26 June 2004, 13:29
IDPs, locals guard refugee camp in Ingush village
The refugee camp in the Ingush village of Yandare is guarded by internally displaced persons (IDPs) themselves and local residents. It became possible after the meeting between Chechen refugees and representatives of the Moslem clergy and the council of elders of the village of Yandare arranged by the local branch of the Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship in the evening of June 24. The meeting was held because appeals to organize pogroms of Chechen refugees had started spreading in the aftermath of the June 21-22 developments.
During the meeting, the head of the Moslem clergy of the village of Yandare, Imam Minkail, said: "If the authorities keep themselves aloof from the fight against ethnic strife, we, ordinary citizens, ordinary Moslems, will have to take it up ourselves." The refugees, elders and clergymen of the village of Yandare and human rights activists made a decision to guard the camp at nights in groups made up of locals and refugees in order not to allow provocations. Meeting participants stated they would do their best not to allow driving a wedge between the brotherly Chechen and Ingush peoples.
Source: Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship
