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US freezes
rebel warlord's assets
From correspondents in Washington
08 aug 03
THE United States today designated feared Chechen warlord Shamil
Basayev a threat to US national security and imposed financial
sanctions on him, including a freeze on his assets. [1]
"Basayev has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing,
acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or
the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United
States," Secretary of State Colin Powell said. [2]
The blacklisting of Basayev under various executive orders signed
by President George W Bush in response to the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks in the United States was announced in the Federal
Register.
Basayev is the main separatist warlord in the breakaway Russian
republic of Chechnya and has taken responsibility for a series
of suicide attacks in May that killed nearly 100 people, as well
as the October hostage-taking in a Moscow theatre. [3]
US officials also accuse Basayev of having received millions of
dollars from Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network. [4]
In late February, Powell similarly designated three Chechen rebel
groups affiliated with Basayev, accusing them of ties to al-Qaeda
and adding them to the US list of banned terrorist organisations.
The three groups affected by that move were the Riyadus-Salikhin
Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs, the
Special Purpose Islamic Regiment and the Islamic International
Brigade.[5]
All were implicated in the Moscow theatre hostage-taking incident,
in which 129 people died [6], and also have ties with bin Laden,
al-Qaeda and Afghanistan's former ruling Taliban militia dating
back to the mid-to-late 1990s, the State Department said at the
time.[7]
AFP
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Comment:
[1] If Basayev has financial assets in the USA why do they freeze
it only now??
[2] Basayev menaces the US economy? How can he? Anyhow, he never
did commit any terrorist attack beyond Russia's interests.
[3] True. But why does Powel not ask his friend Vladimir why a
man of his own secret services were among those who organized
the Dubrovka theater siege?
[4] A totally gratuitous allegation. There is not the slightest
proof sustaining this claim, at least so far. Its now several
years that we get to hear that there is a connection between al
Qaeda and Chechen separatist formations, but when the same are
questioned about their sources they obstinately answer with silence.
For instance there are 600 detainees in Guantanamo, and among
them there are even British ones and there used to be an American
and an Australian also. But not even one Chechen.
[5] Oh yes.
And two of these organizations don't exists ("Special Purpose
Islamic Regiment e l'Islamic International Brigade"), they simply
came out of the magic hat of Powell. Let us guess why?!?
[6] Note the
subliminal allegation - in reality the terrorists killed one (or
perhaps three) hostages. The others had been killed by Putin's
gas who did not release the antidote.
[7] Powel discovered an new slandering allegation: Chechen separatists
had ties with Taliban government. On what evidences do we know
that? Among the Afghan talibans American discovered every kind
of nationality possible, even 8 Russians! But again there had
been so far no evidence of a single Chechen.
Conclusion:
Basayev is a terrorist (or war criminal if we prefer) and its
ok to recognize him as such and take the corresponding measures.
What is amazing however is the strategy of the Bush administration,
which used to lie on WMD in Iraq and now continues as well on
the same line in this case. Departing from a partial truth it
mixes it with an impressive sequence of lies and slanders on a
population which is undergoing a genocide and cruel attempt of
extermination. The Bush administration insistence on this false
allegations can't be explained as a simple error or misinterpretation.
Much more stands behind it. M.M.
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US Federal
Register on Basayev
[Federal Register: August 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 153)]
[Notices]
[Page 47378]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au03-114]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 4436]
Determination Pursuant to Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224
Relating to Shamil Basayev
Acting under the authority of section 1(b) of Executive Order
13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended by Executive Order 13286
of July 2, 2002, and Executive Order 13284 of January 23,
2003, and in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury,
the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security,
I hereby determine that Shamil Basayev [Date of Birth: 1/14/1965,
Place of Birth:
Chechen village of Dyshni-Vedeno] has committed, or poses a significant
risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security
of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or
economy of the United States.
Consistent with the determination in section 10 of Executive Order
13224 that ``prior notice to persons determined to be subject
to the Order who might have a constitutional presence in
the United States would render ineffectual the blocking and other
measures authorized in the Order because of the ability to transfer
funds instantaneously,'' I determine that no prior notice need
be provided to any person subject to this determination who might
have a constitutional presence in the United States because
to do so would render ineffectual the measures authorized
in the Order.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register.
Dated: August 4, 2003.
Colin L. Powell,
Secretary of State, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-20310 Filed 8-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-10-P
Russia welcomes
US decision on Basayev
08.08.2003
By Oksana Polischyuk
MOSCOW, August 8 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has
welcomed the decision of the U.S. State Department to announce
warlord Shamil Basayev a global terrorist and to include him and
his
rebel group in the U.S. Black List of terrorist organizations.
"We regard this concrete measure that has been undertaken by our
American allies in the anti-terror coalition as a new step towards
strengthening global anti-terrorist cooperation," the Russian
Foreign
Ministry said.
The Russian foreign policy agency believes that the U.S. decision
will contribute to "eradicating terrorist threats in the territory
of the Chechen Republic."
An official notice signed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
contains a conclusion that Shamil Basayev has committed or creates
a substantial risk of committing acts of terrorism threatening
the
security of U.S. citizens or the national security, the foreign
policy and the economy of the United States.
The notice that was published in the U.S. government's Federal
Register on Friday is dated by August 4. The time lag is not accidental:
the U.S. authorities believe that if State Department announces
its conclusion before its time, the economic sanctions, which
it implies, could become ineffective. That is why the notice is
going to be published on Friday, just a few hours before the U.S.
State Department
officially announces its decision to include Shamil Basayev's
rebel group in the Black List of terrorist organizations and to
freeze all the accounts ensuring financial support for that man
known to the U.S. government.
The U.S. State Department hasn't made an official statement as
of yet. The Department's press service confirmed to Itar-Tass
that the document was in the last stage of being finalized and
was expected to
be officially released later in the day.
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http://www.kavkazcenter.com/russ/article.php?id=9276 (translation
by M.L.)
Colin Powell in Columbus's role (about Basayev's assets)
Amir Khasan - the assistant to Chechen General Shamil Basayev
in a brief telephone interiev with the Kavkazcenter expressed
his surprise by that statement of the US Secretary of State Powell,
who declared on Friday about the fact that the authorities of
the USA have frozen certain assets of Basayev and structures on
their territory connected to it. According to amir Khasan, who
arrived from Chechnya approximately two weeks ago for treatment
in one of the foreign states in connection with his injury, he
stated that he has available full information about Shamil Basayev's
finances.
Shamil never had any funds on the territory of the USA. He does
not have it any contacts whatsoever with the people, the funds
or the firms on the territory of the USA, which could had have
his funds. All of these are bluff and lie, pure and simple.
Why was it necessary for the US Secretary of State so shamefully
to lie is not understandable.
We all know anyway, that Washington with an agreement with the
killer of Chechen people, - KaGeBeshnik Putin, has declared Basayev
its enemy. Probably for Americans again, it was necessary from
Russia, [to get] some concession, which they gave to Putin-Yastrzhembsky's
hands in this current rattle, for which, for sure, they will obtain
from the Kremlin something very essential and important for themselves.
This kind of barter Americans haven't made for the first time.
In its relations with Russia, the USA comes out in the Columbus's
role, and the Russians in the role of wild Indians, who give to
new conquistadors their gold for some cheap trinkets.
Amir Khasan also called as a lie all the assertions about the
fact that Basayev has got any money from the Al-Qaeda organization.
According to him, a dirty propaganda and temporary conjectural
interest stands behind all these excersises of Washington and
Moscow.
2003-08-08 21:14:05
Why seem these
questions to be so embarrassing Mr. Boucher?!?
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/18087.htm
MR. BOUCHER: All right. Come back to it then.
On the Chechen groups, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, on February
14th, designated three Chechen organizations -- the Islamic International
Brigade, the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin
Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs -- as terrorist
groups under the executive order regarding terrorist financing. All
three groups were directly involved in the seizure of over 800 hostages
at Moscow's Dubrovka Theater last October.
In making this designation, the United States calls on all Chechen leaders
to renounce terrorist acts and to cut any ties they may have to these
terrorist groups and all who are affiliated with them. It remains our
position that the broader conflict in Chechnya cannot be resolved militarily
and requires a political solution. In this connection, we would also
underscore our strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Georgia, a partner in the war on terrorism.
Because these three groups are linked to al-Qaida, the United States,
Russia, the United Kingdom, Spain and China have requested today that
the United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee include the groups on its
consolidated list pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1267,
1390 and 1455. France has also indicated it will join the designation.
And I would point out this would be the first time that all five permanent
members of the Security Council have joined in submitting names to this
Committee for listing under terrorist finance restrictions.
So we have a longer statement on that that will be made available to
you, as well. So now I would be glad to take your questions on these
or other topics.
QUESTION: Can I ask one question on that?
MR. BOUCHER: Sure.
QUESTION: And maybe because I want you to -- I don't think it's been
stricken from your comment, but I want to make sure. Does the United
States believe that all Chechen rebel fighters are terrorists?
MR. BOUCHER: The United States believes that there are terrorists who
associate themselves with the Chechen cause. We have focused, and particularly
in a legal sense, on terrorist acts that these groups, that these particular
groups, have committed. I am not at this point in a position to make
a sweeping judgment about other groups.
QUESTION: So you do not believe that all Chechen fighters are terrorists?
MR. BOUCHER: I am prepared to make a judgment about these particular
groups that we have studied, and they fit the designation under the
law. We are talking about a legal designation, not some broad descriptive
sense.
QUESTION: Because a senior official said earlier today that the United
States did not believe that all Chechen fighters are terrorists. But
you are not prepared to say that from the podium?
MR. BOUCHER: I am not prepared to make any broader judgment than the
one that we have made. This is a legal designation that we have handled
very carefully and appropriately, and I am not here to repeat what other
officials may have said at some point.
QUESTION: Did you say February 14th?
MR. BOUCHER: He made the decision on February 14th. It's being announced
and promulgated and published today.
QUESTION: It's only effective today, though?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes, it goes into legal effect today upon publication in
the Federal Register. As we have discussed before, he made the decision,
he made the designation, February 14th. It takes effect today.
QUESTION: Okay. Can you talk about what brings these groups to be put
on this list? The links with al-Qaida, as we understand there are much
more significant than the U.S. has said before when asked about Chechen
links to al-Qaida.
MR. BOUCHER: I think you will see for these groups there are links to
al-Qaida that are outlined in the document that I think we either have
or can make available to you that we are submitting to the Sanctions
Committee, because the Sanctions Committee at the UN involves links
to international terrorist groups, to al-Qaida specifically. And those
links basically involve training and money links to al-Qaida.
As far as the groups themselves, again, you'll see more in some of the
documentation we can provide, but I can go into slightly more detail
about them.
The Islamic International Brigade was created and led by Shamil Basayev.
It includes Chechen as well as Arab and other Middle Eastern fighters.
This group participated in the Dubrovka Theater hostage seizure last
October in Moscow and has committed a number of other terrorist acts
in Russia. The Islamic International Brigade is currently headed by
Saudi born Abu al-Walid.
The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment also participated in the Dubrovka
seizure and earlier carried out other terrorist acts in Russia, including
executions of civilians. Its leader, Movsar Barayev, was the first publicly
identified leader of the Dubrovka seizure and was killed during the
operation. The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment has remained active
under its new leader, Khamzat, formerly Barayev's deputy.
The Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen
Martyrs is headed by Shamil Basayev, who also created and led the Islamic
International Brigade. Shortly after the Dubrovka seizure, Basayev publicly
attributed the operation to the Riyadus-Salikhin Battalion, the existence
of which was previously unknown. In the same statement, Basayef announced
his resignation as leader of the Islamic International Brigade.
All three of these groups have numerous and longstanding organizational
and personal linkages to each other and to al-Qaida, with Usama bin
Laden and the Taliban, and those things are documented, as I said, in
the statement that we're presenting today to the Sanctions Committee
at the United Nations.
Jonathan.
QUESTION: Richard, there are certain elements in this which raise some
questions. First of all, the incidents cited in the fact sheet, the
only two incidents other than the theater, are the execution of alleged
traitors, local officials working for the Russian authorities. Is that
-- does the United States consider that to be an act of terrorism, in
the context of --
MR. BOUCHER: Excuse me, did you somehow say that taking 800 people hostage
at the theater is not an act of terrorism?
QUESTION: No, no, I'm talking about the other incidents, the --
MR. BOUCHER: No, you can't discount taking 800 people hostage in a theater
and say, "But other than that, have they done anything?" They took 800
people hostage in a theater in Moscow. That's an act of terrorism. It
doesn't take anything more, Jonathan. Let's not quibble over --
QUESTION: Well, so why do you have to mention the other incidents, then?
MR. BOUCHER: Because there are a lot of things, each of which constitutes
part of the case. But I don't think anybody can somehow jump over 800
people being taken hostage
QUESTION: No, I'm not --
MR. BOUCHER: -- in a theater and saying, but what about the, you know,
the seating arrangements?
QUESTION: Jonathan's not questioning the --
QUESTION: I'm not questioning that at all.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, you're asking me if other acts are sufficient for
listing. The fact is, it's the totality of their actions. It's the totality
of their actions that constitute the sufficiency for listing and I would
say there's a prima facie case based on the taking people hostage.
QUESTION: How do you account for the fact that the Russians, themselves,
have not identified these three groups as responsible for the theater
operation?
MR. BOUCHER: Because we base this on our information, on our careful
consideration and study, and these are the conclusions that we have
reached after a very careful review of all the information we have.
QUESTION: Can I follow up on that? These groups -- I'm a little hazy
-- they're splinter groups or subsets of the larger group that Russia
believes is responsible? Or Russia doesn't believe that these particular
people are responsible at all for the --
MR. BOUCHER: That's three different questions about Russian policy.
I don't know if your colleague's assertion is correct, but in any case,
if you want to know the Russians believe, you have to ask the Russians.
QUESTION: Okay, but earlier some officials had explained that Russia
wanted a larger designation of a group.
MR. BOUCHER: Again, if you want to ask what Russia wanted, wants or
will want, you have to ask the Russians, not me.
QUESTION: Okay. Do you believe that these particular groups that you
designated are subsets of a larger group that you didn't feel you had
the information to designate?
MR. BOUCHER: We believe that these particular groups are responsible
for these terrorist acts among many others, among other incidents, and
therefore need to be designated not only under U.S. law but also under
the UN Sanctions Committee.
QUESTION: Richard, can I just follow up on that? The fact sheet actually
says that the group which carried out the theater operation had its
membership drawn from those other groups, which -- it doesn't -- which
doesn't amount to the same thing as those groups actually taking part
and being responsible. It said their members were drawn from it.
How do you explain that? What's the link there?
MR. BOUCHER: I think we believe, when members of a group go to carry
out a terrorist act such as taking 800 people hostage in a theater,
we believe that demonstrates that the group is responsible for the action.
QUESTION: Richard, can I just ask -- even despite that, you're saying
you do still believe that all three groups, independently of the theater
operation, had al-Qaida ties, right?
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Which, in itself, might be enough to put them on this list.
MR. BOUCHER: It may be enough to put them on one list, not the other.
In any case, yes.
QUESTION: The Russians have been asking for this for quite some time
and -- months and months and months. And the first group, which I won't
even try to pronounce, the Battalion one with martyrs -- Chechen Martyrs
Battalion.
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.
QUESTION: You say that they -- the existence of this group was not even
known until the theater incident. Did they become -- did they come under
consideration after the other two were being considered for the freezing?
MR. BOUCHER: I, frankly, don't know the timing. The theater incident
was --
QUESTION: October.
MR. BOUCHER: We're getting on five months or so ago -- right? -- now.
And so this has been under consideration for some period of months,
but I don't know if it goes back before the theater or if this was really
done seriously afterwards.
The issue that you have, and you'll see it as the regulations -- the
regulations often get amended when some group sort of splinters or adopts
a new name or the guy who founded one found some other group and I think
yesterday we talked about the same people having ties to all these different
places.
QUESTION: Right. And earlier today in Beijing, Foreign Minister Ivanov
said that he was very happy with this designation, but he also said
that they had asked for 15 groups to be put on either this list or some
other list. Would you quibble with that as inaccurate of the --
MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't want to be trying to speak for the Russians.
QUESTION: I'm not asking you to.
MR. BOUCHER: I also wouldn't want to try to doubt the word of the Russian
Foreign Minister. So I have to assume that what he says is correct.
QUESTION: Okay. So, in other words, there were ten other groups, or
12.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, by your math, it would be 12, but I'm not doing the
math.
QUESTION: Right, 12 other groups. But you guys didn't agree with the
Russians on about a dozen groups?
MR. BOUCHER: I think the point that we have made is that we are careful.
This is not only a judgment, but it's a legal judgment. It's a judgment
that has to be made according to certain criteria and standards of law.
And so, as we review any group for conclusion, and we do constantly
examine groups and always look at others who may be approaching designation
or may be associated with certain actions, we have to look at not only
their responsibility, but the legal criteria against which it's judged.
And so these are the ones we felt can and should be judged against the
criteria of the list, not only our list, but the UN Sanctions list as
well.
Terri.
QUESTION: If these groups have been scrutinized so carefully, why are
you not also -- and if they are the threat that you say they are, why
are they not also being put on the FTO list?
MR. BOUCHER: There are slightly different criteria for that. It doesn't
make the group any less dangerous. It doesn't mean that the groups haven't
attacked, and in many cases killed, innocent civilians. But that designation
has a slightly different legal definition.
QUESTION: And is there some reason that they wouldn't rise to the measure
of an FTO?
MR. BOUCHER: We look at that as sort of a separate process in order
to determine whether or not the information we have meets those particular
legal criteria.
QUESTION: Is that process underway?
MR. BOUCHER: It's something we do generally for a lot of groups. I don't
think I ever quite confirm that we're doing it for a particular group.
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