Russian invasion of Chechnya as terrorism scapegoat feeds cycle of needless violence
Elizabeth Kohl, The Battalion
Recent events in Russia provide a perfect example of how regressively Machiavellian the world has become.
Devastated by a series of terrorist explosions in Moscow and Volgodonsk that killed more than 300 civilians, Russia has responded by finding someone to blame and issuing full retaliation against the scapegoat.
Over the past two weeks, the republic of Chechnya has faced Russian air strikes which have killed an estimated 300 Chechen civilians, many of whom were children. Today in the former Soviet Union, restitution is no longer an eye for an eye, but one innocent life for another.
Until this retributive attitude is corrected, the cycle of violence in Russia and elsewhere will not stop.
In response to the Moscow and Volgodonsk bombings, the Russian government implemented Operation Whirlwind, arresting 100 individuals and claiming to have identified the terrorists responsible.
In further response, late last week, Russia captured Nadir Khachilayev, who is believed to be responsible for directing the attacks.
In a day and age in which every major nation has a special-forces unit, however, it was totally unnecessary for so many Chechens to suffer so the Russian government could flush out the few accountable individuals. Russian air strikes have gone beyond simply killing Chechens. After the first onslaught of bombs, about 120,000 refugees fled the region. These people will face a harsh winter in makeshift camps, reliant on the generosity of others to stay alive.
Ironically, it is now the Russians who are offering aid to those they have forced to the streets. As refugee camps are set up, Chechens are forced to accept help from those who caused their homelessness. It was inevitable the air strikes would result in waves of Chechen refugees. The Russian government could not have expected civilians to stay home as their neighbors were killed by Kremlin bombs. An already strained Russian economy has now been burdened by the humanitarian care of these Chechen refugees.
Because the Kremlin chose revenge over peace and justice, they have insured many more will die until one side gives in. The events between Russia and Chechnya are simply another example of violence begetting violence. Russian troops now occupy nearly half of Chechnya, and CNN reports that Muslim clerics in Chechnya are expected to call for a holy war. Tension is mounting, and communication skills on both sides seem to have regressed to those of toddlers.
Russia and Chechnya are so far from considering peace that many events between the two countries have been orchestrated to gain public support for the conflict. With malicious intent, Russia used the bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk to promote anti-Chechen sentiments.
A video depicting the abuse of Russian soldiers by Chechen rebels surfaced recently, sealing the Russian peopl's support of the bombings in Chechnya. The events taking place between Russia and Chechnya are hardly unique on a world scale, as the actions taken by both sides were conducted in a textbook fashion.
One country bombs another, then the bombed country fights back. Refugees flee, and in the end, the United Nations sends in peacekeeping forces because both countries are incapable of resolving the situation on their own. This conflict, like those occurring in East Timor and the former Yugoslavia, typifies global response to old ethnic grudges. Neither side seems able to put the past behind them or resolve their difference once and for all. Instead, they turn to violence and further the chaos that already exists. Until it is realized that peace is its own greatest reward, this world will continue to suffer irreplaceable losses.
It is time nations stopped playing with their big guns and started to regain their communication skills.
This column originally ran in the Texas A&M newspaper, The Battalion, on Oct. 12.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, October 14, 1999
