CHECHNYA: GUDERMES: RUSSIA/CHECHNYA CONFLICT

(21 Nov 1999) Russian/Nat

After nearly three months of its military onslaught against Chechnya, the Russian army claims it has a firm grip on the rebel republic and is beginning to restore a semblance of normal life.

That was the message on Saturday from troops and commanders in Gudermes, Chechnya's second city, where the Russian army sought to show visiting foreign journalists that Moscow is winning the war.

So far the Russian guns pounding Chechen positions every day have met little resistance.

In this second Chechen war the tactics are simple.

A barrage of Russian shells rains down on Chechen towns and villages from artillery and aviation until the last fighter is killed or leaves.

Video from the Chechen side seems to show horrific civilian casualties.

Russian commanders say they are saving the lives of their own soldiers.

The troops put on display for foreign journalists on Saturday, said they were fighting for a just cause.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We are defending our Motherland. What else can I say? They are fighting for their cause, we are fighting for ours. They think their land isn't big enough, but we are fighting for ours."
SUPER CAPTION: Nikolai, Russian soldier

And according to some soldiers, the local population is even glad to see the Russian army taking control.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The people themselves say they are fed up with this war and want it to end as soon as possible. It's the second time round. They don't have the strength any more. They don't have anything - electricity, water, no normal human living conditions."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir, Russian soldier

When the army took the town of Gudermes, the Russian media trumpeted this as a huge propaganda victory.

As the second largest town in Chechnya, after the capital Grozny which is still under Chechen control, Gudermes could become the capital of Russian-occupied Chechnya.

But there is a long way to go.

The buildings in Gudermes are in a bad shape - some of them still showing damage from the 1994-96 war.

Many of the houses are dilapidated and the window frames haven't seen glass for a long time.

Although the Moscow propaganda machine rolled into Gudermes on Saturday, it will take some time before the population feels itself part of Russia.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The Chechen government didn't manage to give us anything for the last three years. Let's see what the Russian's can manage. Then we'll be able to say what we prefer. I don't want to say anything in advance. At the moment no one is harassing us, everything is OK, but I don't know what will be in the future."
SUPER CAPTION: Aslanbek Rashitov, Gudermes resident

A first step for Russia in convincing the Chechens of its good intentions, would be to improve the dire living conditions faced by most of the population during the war years.

Anatoly Chubais, a leading market reformer and now head of Russia's giant energy monopoly Unified Energy System, came to Gudermes to switch on the town's gas supply.

He said his company was donating one and a half (m) million roubles to restore the shattered infrastructure of Gudermes.

Chubais, a Kremlin favourite, reiterated the official government interpretation of the conflict.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"During these events in Chechnya, Russia is not fighting with the Chechen people. For me, what I have seen here with my own eyes is direct proof of that. Russia, together with the Chechen people, are fighting bandits."
SUPER CAPTION: Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia's electricity monopoly lighting symbolic flame


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