Albert

Chechen horror

Now that the razed Chechen capital, Grozny, has been opened to reporters and TV cameras, the outside world is becoming aware of the horrors perpetrated in Chechnya over the past several months by Russian forces. This awareness must be translated into action. Strategic and regional considerations aside, the United States and the rest of the international community can no longer ignore their humanitarian obligation to alleviate - and end - the suffering of the Chechens.

The human rights commissioner of the Council of Europe, Alvaro Gil-Robles, was allowed to visit Grozny Monday and was stunned by what he witnessed. ''The destruction is really massive, it leaves a very strong impression,'' he said. ''It's necessary to stop this war as soon as possible. It's necessary to help this population.''

This appeal followed closely upon a draft report by Human Rights Watch on Russian atrocities against civilians Feb. 5 in the Grozny suburb of Aldi. Human Rights Watch labeled as war crimes the killing, raping, and looting and demanded that they be investigated and punished.

A unanimous sense-of-the-Senate resolution proposed by Paul Wellstone, Democrat of Minnesota, called last week for an immediate cessation of Russian military operations in Chechnya, investigation and prosecution of atrocities, permission for an international monitoring mission to investigate and report on war crimes in Chechnya, and ''immediate full and unimpeded access to Chechen civilians'' by international humanitarian agencies.

These suggestions ought to guide the Clinton administration's approach to the calamity created in Chechnya. Continued solicitude for the patriotic feelings of acting President Vladimir Putin and his entourage will only make things worse - not only for Chechens, but for Russians as well.

If Putin does not negotiate a peace with Chechen leaders soon, the conflict is certain to enter a new phase of protracted guerrilla warfare that may lead to a proliferation of hostilities across the northern Caucasus and eventually the unraveling of the Russian Federation.

This story ran on page A16 of the Boston Globe on 2/29/2000.

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