>Chechen leader unfazed by US statement on links to bin Laden
and now we know why. see clip below.
Finally the USA realises that in any deals with Putin's semi-racist, semi-fascist, brutal colonialist regime, it is in its direct interests that there should be some settlement that brings *some* degree of justice to the oppressed muslim people of Chechnya.
Thanks to Chris Doss for watching this theme.
For a number of years the test of real democratic internationalisim for left wingers in the judaeo-christian capitalist heartlands, is whether they will oppose the oppression of working people of islamic culture.
That is the test of internationalism today.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-1204579,00.html
extracts below
Freedom for Chechnya!
Chris Burford
London
________________-
Saturday September 29, 2001 2:10 AM
MOSCOW (AP) - A Chechen rebel envoy confirmed Friday that he had contacted Russian officials about peace talks, and the Russians said they would push ahead with President Vladimir Putin's first serious peace offer in the 2-year-old war.
``We are ready for real dialogue and a peaceful solution to this conflict,'' said Akhmad Zakayev, a member of Chechnya's rebel government. Speaking on Russia's NTV television he said he had appointed by rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov to join negotiations.
Zakayev said he contacted aids to Putin envoy, Viktor Kazantsev, to set a time and place for talks.
Putin on Monday offered disarmament talks but said the rebels would have to accept his offer within three days. After the deadline expired late Thursday, Kazantsev said the rebels offered to open contacts.
Kremlin envoy, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, praised Zakayev on NTV as a ``quite acceptable and sane'' negotiating partner.
Maskhadov fought the Russians in a 1994-96 Chechnya war and played a key role in negotiating the withdrawal of Russian troops, though his authority has waned since and the rebel force is fractured.
Maskhadov released a statement Friday restating support for negotiations and insisting his force was not linked to terrorism, as the Russians claim.
But he admitted, without elaboration, that instability in Chechnya had ``created a good base for the activities of extremist groups.''
Putin has said some rebels in Chechnya are affiliated with Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.
Until the recent offer, Putin had dismissed calls by Maskhadov and western nations for negotiations. He is thought to fear a repeat of the humiliating troop withdrawal of 1996, which resulted in de facto independence for Chechnya.