan and local authorities, calling on them to take
all necessary measures to avoid hostilities against the local Chechen
population. This took place on a meeting of NGOs involved in conflict
management and prevention activities in the Central Asian city of
Alma-Aty, Kazakhstan. Though most of the organizations on that meeting
came from Central Asian states, a number of them have known the
"SOS-Salvation" fund through various events (such as the meeting of
the NGO Working Group on conflict management and prevention in
November 1998 or the Steering Group meeting of the CIS Conference on
refugees).
Thus, they were able to understand the dangers of the situation and
take action.
This statement had two important effects:
First of all, it was the first such warning that came from a number of
organizations from various countries.
Secondly, it showed to the Dagestan Chechens, that there are people
and organizations internationally, who know about their situation and
are concerned about it. This gave people hope that their problems may
be solved in a nonviolent way, and mobilized Dagestan Chechens around
Umar Djavtaev - a moderate and balanced NGO leader.
Second action on the part of NGOs came as a response to an attempt of
the mayor of the city of Hasavyurt to expel from town all people who
are residents of Chechnya. An order to do so was signed by the
Hasavyurt administration on September 10th. The problem was that in
Hasavyurt there still have been a couple thousand Chechens who came as
refugees during the 1994-96 war, and had nowhere to leave. If an
effort would be made to expel them by force, it could spark violence
in the city of Hasavyurt and evolve in a conflict between the police
and militia forces and the local Chechen population.
In response to an urgent call from Hasavyurt, the Moscow-based NGO
Nonviolence International (also affiliated with a network of
organizations internationally) had contacted some Deputies of the
Russian State Duma (the Lower House of the Russian Parliament) and
urged them to take action. Such action was taken, and a number of
officials from the federal government had contacted the local and
republican authorities. As a result the demand for all nonresident
Chechens to leave Hasavyurt was revoked. This episode got coverage in
one of the national TV news broadcasts.
During the same days a group of members of the Moscow-based Human
Rights Center "Memorial" had undertaken a field trip to Dagestan,
researching the situation there and encouraging local authorities to
stop human rights violations in the aftermath of the fighting. The
presence of outside observers on the scene had an important effect in
terms of promoting the local officials to put an end to unlawful
practices in the aftermath of the conflict.
Both "Memorial" and Nonviolence International kept in close contact
with Umar Djavtaev - the leader of the "Salvation" Fund during the
days of the conflict. This for the time being gave the "Salvation"
Fund an important unofficial position among the local Chechen
population and increased the influence of this organization among its
own people. As a consequence, NGOs were able to successfully work with
the local Chechen community. In fact they were able to consult,
through the "Salvation" Fund, the leadership of the Dagestan Chechens
about effective strategies of behavior in these tense situations. For
example, they helped in editing statements made by the National
Council of Dagestan Chechens in a way that they could not be perceived
as containing threats. This is quite important, because for people
caught up in a very threatening and tense situations it is difficult
to objectively judge how there actions and statements are perceived by
the hostile part of the population.
When the above mentioned leaflet calling for the deportation of all
Chechens from Dagestan was released, both members of "Memorial" and of
Nonviolence International immediately contacted a number of Russian
MP's and urged them to speak to high ranking Russian officials about
this dangerous development of the situation. Such conversations took
place and as we have been informed - the situation around the Dagestan
Chechens was discussed between federal and republican authorities.
Finally, the "Salvation" Fund was provided by some small but important
financial aid for two purposes: to have stable and reliable
communications, and thus continue to provide up to date information
about the developments in the Hasavyurt area of Dagestan; to purchase
a high quality copy machine, in order to (if necessary) produce
leaflets and communicate to the local population directly,
counteracting any possible calls for violence.
Whether influenced by all these efforts or not, but on September 14th
the Chairman of the State Council of Dagestan, Magomed Ali Magomedov
made a strong statement in defense of the Dagestan Chechens that was
broadcasted throughout the republic. This statement (though it had
come a bit late) had a positive effect on the development of the
situation. It became certain that most Dagestan authorities were not
interested in the development of a new interethnic conflict on the
territory of their republic, though certain local "strong men" may
have for a while considered this as a possibility. The situation had
gradually eased somewhat, though the risk of such an inter-ethnic
conflict has not gone away completely.
Today Nonviolence International, together with a number of Russian and
Dagestan organizations is working on a project that should use the
process of restoring houses destroyed during the war in order to unite
representatives of various ethnic groups living in and around the
areas effected by military action. We are currently trying to organize
groups of builders of various ethnic background (including local
Chechens) to work together on restoring the damaged homes. This would
also be based on the local tradition of "peoples construction" - when
local communities unite to help people who require assistance. If this
effort is successful - it will be another important confidence
building step, which will diminish the possibilities of inter-ethnic
violence in the region.
Analyzing the work carried out in Dagestan to prevent an inter-ethnic
conflict developing as a consequence of the fighting that took place,
we believe that this is a rare case when we have evidence to prove
that conflict prevention activities by NGOs may be effective.
Obviously it would be wrong to say that a war was prevented due to NGO
activities in the area, just as it is impossible even in principle to
be sure of what could have happened if certain actions had not been
taken. However, there is clear evidence of the effect of NGO
involvement in this particular case:
� NGOs were the first to speak out about the danger of inter-ethnic
violence breaking out (in spite of a prevailing attitude of
"patriotic" hysteria in Russian media and among the public).
� The NGO leader who did not have any official position, clearly
became the unofficial leader of the Chechen community in Dagestan.
People, including Chechens who held important positions in the
republican government turned to him for help.
� Moscow-based NGOs, who knew the situation in the region and received
the alarming information were able to convene their concerns to
federal authorities, and get them to take action - at least in the
form of calls and conversations with the Dagestan leadership.
� The leaders of the local Chechen community was receptive to
suggestions made by NGOs, and had even made changes in their
statements according to NGO recommendations.
� Certain actions intended by local authorities, that may have
increased tensions or even triggered the situation were halted.
� The Dagestan Chechens themselves strongly felt that the NGO efforts
to avoid a conflict brought practical results.
And most and foremost - a conflict that could have erupted, did not
happen.
However, it would be wrong to praise ourselves and close our eyes on
the problem. A disastrous war is taking place in Chechnya - just
across the border. Anything might happen in such an environment. But
the fairly successful experience of NGO conflict prevention activities
in Dagestan gives us encouragement, that such an approach may actually
bring success and must continue to be supported.
------------------
"North Caucasus NGO Monitor" is a publication produced by members of
the Nonviolence International - Newly Independent States" (NI-NIS) on
a fellowship from the Open Society Institute in Budapest. Its goals
are:
- to help in exploring new approaches for humanitarian activities
which allow supporting elements of civil society in the North
Caucasus, while significantly lowering the security risks associated
with such activities;
- to provide continuous information about constructive activities of
NGOs on a community level in areas of tension and conflict in the
North Caucasus;
- to highlight the work of dedicated local activists, who despite
extreme difficulties work toward peace, reconciliation, social and
economical revival of their communities.
Phone and fax numbers in the bulletin are given with the Russian
internal area codes. When dialing from outside Russia or the CIS
states, the numbers provided must be preceded with 7 - Russia's
country code.
Names are given according to the Russian standard - surname before the
first name.
For questions and comments as well as to get additional information
about NGO activities in the North Caucasus please contact:
Nonviolence International - Newly Independent States,
Contact person - Kamenshikov Andre
Luchnikov Lane, house 4, entrance 3, room 2
Moscow, Russia, 103982
Tel. (095) 206-8618 or 351-4855, fax 206-8853,
E-mail: [email protected]
http: www.glasnet.ru/~ninis
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