Students Chechnya protests quiet down<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two groups of Moslem students yesterday staged a
\npeaceful but noisy demonstration outside the Russian embassy, calling
\nfor the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya.<\/p>\n
Around 70 members of the Communication Forum for Young Moslems
\nGeneration demonstrated in front of the embassy carrying banners and
\nposters protesting Moscow's military actions in the predominantly
\nMoslem region of Chechnya.<\/p>\n
Female students wearing headscarves were included in the group,
\nchanting Koranic verses and yelling Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
\nFrom the Russian embassy, they went on to the United Nations
\nrepresentative building to deliver their petition.<\/p>\n
\"We protest...the military intervention because it's great
\ncruelty,\" the students said in their statement. \"We demand that the
\nRussian government stop its actions and pull its troops out of
\nChechnya.\"<\/p>\n
They also demanded that Chechnya's declaration of independence
\nand sovereignty be recognized and that international bodies allow the
\nUN to intervene and help solve the conflicts ravaging the Caucasian
\nregion.<\/p>\n
\"To the United States and European countries: you defend Kuwait
\nbut you neglect Bosnia and Chechnya,\" cried one banner carried by the
\nfemale students.<\/p>\n
Ansor Youth<\/p>\n
Later on in the morning, another group of youths came to the
\nRussian embassy and were received by some officials. The members of
\nthe Ansor Youth, an organization under the largest Moslem
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), also carried banners and posters.<\/p>\n
\"We condemn the Russian military aggression against Chechnya as
\nbarbaric, anti-democratic and as absolute oppression,\" the students
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
They demanded that NU and other international organizations
\nsolve the situation \"by any means and effort necessary to get Russian
\ntroops out of Chechnya as soon as possible\".<\/p>\n
\"Yeltsin, go to hell!\" one of their posters read.<\/p>\n
The youths, led by Syaifullah Maksum, also lashed out at
\ncountries that talk to no end about the upholding of human rights but
\n\"always base their decisions on their geo-strategic, geopolitical and
\ngeo-economical interests\" yet fail to take \"concrete measures\"
\ntowards finding a solution in Chechnya.<\/p>\n
They also urged the Indonesian government, as current chairman
\nof the 111-country Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to take the initiative
\nand put a stop to \"massacre\" in Chechnya.<\/p>\n
\"Our Constitution mandates that freedom is the right of every
\nnation, and that oppression must be erased as it violates humanity
\nand justice,\" the students said.<\/p>\n
\"Unless some concrete measures are taken, we're afraid that
\nChechnya's tragedy might set a precedent for other similar disasters
\nthat could befall other nations,\" they said.<\/p>\n
According to the students, the officials at the Russian embassy
\nhad told them that Chechnya part of their territory and is therefore
\nRussia's \"domestic affair\".<\/p>\n
\"That's what they said...but we still see Russian intervention
\nas an act of oppression,\" Syaifullah said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's protests were the fourth and fifth demonstrations to
\nbe held outside of the Russian embassy concerning Chechnya. The
\nstudents pledged that they will keep up their efforts until they see
\n\"real actions\" taken to correct the situation. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-chechnya-protests-quiet-down-1447893297",
"image": ""
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