Bruton criticises Ireland's silence on Chechnya abuses

The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, has strongly criticised the Government for its silence over human rights abuses in Chechnya and called for the suspension of the parliamentary rights of Russia in the Council of Europe.

Ireland currently holds the Presidency of the Council of Europe's ministerial committee which has until now opposed sanctions, preferring to maintain a critical dialogue.

The council's focus is on attempts to persuade Moscow to allow observers into the war-torn country and it is expecting an offer from the Russians this week to allow them to join the new Russian human rights office in Grozny. A delegation from its Parliamentary Assembly is currently there and hoping to travel on to Chechnya.

Mr Bruton, who intends to seek a Dail debate on the issue, will also raise the suspension within the European People's Party, of which he is vice-president. Fine Gael's representatives in the Council of Europe Assembly, Mr Tom Enright TD and Senator John Connor, will be raising the matter in Strasbourg. When the issue came up in January there was strong EPP support for suspension.

Mr Bruton said that he had been present in 1996 as Taoiseach to address the Assembly when Russia had been admitted to the council and had spoken in favour. "It was agreed", he said, "on the assumption that Russia, although far from perfect in its existing human rights provisions, was moving steadily towards acceptable Council of Europe norms.

"I cannot understand, therefore, why the Irish Government, now President in Office of the Council of Europe, has been so quiet about the appalling atrocities committed since 1st October 1999 by a Council of Europe member, Russia, in Chechnya.

"Ireland participated in bilateral sanctions against Austria because of the composition of its government, but has not called for, or taken any sanctions against Russia because of gross atrocities and war crimes. People are dying in Chechnya. This is not happening in Austria."

He drew attention to a report from Medecins du Monde whose president, Mr Jacky Mamou, has described Russian actions as both war crimes and crimes against humanity.

More than 80 Russian paratroopers were killed in fierce fighting with guerrillas in the southern Chechen mountains last week, Moscow admitted yesterday. It is nearly three times more than previously acknowledged.