Perpendicular power By German Sadulayev, special to Prague Watchdog
St.Petersburg, Russia
In Chechnya, the essence and purpose of governmental power can be understood in different ways. It can be construed as an end in itself, involving a seat in the administration, a car with flashing lights and the right to boss people around. It can be seen as a means of to achieve other goals: for example, economic prosperity for oneself and one’s cronies, and needs to be stolen and then clung onto to prevent it being stolen by others. But power can also be viewed in a different way. In another definition it is the ability to influence the political system, resulting in fundamental alterations to the nature of the system itself.
In this sense the so-called “Caucasus Emirate” is gaining the upper hand. The republic’s official government still thinks that it is winning – winning and winning, more and more with each year that passes, in one long, eternal victory. Although the authorities are slightly embarrassed that they have not won the final triumph, that embarrassment is minimal. The government sees no real danger to itself, no significant level of success on the part of its rivals. That is because it thinks in the standard clichés of power: government offices, flashing car roof lights, uniforms, weapons, taxes and TV. It believes that as long as those things are not threatened there is complete stability, everything is under control. And that since the bearded supporters of the “Emirate” show no sign of wanting to occupy the government offices or appropriate the flashing roof lights, they are simply losers.
The official government is unable to comprehend that anyone could fight for a different kind of power, one that does not possess those attributes. In its focus on managing the economy, on cutting bonuses and making people subservient to its will, it shuts out anything else. As for the spiritual dimension of power, that will follow in due course.
Indeed there is as yet no spiritual dimension, no parallel line. Instead, there is a perpendicular one. But this alternative kind of spiritual power does not mean that it is good, holy, pure, or righteous. Instead it is based on irrational self-sacrifice. Because down the ages spiritual power has been acquired not by winning elections or succeeding to the throne, but solely by sacrifice. For destruction and self-destruction to be seen as a sacrifice made in order to acquire spiritual power, they must be irrational. They cannot be simply a "military operation" with tactical and strategic goals and objectives. Sacrifice has no rational meaning or justification, and precisely for that reason serves as a means to attain goals of a different kind.
The operations fought by the guerrillas of Ichkeria were just that: military operations. Even the acts of terrorism they committed were carried out with a political purpose: the guerrillas issued demands, conducted negotiations, and so on. The operations of the Emirate’s Islamist fighters are purely acts of spiritual sacrifice. They have no military sense at all. The suicide bombers on bicycles are not out to win any battles. While the damage inflicted on the military resources of Russia and even of Chechnya may not be exactly negligible, they never reach critical proportions.
The point is that the Emirate’s mujahideen have no intention of defeating the forces of the infidels and occupying the government offices, or turning the blue flashing lights into green ones. They tried, but it didn’t work out. And a spiritual government can be run just as well from a base in the forest. The mujahideen will never enjoy the sweet taste of power. Instead, one after the other, they will be killed. But they never had any wish for such enjoyment. They just decided to die. The aim of today’s fighters is not to bring Dokka or Akhmed, Magomed or Aslan or Ruslan or even Bislan or Rizvan to public office. So Kadyrov is mistaken in thinking that Dokka Umarov wants his throne. Dokka doesn’t want it. He already has one of his own. Kadyrov can do what he likes – but the outcome will be determined not in the town but in the forest.
Sharia law is on the march in the Caucasus. The Emirate may be suffering and starving, but Sharia is alive and well. The leaders of the republics, districts and settlements in the territories the militants have declared as their "state" are competing with one another to see who can implement more Islamic law. You want the wearing of the hijab? Go ahead! If the hijab is worn in your schools you’ll win an award (say the urban fighters), but if the hijab is not worn you’ll get a bullet in the heart (say the forest fighters). Alcohol? The forest fighters are ready to burn down the vodka stands along with the old ladies who run them. The urban fighters are also restricting and banning the sale of liquor. When the townsfolk are summoned to prayer from the minaret, the call can also be heard in the forest. And so on. In a poll that was conducted in Dagestan more than 70% of the population (even among Russians) expressed their support for Sharia. Russia's political analysts are beginning a cautious discussion of possible legal reforms, the legalization of certain tenets of Sharia: there is no harm in a bit of Sharia, they say...
The clandestine terrorist organization will be defeated, all the Emirate’s supporters destroyed, their corpses seized and never released, their names publicly cursed and consigned to oblivion. The authorities will pin stars, crosses and medals to their own chests for achieving victory over the enemy and for saving peaceful humanity. Monuments to the victors will be built.. And – almost at the same time – the last remnants of a secular state and the rudiments of a democratic one will be dismantled, and full Sharia law will be declared, an Emirate so full of shaytans that the fathers of the cause will be spinning in their graves. But Said Tikhomirov will be amnestied because he personally did nothing wrong, and will be invited to appear on talk shows and deliver evening sermons on TV. And Timur Mutsurayev will sing in the New Year’s production of Little Blue Light.
Happy New Year!
Photo: imamdag.wordpress.com. (Translation by DM) © 2009 Prague Watchdog (see Reprint info). (P,DM)
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