Refugees - Ingushetian authorities lie to press and act on the quiet

The Bela refugee camp is located far away from curious eyes - in the outskirts of the settlement of Sleptsovskaya in the Sunzhensky district of Ingushetia. Human rights activists, numerous commissions do not come here, representatives of press visit the camp on rare occasions. Meanwhile the situation is very tense there: people (again!) appeal for help.

Chechen refugees say that local authorities have recently proceeded from open threats and blackmailing to violence actions against the forced migrants living in the camp. Their major goal - to force people leave this center of temporary accommodation. The authorities act meanly applying the most cruel ways of driving people out: the camp is cut off from electricity, all water taps are removed, and on the night of August 7 unidentified people set fire to one of the tents.

The refugees are deeply concerned about the situation and expect the Ingush authorities, which seem to sooth the public in the presence of press, to act even more meanly. At the moment all the refugees, including old people, children, invalids and serious patients have appealed to international and local human rights organizations requesting them to take measures to prevent similar violent actions against the people in need.

[14.08.2003 6:55] The Chechen Times