|
|
 |
Basaev Directed the Seizure by Phone
But Whom did He Direct?
September 7, Hostage-takers in Beslan took orders by phone from a Chechen commander, Shamil Basaev, the Washington Post reports referring to Russia's officials. Putin’s adviser Aslambek Aslakhanov mentioned also that the terrorists were called from abroad.
According to the information the Washington Post received from the Russian officials, the seizure was directed by 4 people, including “a bodyguard of Basaev's and a former police officer who turned against authorities and led a bloody attack in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia last June… All four leaders were killed in the battle at the school.”
Let us remind you that earlier, Nur-Pashi Kulaev, the only terrorist captured alive told investigators that the seizure had been planned by Basaev and Maskhadov. Here is what the Washington Post writes about him: “Visibly injured and having trouble talking, the prisoner described one of the ring leaders giving the orders for the attack.” We must note, however, the terrorist did not seem to be “visibly injured” to any of our staff, however, he did have trouble talking, first of all he had a heavy Caucasian accent and trouble speaking Russian, and second, he was rather “visibly on drugs” or “visibly stressed” than “injured.”
We also think it a shame that the respected newspaper, like many other western media, calls the beasts, who shot at our children's backs, such words as “prisoners” “insurgents,” “rebels,” “hostage-takers,” “militants” and even “guerillas!” The UN has labeled them terrorists - why don't the press?
So, here is what the captured terrorist said: "We gathered in the forest and the Colonel - it's his nickname - and they said we must seize the school in Beslan. When we asked the Colonel why we should do that, he answered: to unleash war all over the Caucasus.” “The Colonel” was what they called their commander. He has not yet been identified, the only thing known about him is that he was a Chechen.
According to Vremya Novostey newspaper, the information on other terrorists from Nur-Pashi Kulaev has quite bewildered the law-enforcement agencies. The problem is that some of the identified rebels had been arrested earlier and were supposed to be in jail at the time of Beslan seizure. Thus, Kulaev's elder brother was arrested in 2002 when he was wounded during an attack at the Vedeno commandant's office. However, about a year later, he was released for unknown reasons. Nur-Pashi Kulaev himself was detained in 2001. Another identified terrorist, Mayrbek Shaybekhanov was captured by Ingushetia special services in the fall of 2003 together with Rustam Ganiev. Both of them worked in a suicide-training brigade. Ganiev is now being tried for preparing a number of suicide bombings, using shakhid women. For unknown reasons, Shaybekhanov was along the terrorists in Beslan. “How come were those people at large?” officers of federal power agencies were asking? “They were all arrested, but I guess, the jury or prosecutor's office released them.” “We were all sure Kulaev and Shaybekhanov were behind bars, because they had been detained,” Deputy Commander of Chechen OMON Buvadi Dakhaev stated. Residents of Engenoy, the home village of Kulaev and Shaybekhanov were also astonished: “How could they be in Beslan if they are in prison?” they wondered.
The situation is rather unclear and brings up many questions: Were the bodies planted at the scene? Where are the real terrorists then? Where are the 200 missing children, considering fragments found in the school suffice for only about 40 bodies?
|
|
|
