Human Rights Network

March 5, 2001

http://www.hro.org

International action: Hunger-strike for the peace in Chechnya

Geneva, 2001

On the occasion of 57-th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, a

group of believers of various religions will begin from April 1, a termless

hunger-strike and praying daily from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., opposite the Palace

of the Nations (or near the Japanese Bell of the Peace on the top of the

hill near the Palace of the Nations).

The aim of the hunger-strike is to achieve the following:

1. To begin immediately a steady dialogue to achieve a political solution of

the Chechen conflict;

2. To send to Chechnya an international group of representatives of various

religions on a peace mission;

3. To render immediate humanitarian aid to the refugees in Chechnya.

Declaration

For the last 10 years of existence of the post-Soviet Russia, Chechnya twice

turned into a place of massacre and eventually became a black hole of

lawlessness and revenge. It is a tragedy not only for the people of Chechnya

which is now on the verge of disappearance, but also for the newborn

democracy in Russia, no less than for prospects of transition to a new world

after the end of the cold war.

From the very beginning of the new millenium, Chechnya continues to remain a

singed and bleeding land that shows disturbing marks of possible collision

of civilizations. After sudden collapse of the Soviet Union its former

republics that again became independent and were thrown in chaos, have

encountered incredibly difficult task of self-transformation and creation of

the nations. But the western countries have not reacted to this

extraordinary difficult process showing neither a clear policy nor vision

and enlightenment of the situation.

The Chechen war is the most catastrophic component of the negative processes

of the last 10 years of the transition period after the end of the cold war.

The international community, despite all possible instruments in its

arsenal, has made nothing to stop repeated bloodsheds, incessant genocide

and terrible war crimes committed during the Chechen wars.

Up to now, nobody in the world did render any political assistance to

overcome this fatal impasse and to begin the peace process which is of vital

importance.

If Auswitz and Hiroshima remind us of war crimes of the 20-th century,

today, in the beginning of a new century, Grozny and Chechnya will become

shameful monuments to our common guilt and indifference.

With this hunger-strike we hope to stimulate small but concrete steps

destined to bring changes in relations of both belligerent parties and on

the part of all the world, the steps that will help to find a way out of the

impasse. This hunger-strike is an act of the praying expressing our limited

opportunities, but at the same time our belief in the spiritual force

inherent in each person. We pray that this force bring changes. We address

to everyone: let's act in order that the peace come to Chechnya.

The initiator of the action - Honourable Dzyunsey Terasava, the Buddhist

monk

Contacts: myohoji@hotmail.com

Concrete actions in which you can take part:

1. To join the hunger-strike and the praying.

2. To write to your government a petition with the request to join in the

work on three above-stated provisions.

3. To write a petition to the President Putin (directly or through the

corresponding embassy of Russia) calling to accept three above-stated

provisions.

4. To call the United Nations and other international organizations to

support this initiative.

5. To address to the deputies of your parliament with the request to discuss

these provisions in the parliament or to ask your organization to join in

the work to implement them.

6. To raise your voice on this problem in the mass-media.

7. To learn more about the situation in Chechnya.

For further information:

Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org

Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org

Portal "Human rights in Russia": http://www.hro.org/war

International Peace Bureau: http://www.ipb.org (section of conflicts)

Actual information and chronological table of the basic events in Chechnya

and around it: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chechnyatime1.html