> service industries is their only hope of salvation. And yet, typically > fastidious, the Abkhazians among them find the prospect of working in this > sector faintly distasteful - unless, of course, it is as a director or > administrator. > > The Abkhazians have managed to outstrip their former Soviet comrades in many > respects - there are more writers, scholars and mafia dons per capita than > in any other former Soviet republic. They admire qualities of leadership and > resourcefulness above all other things. > > But, once the darlings of the Soviet regime, the Abkhazians have an inbred > loathing of discipline, officialdom or regimented labour. There are, for > example, almost no ethnic Abkhazians in the local police force - the > interior ministry, with the exception of the officer corps, is made up of > Armenian volunteers. Unsurprisingly then, the idea of serving tourists is > anathema to them. > > This innate snobbism lies at the root of today's economic problems. Caught > between Georgia's open hostility and Russia's political machinations, > Abkhazia is being forced to engineer its own national rebirth. But it finds > itself in the position of a bankrupt aristocrat who, in order to restore his > lost fortune, is obliged to swallow his pride and get his hands dirty. > > The transition process will undoubtedly be slow - but there are some signs > of a change in attitude. Until recently, the coastal coffee shops were full > of talk about how much better life was before the war, now people discuss > plans for the future with a determined pragmatism. > > And, despite all their present hardships, the Abkhazians still enjoy two > unique advantages - the stunning beauty of this coastal paradise and their > special relationship with God, who once gave them this land. > > Askerbi Minasharov is an independent journalist based in Nalchik, > Kabardino-Balkaria > > > NALCHIK AUTHORITIES LAUNCH WAHHABI WITCH-HUNT > > Police say the Wahhabi religious cult is targeting young people in rural > areas and promoting Chechnya as a spiritual Mecca > > By Musa Alibekov in Nalchik > > Regional leaders in Kabardino-Balkaria have called on teachers and parents > across the republic to join in the fight against Wahhabism. > > At an emergency session of the Nalchik administration, top city officials > unanimously condemned the purist branch of Islam which, they say, targets > the young and the disaffected. > > The session was aimed at drawing up a list of countermeasures to combat the > spread of Wahhabism in Kabardino-Balkaria and beyond. > > Ever since extremist fighters under Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev staged a > shock incursion into Dagestan last September, Wahhabites have become Public > Enemy Number One in the Caucasus. Many believe the fundamentalists are > committed to destabilising the entire region in a bid to create a breakaway > Islamic state. > > In his opening speech, Khazretali Berdov, head of the Nalchik city > administration, stated, "Wahhabism in our republic is by no means a > horrifying myth. The Wahhabites work according to a well established plan: > first, they infiltrate existing religious organisations, then they spark off > confrontation between traditional Muslims and extremist factions. Finally, > they start shouting and screaming about the suppression of Islam in the > Caucasus." > > Nalchik's public prosecutor, Anatoly Tkhagapsoev, said Wahhabi groups had > been spreading subversive literature across the republic. These included a > leaflet entitled "An Appeal to the Youth and Inhabitants of > Kabardino-Balkaria" and a book, "The Law of the Jihad". > > He added, "Both works make references to the claim that there is a threat to > Islam hanging over the entire North Caucasus and this threat must be > resisted." > > Tkhagapsoev went on to say that police had identified a total of 382 Wahhabi > activists in Kabardino-Balkaria, 167 of whom were based in Nalchik. The > majority were aged between 25 and 30. > > The prosecutor accused the republic's Spiritual Islamic Leadership of being > too "passive". "The leadership is not defending its own interests," said > Tkhagapsoev. "It must pay more attention to its recruitment policies." > > Colonel Naurbi Zhamborov, police chief for the 3rd Department, said the > Wahhabites were actively targeting youths and students in rural areas. He > explained that, of the four mosques in his district, three were not > registered with the justice ministry. > > Furthermore, said Colonel Zhamborov, an imam had visited a number of local > schools, without the prior permission of the teachers, and had been seen > urging the children to visit his mosque. > > At School No. 31 in Nalchik, Wahhabi information sheets had been posted on > notice-boards and a schoolboy, Kirill Kolesnikov, had violently resisted > attempts to take them down. > > Colonel Boris Attoev, deputy head of the Federal Security Service in > Kabardino-Balkaria, said, "...in recent years, various centres have been > promoting their extremist ideologies under the guise of religious revival or > educational purposes. Their aim is to seize power in the North Caucasus and > create a confederation of Islamic states." > > Attoev went on to say that many youngsters from rural areas had gone to > Chechnya on the pretext of continuing their religious studies there. It was > thought that at least 10 youths had never returned and their parents had no > idea of their whereabouts or their activities. > > Shafig Pshikhachev, mufti of Kabardino-Balkaria, said one solution was to > reestablish the Islamic Institute in Nalchik and stop young people leaving > the republic in search of spiritual instruction. > > The Institute was closed down earlier this year after the local government > claimed it was operating without a licence. > > Pshikhachev called on parents, religious leaders, schools and police to work > together to protect young people from subversive elements within the > spiritual community. > > Musa Alibekov is a regular contributor to IWPR > > ********** VISIT IWPR ON-LINE: www.iwpr.net ************** > > IWPR's Caucasus Reporting Service provides the regional and international > community with unique insiders' perspective on the Caucasus. Using our > network of local journalists, the service publishes objective news and > analysis from across the region upon a weekly basis. > > The service forms part of IWPR's Caucasus Project based in Tbilisi and > London which supports local media development while encouraging better local > and international understanding of a conflicted yet emerging region. > > IWPR's Caucasus Reporting Service is supported by the UK National Lottery > Charities Board. The service is currently available on the Web in English > and will shortly be available in Russian. All IWPR's reporting services > including Balkan Crisis Reports and Tribunal Update are available free of > charge via e-mail subscription or direct from the Web. > > To subscribe to any of news services, e-mail IWPR Programmes Officer Anna > McTaggart at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > For further details on this project and other information services and media > programmes, visit IWPR's Website: <www.iwpr.net>. > > Editor-in-chief: Anthony Borden. Managing Editor: Yigal Chazan; Assistant > Editor: Alan Davis. Commissioning Editors: Giorgi Topouria in Tbilisi, > Shahin Rzayev in Baku, Mark Grigorian in Yerevan, Michael Randall and Saule > Mukhametrakhimova in London. Editorial Assistance: Felix Corley and Heather > Milner. To comment on this service, contact IWPR's Programme Director: Alan > Davis [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > The Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) is a London-based independent > non-profit organisation supporting regional media and democratic change. > > Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, London N1 9LH, United > Kingdom.Tel: (44 171) 713 7130; Fax: (44 171) 713 7140. E-mail: > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Web: www.iwpr.net > > The opinions expressed in IWPR's Caucasus Reporting Service are those of the > authors and do not necessarily represent those of the publication or of > IWPR. > > Copyright (c) IWPR 2000 > > IWPR'S CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, NO. 58 > > -- ### -- >> > > > > >______________________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb >Content-Type: message/rfc822 >Content-Disposition: inline > >Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Received: from rly-za04.mx.aol.com (rly-za04.mail.aol.com [172.31.36.100]) by >air-za04.mail.aol.com (v76_r1.23) with ESMTP; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 16:14:04 -0500 >Received: from leslie.mystery.com (leslie.mystery.com [198.202.235.7]) by >rly-za04.mx.aol.com (v76_r1.19) with ESMTP; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 16:11:53 -0500 >Received: from angus.mystery.com ([EMAIL PROTECTED] [198.202.235.1]) > by leslie.mystery.com (8.11.1/8.11.0) with ESMTP id eAHJruS20465; > Fri, 17 Nov 2000 14:53:56 -0500 >Received: (from majordomo@localhost) > by angus.mystery.com (8.11.1/8.11.1) id eAHIHNI23448 > for crsenglish-outgoing; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 13:17:23 -0500 >Received: from mailhost1.dircon.co.uk (mailhost1.dircon.co.uk [194.112.32.65]) > by angus.mystery.com (8.11.1/8.11.1) with ESMTP id eAHIHKM23445 > for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 13:17:20 -0500 >Received: from london_srv.iwpr.net (iwpr.dircon.co.uk [194.112.45.32]) > by mailhost1.dircon.co.uk (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id SAA76714 > for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 18:17:15 GMT >Received: by LONDON_SRV with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) > id <W0QXFFB9>; Fri, 17 Nov 2000 18:21:10 -0000 >Message-ID: <218581ACEC23D31184CD0008C7333E7F37610E@LONDON_SRV> >From: Institute for War & Peace Reporting <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Institute for War & Peace Reporting <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: IWPR'S CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, NO. 58 >Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 18:21:09 -0000 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) >Content-Type: text/plain >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: Institute for War & Peace Reporting <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >X-Loop: Majordomo @ NSTS > > > >WELCOME TO IWPR'S CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, NO. 58, November 17, 2000 > >OSCE SLAMS AZERBAIJANI ELECTIONS Azerbaijani opposition parties are >refusing to recognise the nation's second democratically elected parliament. >Shahin Rzaev reports from Baku > >COMMENT: HIJACK DRAMA DESCENDS INTO TRAGICOMEDY The blaze of publicity >which surrounded the hijacking of a Russian aeroplane last week could well >serve the interests of Islamic extremist groups. By Mikhail Ivanov in >Moscow > >ABKHAZIA: GOD'S COUNTRY For years the darlings of the Soviet regime, the >Abkhazians now face their greatest challenge: building a stable nation-state >through hard work and personal sacrifice. Askerbi Minasharov reports from >Sukhumi > >NALCHIK AUTHORITIES LAUNCH WAHHABI WITCH-HUNT Police say the Wahhabi >religious cult is targeting young people in rural areas and promoting >Chechnya as a spiritual Mecca. Musa Alibekov reports from Nalchik > >********** VISIT IWPR ON-LINE: www.iwpr.net ************** > >OSCE SLAMS AZERBAIJANI ELECTIONS > >Azerbaijani opposition parties are refusing to recognise the nation's second >democratically elected parliament > >By Shahin Rzaev in Baku > >Opposition leaders in Azerbaijan are set to stage a mass demonstration in >Baku to protest against alleged infringements during this month's >parliamentary elections which saw a sweeping victory for the presidential >party. > >Several opposition parties have already voted to boycott the new parliament, >which was elected on November 5, and are demanding a fresh round of >elections. The rally, scheduled for November 18, is aimed at lending support >to these demands. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend. > >Meanwhile, the Baku city authorities are refusing to grant organisers >permission to stage the event and the Azerbaijani interior minister, Ramil >Usubov, has warned that any protest meetings will be dispersed by police. > >The moves come hard on the heels of claims by international observers that >the voting was heavily rigged by the ruling party whilst both opposition >politicians and voters were subjected to open harassment. > >Gerhard Studmann, of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in >Europe, OSCE, said, "We were very disappointed with these elections. We >expected that there would be infringements during the count but we didn't >expect such a primitive falsification of the results." > >His opinion was echoed by Andreas Gross, head of the Council of Europe >delegation to Azerbaijan, who said, "Despite the positive changes observed >in Azerbaijan in recent years, the scale of the infringements doesn't fit >into any framework. We've never seen anything like it." > >The Council of Europe has already warned Azerbaijan that the conduct of the >elections could have a direct bearing on the former Soviet republic's >ongoing membership bid. > >Journalists covering the elections for the local press highlighted a wide >range of alleged infringements which included votes made on behalf of >relatives or friends, voter harassment and incidents of observers been >prevented from entering polling stations. > >At one polling station, a girl asked me, "How many ballot papers do you >want?" On hearing my ironic reply ("Do you issue them by weight, then?"), >she said quickly, "Oh it's you Shahin! Sorry, I didn't recognise you!" > >In another district, according to OSCE mission head Paula Kokkonen, a member >of the electoral commission was caught dumping 150 pre-prepared papers into >the ballot box. > >Meanwhile, the opposition can barely contain its fury. Preliminary results >have shown that, in addition to winning the bulk of the 25 seats distributed >by proportional representation, President Heidar Aliev's Yeni Azerbaijan >party has won more than half of the 100 seats from single-seat >constituencies. > >Only one of the 12 other parties taking part in the elections - the Popular >Front - was able to pass the 6 per cent barrier necessary to secure >parliamentary seats. > >Etibar Mamedov, chairman of the National Independence Party, said, "I cannot >view the election results as being just and legal. They must be overturned. >If not, the entire democratic world will turn away from us." > >Isa Gambar, chairman of the Musavat Party, dubbed the new Milli Medzhlis a >"toy parliament" which could not be considered legitimate. > >The preliminary results were followed by a wave of protest meetings in the >Kakhsky, Zakatalsky, Kusarsky and Geichaisky regions. Three protesters were >arrested in Zakataly whilst, in Geichai, Ibragim Mamedov, deputy editor of >the Azadlyg newspaper and a parliamentary candidate, was detained by police. >The journalist was only freed after he had appealed to the demonstrators to >disperse. He lost the seat to Anar Rzaev, chairman of the Union of >Azerbaijani writers. > >The hail of criticism has provoked a measured, non-committal response from >the authorities. Mazakhir Panakhov, chairman of the Central Electoral >Commission, commented, "If that's the way [the international monitors] are >talking, then that means they saw something. They wouldn't lie to us, would >they? But that doesn't mean the same is true of all the electoral >districts." > >Yeni Azerbaijan secretary Sivayush Novruzov said, "Azerbaijan has the best >record for democratic elections of any country in the CIS. And the situation >regarding human rights and social reforms is much better here than in other >post-Soviet states." > >However, there have been some signs of compromise. According to the Azadlyg >newspaper, President Aliev has disciplined a number of officials over fraud >claims while results in two electoral districts have already been declared >null and void. Observers say Aliev is likely to sacrifice some seats in >future rounds of voting in order to give the new parliament a semblance of >legitimacy. > >Shahin Rzaev is a regular contributor to IWPR > > >COMMENT: HIJACK DRAMA DESCENDS INTO TRAGICOMEDY > >The blaze of publicity which surrounded the hijacking of a Russian aeroplane >last week could well serve the interests of Islamic extremist groups > >By Mikhail Ivanov in Moscow > >Last week's hijack drama aboard a Tupolev-154 flying out of Makhachkala >started as a gripping international thriller and ended as a grotesque >vaudeville farce. > >The plane with 48 passengers and 10 crew was hijacked en route to Moscow and >diverted to Israel. The terrorist was later seized by Israeli police who >initially informed the Russian authorities that he was a Chechen supporting >the Islamic cause. > >However, the sanity of the hijacker, Akhmed Amirkhanov, was soon called into >question when, according to Israeli officials, he announced that his father >had sent him to protest to the "emperor of Japan and the world" about "the >yellow race overthrowing the white race". > >The prosecutor general of Dagestan then told journalists that Amirkhanov had >thrown a handwritten note out of the plane when it touched down for >refuelling in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. It began, "Attention! This is >an announcement for the secret services of the white race..." > >It later emerged that the hijacker was a former law student from Makhachkala >University, who had been expelled for consistently failing to attend his >exams. Both he and his father were reported to have suffered from various >psychiatric problems. > >But, in the hours following the hijack, the Russian and Israeli media wasted >no opportunity to wring every drop of tension out of the mid-air crisis - >and to score a few propaganda points in the process. > >Izvestia daily newspaper in Moscow reported that the man was 36-year-old _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
