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| Caucasus |
| Masked Men Blow Up Home of Moscow Hostage-Taker |
| 2002-11-08 |
| Masked men in military fatigues blew up the family home of one of 50 Chechen rebels killed after they seized a Moscow theater and held hundreds of people hostage last month. The group of heavily-armed men arrived late on Thursday at the home of one of several young female guerrillas who took part in the theater siege. They evacuated two women and two children from the house before the blast. "Hi! We're from the government. We're here to blow your house!" There was no acknowledgement from Russian army that it was involved in the demolition in the village of Achkoi-Martan, southwest of Grozny. They probably weren't... But the incident recalled tactics employed by Israel, which has demolished homes of families of militants who have carried out suicide bombings against the Jewish state. "Whoever did this — Russian troops or rebels — this is first and foremost a crime against the unfortunate people who live there," said Aslanbek Aslakhanov, the deputy who represents Chechnya in the Russian parliament. Whoever did it is sending a message that Chechens might want to think twice next time somebody suggests taking a few hundred infidels hostage... In a cautious statement, Kremlin human rights commissioner Oleg Mironov said: "The blasting of a house... leaves a problematic impression and clearly has a political message. Such a terrible response to a terrorist act tells us that people have lost patience and want a peaceful life." Well, that's what they'll have when all the terrorists are dead — and not before. Thanks to Steve for the link! |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |