By-monthly agency of antimilitarist actions
Issue # 31, January 13, 2000
Published in English and Russian
by the Antimilitarist Radical Association (ARA),
an association of the Transnational Radical Party
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IN THIS ISSUE:
=> Dmitrii Neverovskii appeals to Russian conscripts
=> "Without Us, Please!" - collective manifest of conscientious
objection to protest against the Chechen war
=> Telex:
Radical Antimilitary New Year at the Ministry of
Defence * If the mountain will not come to Mohammed... we
must go to Ostankino! * Elzin's resignation * Where's the
humanitarian Europe? * Criminal proceedings of a
conscientious objector in Udmurtiya * The case of Zarakovskii
was not examined * Sergei Smirnov: "The situation of
conscientious objections has changed!"
=> Second Page: War Crimes In Chechnya.
A comment of Pavel Felgengauer
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>>> Dmitrii Neverovskii:
>>> DO NOT TAKE PART IN THE WAR CRIMES OF REGIME:
>>> CONSCIENTIOUSLY OBJECT!
>>> To the boys of my age - Russian conscripts
I appeal to you from the regional prison of Kaluga. I find myself here because on November 25 the Court of my city, Obninsk, has sentenced me to two years of imprisonment according to Art. 328 of the Criminal Code ("evasion of military service").
In fact, I did not evade military service. I conscientiously objected in accordance with my right, guaranteed to me and to you by Art. 59.3 of the Russian Constitution. I did not escape or hide myself from the Military Commissariat. I was fighting to defend my constitutional right.
I am an antimilitarist. I consider it inadmissible to use the army in police operations inside the country, against Russian citizens. I consider it inadmissible to use the army against civilian population.
In 1995 I stopped attending the military training lessons in my Institute because of the Chechen war. I think that the Chechen war is a crime. A pilot bombing villages, destroying houses, killing women and children is a war criminal. The soldier who has lunched a missile at the market of Grozny and has killed there 1000 people is a criminal.
I was not the only one to apply for the alternative civilian service instead of the military service. This was the choice of many boys of my age. There are many of us now. So many that the generals need to put one of us into prison. Even against the law. In order to frighten the others - all the people fighting against the military-juridical system to defend their constitutional rights.
Now, in the prison cell, I don't feel sorry for my choice - not for a moment, not for a second. What is more, every new day of this war - the war of the Russian Army against the Chechen people - I am more and more sure that I am right. It's a long time that the war is being conducted against the people, defenceless women, children and old people in the beleaguered city of Grozny, and not against bandits and terrorists.
Lads, we may try to stop this folly. Only if there are many of us. Only if the generals with their military commissariats and obedient "prosecutors" and "judges" do not manage to frighten us.
Refuse to become "cannon-fodder", do not go humbly to the barracks to be killed or - what is worse - to become killers. Do not take part in the war crimes of regime: neither as its executors at the front line, nor as its assistants on the home front, nor as its assistants in a quite place.
They may frighten us, menace us, violate the law and the Constitution, they may even put us into prison. There is one thing they cannot do: they cannot make us serve them and become their accomplices. Their seeming "force" is rooted in our lack of self-confidence, our fear, our indifference. We are stronger because they are impotent without us.
Dmitrii NEVEROVSKII
December 30, 1999
Kaluga, SIZO IZ-37/1
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>>> WITHOUT US, PLEASE!
>>> Manifesto of Russian conscientious objectors to protest
>>> against the Chechen war
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED Russian citizens - conscripts and reserve officers - declare that we conscientiously object. We do it in accordance with our right guaranteed by Art. 59.3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
We do it to manifest as effectively as possible our protest against the war, waged by the government of our country against the Chechen people.
The goal of the state is to defend its citizens, their lives and rights against bandits. However, today, as five years ago, the war is being waged not against basaevs and raduevs. Once again our army is fighting against innocent people: inhabitants of the sieged city of Grozny, other towns and villages of Chechen republic, against people of different nationalities - Chechens, Ingushes, Russians.
We are different. Some of us would never, under no circumstance, take the arms. The others are not pacifists at all. Some of us could probably start a military carrier - if it were an army of a democratic country respecting life, freedom, human rights and dignity.
However, today there is one thing that unites all of us: it is impossible for us to take part in the action we do not agree with. We do not want to become accomplices of the war crimes committed in Chechnya by the army of our country and by the order of our government before the very eyes of the whole world.
We also do it to help our comrade from Obninsk, Dmitrii Neverovskii, who conscientiously objected to protest against the Chechen war and was sentenced (in violation of the Constitution) to two years of imprisonment for having evaded "military service".
Those who - in violation of the Law and the Constitution - were preparing for Dmitrii the verdict of guilty - had only one objective: frighten us, make us put on the military greatcoats and go humbly to execute their orders.
They have brought their eggs to the wrong market. They did not manage to frighten us. For we are stronger. They may menace us, may violate the law, may accuse us of "evading military service", make us pay a penalty or put us into the prison. They will never be able to do one thing: make us renounce our convictions and serve them.
We call all Russian conscripts to follow our example: conscientiously object to protest against the Chechen war. The future massacres and destruction depend on us. Without us, the cannon-fodder, the government and the generals are impotent.
That is why we declare today: "Without us, please!"
Vladimir Aleksandrovich SKRIPKIN, 25, student, Moscow;
Konstantin Vladimirovich LAPSHOV, 20, sound producer, Moscow;
Andrei Evgen'evich BUZDALIN, 21, Moscow;
Pavel Nikolaevich LISOV, 18, worker, Kaluga;
Aleksandr Borisovich VASIL'EV, 31, TV journalist, Kaluga;
Evgenii Alekseevich PIMENOV, 18, student, Kaluga;
Andrei Vasil'evich SAVKIN, 21, mechanic, Kaluga;
Konstantin Valentinovich PETUKHOV, 22, businessman;
Dmitrii Gennad'evich MAKSIMOV, 20, student, Kaluga;
Igor' Olegovich GLAGOL'EV, 20, student, Kaluga;
Viktor Mikhailovich KOMAROV, 17, student, Kaluga;
Marat Vadimovich VORONTSOV, 24, journalist, Moscow.
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>>> TELEX <<<
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=> THE RADICAL "ANTIMILITARY NEW YEAR" AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
December 30, Moscow. An "Antimilitary New Year", a manifestation against the Chechen war, for the third millennium without conscription slavery and of solidarity with Dmitrii Neverovskii was organised by the Radical Party and the ARA at the Ministry of Defence in Arbatskaya square. There were more than 100 participants - in Russia it was the biggest antiwar manifestation after the beginning of the second Chechen war. At the meeting conscientious objector Aleksei Etkov has burnt his call up papers, five conscripts have joined the manifest "Without us, please!" - collective declaration of conscientious objection to protest against the Chechen war.
=> IF THE MOUNTAIN WILL NOT GO TO MOHAMMED... WE MUST GO TO OSTANKINO!
December 30, Moscow. An NTV film crew was present at the radical antiwar meeting at the Ministry of Defence, but the news programme did not say a word about it. Other Russian TV channels did not even send their crews. Nikolai Khramov declared: "We have to face a real censorship of the regime television. Now, after several months in which only the Western journalists have been informing the public opinion about our initiatives against the Chechen war and the Russian mass media has been ignoring them, it is absolutely clear. The independent television of regime or its dependent television - NTV, ORT, RTR - in fact, they are doing the same: the propaganda of war, the service of the regime and censorship of antiwar, antimilitarist initiatives, particularly, if these initiatives are launched by us, radicals. Well, if the mountain will not go to Mohammed, ... we must go to Ostankino!"
=> THEY ARE IN A HURRY BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT THE PUBLIC OPINION IS TURNING AGAINST THE CHECHEN WAR
December 31, Moscow. Nikolai Khramov commented upon the pre-term resignation of Elzin. Khramov did the justice to the president to whom we owe "the final and definite overthrow of the communist totalitarian regime in August 1991 and of the soviet power in 1993, the fact that now we live - with all the things we fight against - in a free and democratic Russia". The ARA Secretary has commented upon the hastily resignation: "Taking advantage of the popularity of Putin, demonstrated on December 19, and without waiting for the next June, he may have wanted to set the elections date three months earlier. This means that the president and his encirclement realise what the others begin to realise too: the Russian public opinion is turning against the Chechen war. The tambourines of the Buddhist monks at our antimilitary manifestation at the Ministry of Defence - exactly as five years ago - are a symbol of the political deja' vu".
=> WHERE IS THE HUMANITARIAN EUROPE?
January 1, Rome. "I think that the European Commissar on Humanitarian Issues should find the time to visit Grozny on behalf of the European Union", - declared yesterday to the Radio Radicale www.radioradicale.it Emma Bonino. "Many, too many things were said and written about Chechnya, - said Bonino, - but practically nothing has been done. Even the basic things - I can speak about it because I, as an ex Commissar on Humanitarian issues, know what should be done. Under the pretext that de facto the political Europe does not exist yet, the Commissar on Humanitarian issues forgets about the existence of the united humanitarian Europe. The Commissar should remember about Geneva conventions and to protest when these conventions are violated. This concerns Chechnya as well as East Timor and many other regions". In this moment the European Commissar on Humanitarian Issued is Paul Nilsson from Denmark.
=> CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OF A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR IN UDMURTIYA
Sarapul. According to the leader of the local "Organisation of the parents of soldiers" Vera Kyrova verasar@udmnet.ru, at the beginning of January the Office of the Public Prosecutor of Sarapul has brought a criminal action against Sergei Kamchatnyi, conscientious objector, accused according to Art. 328.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. In the spring of 1999 Kamchatnyi conscientiously objected and applied for the alternative civilian service. He lodged a complaint against the decision to call him up at the City Court of Sarapul, but the Court rejected his complaint. In November the Supreme Court of Udmurtiya has confirmed the verdict of Sarapul Court. On November 12 the enlistment commission decided once again to call Sergei Kamchatnyi up; Kamchatnyi is going lodge the second complaint. The Court session will take place on January 20.
=> THE TRIAL OF ZARAKOVSKII DID NOT TAKE PLACE
January 12, Novgorod. The examination of the criminal case of conscientious objector Arkadii Zarakovskii, accused of "evading military service" (Art. 328.1 of the Russian Criminal Court), did not take place because the Prosecutor and the witnesses (officers of the Military Commissariat) did not present themselves at the court. The court session will examine the case on February 11.
Sergei Sorokin, member of the Moscow Helsinki group, who has arrived to Novgorod in order to participate in the trial as defence commented upon this fact: "According to some local sources of information, all the people who have come to the trial are victims of a great holiday- "Day of the Office of the Public Prosecutor". No doubt, this holiday is much more important than the trials. Judge Yanushko refuses to explain the absence of the Prosecutor. Probably he thinks that he should defend the honour of another branch of state power, the one very dear to him. Well, they think that by accusing Zarakovskii they are saving their motherland from a greater disaster - that is, from pacifism, non-violence and peace culture."
=> THE SITUATION OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE CHECHEN WAR AND THE NEW PRESIDENT
January 13, Moscow. "Now the situation of conscientious objectors has changed. We suppose that the reasons concern the Chechen war and the new president, - says the leader of the "Right-defence net" www.hro.org Sergei Smirnov. - The first and, we hope, the last verdict of guilty for conscientious objection (the case of Vadim Nazarov) dates back to 1997, in Sochi, the verdict was repealed by the regional court of Krasnodar. However, in 1999 the criminal trial of Dmitrii Neverovskii in Obninsk finished with a verdict of guilty and two years of imprisonment (maximum term). We have mentioned this case as an incident. Then the case of Ozerov followed (Moscow, the boy was put on probation). Another criminal case is that of Arkadii Zarakovskii form Novgorod, his trial will take place on February 11".
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>>> SECOND PAGE <<<
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>>> THE WAR CRIMES IN CHECHNYA: A COMMENT OF PAVEL FELGENGAUER
>>> Ekho Moskvy Radio, January 3, 2000, 9:14
HEAVY ROCKET FLAME-THROWERS IN CHECHNYA
Last time I have told you that the "heavy flame-thrower systems" (TOC-1) are used in Chechnya. Many of us ask for more information about this systems. It's quite natural because for a long time they were secret. Only last summer this system was made public in order start its export to the other countries.
In the troops this system is called "Buratino". A 30-tube launch plant is mounted on the chassis of the main battle machine gun (for example, T-72). It launches uncontrolled missiles with thermo baric head, filled with a hot liquid. At the moment of hit the liquid evaporates and forms an aerosol cloud that inflames itself. A voluminous explosion of a terrible force follows.
When "Buratino" fires, single explosions overlap and form total hitting zone. According to the official advertisement material of "Rosvooruzhenie", a volley of TOC-1 "annihilates every living thing" in a three-kilometre zone as well as armaments and fortifications. It is as difficult to survive a volley of TOC-1 as that of a tactic nuclear explosion. High temperature and pressure annihilate people in their underground covers: shelters, basements, bunkers. The advertisement slogan - "annihilates every living thing" is not just a metaphor. Buratino kills the birds in the trees, the mice in their hollows, the plants and even the bacteria.
Today there is incontrovertible evidence that TOC-1 systems are being placed and used Chechnya. There are serious proves that on December 25 Prigorodnyi village near Grozny, to the south of Khankala, was attacked by these systems.
No doubt, the attack at Prigorodnyi is a war crime because there could be civilians in the basements and because Geneva conventions of 1980 prohibit to use "under no circumstances" similar armaments in an inhabited area. Well, a great advantage of TOC-1 is that after the volley there are no victims - only a handful of dust. Nobody will appeal to Geneva. It's a neat job, much better than that of October 21, when a Russian tactical missile with a high-explosive bomb has killed more that 100 people in the market of Grozny and has wounded several hundreds.
The longer continues the actual Chechen war, the more proves of atrocities and war crimes of the Russian troops one can find. For Russia the most worthy solution would be to cease the fire and to begin a detailed investigation with participation of foreign experts. By the way, an armistice with a partial troops withdrawal could not only save the lives of thousands of people who still remain in Grozny; it would also save the lives of the rest of the Russian Army and the lives of its soldiers, dying today in a useless war to help Vladimir Putin become a president.
Well, when Putin has moved to the Kremlin, he has immediately declared that he did not indent to modify the present-day cannibal tactics of the Russian troops because "he has personally developed it". It's clear that there will be no independent investigation. Now, without Elzin, it's clear who is responsible for the crimes. Why should Putin modify his tactics? It seems that the Russian public opinion is ready to accept that in Chechnya the civilian population is being massacred together with the bandits. Our people console themselves saying that the Chechens are all bandits and that last spring the Americans have illegally bombed the Serbs and continue to suffocate Iraq with the sanctions , that the Israelis kill Lebanese terrorists and often hit the civilian population. As if a crime of somebody other could justify their own crime.
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