Refugees intimidated by cutting off supply of gas

http://www.gzt.ru/rubricator.gzt?rubric=novosti&id=31550000000007263

Moscow Gazeta in Russian 12 Mar 03 P 2

[Report by Svetlana Medvedeva and Ilya Chernobrovyy (Nazran): "They Are Using Gas To Intimidate the Chechens" -- taken from HTML version
of source provided by ISP]

The preparations for the referendum on the draft constitution of Chechnya, scheduled for 23 March, are being made not only in the Chechen Republic, but also in neighboring Ingushetia. Refugees living in tent cities and wholly dependent on donated gas, electricity, and water and on humanitarian food aid, are being forced to vote, and frequently by "non-humanitarian" means.

At the beginning of this week, many of the displaced persons who came to special centers in Nazran to get food, were given campaign materials, urging them to vote in the referendum, along with their cereal and bread. For some reason, the people who came to the distribution centers were asked for their identification papers, and all of the information there was scrupulously recorded. This alarmed the refugees. A rumor immediately made the rounds of the refugee camps: Anyone refusing to vote on 23 March would be ineligible for many benefits and subsidies in the future.

"Forced To Play in This Despicable Game"

About 3,000 refugees live in Bart, a tent city in Karabulak. Their main problem today is the lack of the simple necessities of life. Their tents started to disintegrate and turned into rags within a few weeks. Yesterday the gas supply in the camp was cut off. The residents were seized by panic. According to the refugees, there was an unofficial order to cut off the food aid for the camp residents and to shut off the gas, water, and electricity unless there is a "show of enthusiasm" about the upcoming referendum.

Elza Datasheva, a mother of five and a former resident of Groznyy, gave Gazeta this statement: "I will be forced to play in this despicable game because I want heat and security. I believe this is another federal ruse to minimize the gravity of our situation." "I would not vote in the referendum of my own free will," Elza declared, "but present circumstances dictate otherwise." Rakhimat Sadulayeva expressed a similar opinion: "Until recently, I was certain that I would not vote in the referendum. I know it is being held just to divert attention, just to make points. They should have made the necessary preparations before holding it." Rakhimat has
three children and a missing husband. She has no particular expectations. For this reason, when she was asked whether she would vote, she heaved a deep sigh and replied: "I have no other choice, because there is no possibility of returning to Chechnya yet. Besides, it is not safe. But living without gas, water, and lights is
extremely difficult, especially in a tent."

Sadulayeva's neighbor, Makhart Khodzhikhanov, expressed a different opinion: "The referendum has to be held. It will help all of the Chechens decide what they want." Makhart once worked at a plant in Groznyy, but now he has a grade-2 disability and cannot work. He is excited about the referendum: "I believe it will mark the beginning of a political process. It has to start sometime, after all," he observed. Most of the refugees expressed different opinions. Some were in favor of the referendum and some were not. Some were worried about personal problems, and others believed that a political settlement was the right choice. Polls conducted in the camps indicate that most of the people there are planning to vote in favor of the draft constitution, seeing it as a hopeful prospect, however
tenuous it might be.

$100 per Vote

According to official statistics, more than 66,000 displaced persons from Chechnya are now living in Ingushetia. Of these, 16,000 are living in tent cities and are directly dependent on humanitarian aid. Zargan Makhadzhiyeva, the leader of "Niyso" ("Justice"), a Chechen public organization, told Gazeta that the residents of the tent cities had been coming to the organization's office since the day before. "We have no information at this time about refugees being forced to return to Chechnya or about the use of other methods to compel people to vote in the referendum," Makhadzhiyeva remarked. "We do know, however, that Kadyrov's campaigners have been quite active in the refugee camps, telling the people there that only participation in the referendum will make them eligible for all
future benefits."

Living from hand to mouth in the tent cities is enough to make the refugees believe even the most ridiculous rumors. According to the "Niyso" leader, these sometimes verge on the absurd. A campaigner in one of the tent cities recently was so fired up that he promised to pay $100 to anyone voting in the referendum (if this were true, the referendum would cost the budget at least $6.6 million). The "canvasser" did not say where the money would come from, but many
of the displaced persons, living in dire straits, believed him. They even registered their willingness to cast a "yes" vote, but only, of course, if they would be paid for it. The campaigners promised other residents of the tent cities that after the draft constitution had been adopted, all of those who had voted in favor of
it could expect the release of friends and relatives currently under investigation.

In addition, Zargan Makhadzhiyeva assured Gazeta that the voting polls would be set up directly in the tent cities and in other locations with a heavy concentration of refugees and displaced persons. "If some of them want to vote in Groznyy or anywhere else in Chechnya, they certainly will be able to go there. No one will hinder them, and they will even be provided with transportation. We have not received any requests for this so far, however," Makhadzhiyeva reported.