From NEWS FROM PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS Volume 2, Issue 5 - May 4, 2000
In April, PHR
Senior Program Associate, Doug Ford, testified on Chechnya at Senate Hearings
and the meeting
of the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva.
In both forums, PHR strongly recommended an international commission of
inquiry into war crimes committed by Russian federal forces in Chechnya.
Visit www.phrusa.org/research/unhchrch.html and www.phrusa.org/research/chech040400.html
For a summary of PHR's findings in Chechnya please visit: www.phrusa.org/research/chechen_displaced.html
Excerpts:
From the UN Commission testimony:
"Based on our findings from our survey and testimonies from February and March, we condemn the massive human rights abuses committed in Chechnya - the gruesome torture, killing of thousands and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands. These are war crimes. While our investigation showed war crimes committed by both sides of the conflict, the witnesses overwhelmingly attributed the crimes to Russia's Federal forces."
1. In conclusion, the overwhelming evidence demonstrates the wide scope of the war crimes committed by Russia's Federal forces. We urge the Commission to call for a sustained, independent and international investigation and to condemn the abuses in Chechnya, especially by Russia's Federal authorities. Since the scope of the abuses is so wide, we would welcome the deployment of additional resources such as the Commission's thematic rapporteurs. In the same vein we would welcome an international monitoring mission with an independent and robust mandate that could actually deter current abuses.
2. The Commission must demand that Federal forces and authorities respect the people's right to freedom of movement - for those remaining inside Chechnya to leave if they desire or those displaced to return to their homes in Chechnya and demand that Russia provide the needed aid to those who they have displaced and abused.
3. The Commission must demand that Russia permit humanitarian and human rights groups unfettered access.
Physicians for Human Rights mobilizes the health professions and enlists support from the general public for the protection and promotion of human rights for all people. For more information on PHR, visit our web site at www.phrusa.org