IDPs and MPs

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

Unceasing rain damaged the cottages situated in Tserovani. Because of heavy shower, water gushed from the roof and windows. IDPs claim they are tired of daily problems. They have no idea to who apply about their problems, because they are permanently abused in response, even from the elected deputies and in fact, chief of MP bureau Revaz Kakhniashvili called them ungrateful. ..

Rain and IDPs

Water ran in the cottage of the Mindiashvilis from all sides; they live in Cottage # 206 on the third street. The above mentioned problem has bothered this family for a long time. Water damaged the cement sacks which were bought by the family in order to cement the dangerous places. The sacks were put in the yard and it could not be protected from the rain. Nukri Mindiashvili said that deputy Badri Basishvili knows about that and hopes he will take care of this issue.

“We have had the same problem before. Water enters the house from all sides of the house, from ground, from the top… Sewerage system is locked and this water runs in to the houses. I am absolutely unprotected. I have already applied to MP Badri Basishvili. He promised he would bring materials and workers too, but it is more important to have materials and I will work myself and I will help others too,” Nukri Mindiashvili said.

Nino Mchedlidze’s family has same problems too. “The whole floor is damaged; rain leaks from the windows and the roof too. Rain is leaking directly through the door in the houses of people whose yard is on lower level than cottages. There are sitches between the houses and water flees into the houses from there.  I do not know how many times we should apply to the government. They reply “this problem is not within out competence”, said Nino Mchedlidze.

Old people are living next to Nino Mchdlidze. Water ran in Rafo Khachapuridze’s house again like in the cottages of other IDPs. He is 80 years old. Old people were in the most helpless condition. 

Waiting for Cottages or IDPs from Kindergarten

Organization for the Support of IDPs was established soon after the war. The aim of the organizations was to resolve the problems relating to IDPs and to provide them with all assistance. The HQ of the organization was entitled to distribute the IDPs in the cottages. Badri Basilashvili, single mandate MP from Liakhvi Gorge, is member of the HQ; in November of 2008 he said by the end of December 2008 every IDP will be able to settle in a new cottage. In April of 2009 many IDPs still remain in the administrative buildings of the cities. People complain about unbearable conditions and inattentiveness of the authority.

Several IDP families were sheltered in the building of kindergarten in Tsmindatskali settlement in Gori. They consider themselves abandoned by the authority. Naili Lolashvili, a resident of the village of Achabeti from Didi Liakhvi Gorge said she has not received any material compensation yet and her family keeps on with the support of generous people and hopes the God will help them.

“I have become an IDP for the second time; initially we fled from Tskhinvali and now from Achabeti. Our cottage is being built in Verkhvebi Settlement in Gori and as officials told me it would be ready in August. Nobody pays attention to us; we do not work and the only thing we get from the government is bread. I have not been compensated yet and they say it is technical problem. Coordinators use to visit our shelter but it does not change anything for better. Our MP Badri Basilashvili has not appeared here; we do not have money to travel to Tbilisi to meet him. Anyway, what can surprise me now? Even during the war nobody warned us that they were retreating and it was necessary to leave the gorge. We realized the danger only after we saw the personnel of Sanakoev’s administration fleeing from the gorge by empty Jeeps,” said Naili Lolashvili.

Ia Metreveli is also an IDP from Ergneti village and she lives in the kindergarten. Ia Metreveli said her house in the village was reconstructed but because of the current tense situation she is afraid to take children there.

“We were told to leave the kindergarten before April 15; we were expelled from Tbilisi too. How can I take children to Ergneti where shooting is not stopping; who will guarantee that I will be safe there. How should I rely on the government which left the gorge before population? We receive bread and macaroni once in three months. Will it be enough for the family of 7 unemployed people? I bought text-books for my children with my own money,” said Ia Metreveli.

Giorgi Sosiashvili, head of Gori district educational Resource-Center, claims every IDP child received text-books for free.

Luiza Gochashvili from the village of Kheiti said his husband needs urgent operation on heart. “My husband has heart problems and he must be urgently operated on. However, it has no sense to bother anybody.  Even beds were delivered here only yesterday. Where is our MP; I have not seen him and neither other people mentioned him.”

There are IDPs who are requesting the money that was apportioned for them. They have been living in the Gori Nursery School N 17 since the war and before that they lived in the village of Kekhvi. These people demand their money for the apple the Sanakov’s administration had purchased from them two years ago.

Discontent People

We informed Revaz Kakhniashvili, head of the bureau of the single mandate MP from the Gorge, about the problems of IDPs. He said IDPs exaggerate the situation and people should not be ungrateful.

“I know who is complaining. I cannot visit their shelters every day. We have coordinators who often meet them. We deliver aid at their places of residence in due time. Previously three-month Aid Program was going on but it ended. The government is very human and continues assistance; as far as I know the Patriarchate also helps them. Several houses in Ergneti have already been reconstructed but people do not go there; maybe they feel better here. As for the money for the sold apple, I have no idea about it. By the way, people living in the Nursery School N 17 are supporters of opposition parties and they permanently complain. When we bring food there, they say the food does not have enough herbs. They are ungrateful! The MP is so busy that cannot find time to arrive here,” said Revaz Kakhniashvili.

Oppressed because of Natelashvili or Complaints about Single Mandate MP from Kareli District

While the single mandate MP from Liakhvi Gorge is too busy and he is “bothered” about every unimportant detail, Emzar Gelashvili, single mandate MP from Kareli district has different problems.

“International organizations are distributing food and all kind aid. I have nothing to do with it,” said Emzar Gelashvili though residents of the village of Dvani also complain about him.
 
The IDPs constantly threaten the local authority with the opposition. Currently, IDPs from Kareli district visited the Shida Kartli regional administration and warned them: “Unless you pay attention to us, we will join the rallies of opposition parties.”

“My house was burnt; I did not get any compensation. I have collected all documents but could not get any assistance yet. I visited the Kareli district administration several times; I have submitted the appeal to the Public Defender’s Office but all is vain. The government states I personally declined the compensation. Emzar Gelashvili cursed me and threatened I would not get anything. They know that Shalva Natelashvili (leader of Labor Party of Georgia) was my group-mate at the university and they do not help me. How can it happen that I am not compensated because once I studied together with Natelashvili?” asked Vano Mamagulashvili.

Initially, Emzar Gelashvili could not remember the person but soon he understood who we were talking about.

“If I am not mistaken, that man complained about me with Dimitri Lortkipanidze, member of the Human Rights Committee of the parliament of Georgia. We had a meeting in my office in Kareli where I met that person together with the district governor. He owns a building like a shop in Dvani and it was burnt. Workers arrived in the village to reconstruct the building but he refused. As far as I remember the price for the reconstruction was 23 000 GEL but he refused to accept 18 000 GEL that remained after covering the tax debts,” said Emzar Gelashvili.

Bread-Wheat, Macaroni, Beans and Oil Once a Month

It was not difficult to find discontent people in Dvani.

“My house is located in uncontrolled territory. I am sheltering in the house of my neighbor. I did not get any compensation; the village is completely robbed,” said Zaur Akhalkatsi.

“Before the war I was socially excluded person. At that period social agent examined my family and granted 85 points to me. Afterwards, when the war broke out, I lost everything. Social agent examined my living conditions again and surprisingly he granted me with higher points. Apparently, after the war I got wealthier. Minister of Healthcare arrived in the village last year and said every villager will be ensured but nobody cares about us,” said Andro Mamagulashvili.

Zhuzhuna Makhachashvili, Makvala Kopadze, Tsotne Mindiashvili, Marine Mamagulashvili and others have similar problems. Some of them have their houses burnt, but those survived were looted. Cows and domestic animals were also stolen… the village was left without any income. Locals cannot cultivate the plots because the demining process has not finished yet. 10 children go to the village kindergarten and parents pay 10 GEL a month. In short, villagers face permanent problems.

People say before the war their living conditions were much better and they never needed any kind of assistance. Now, when they have lost everything, the families live in poor conditions. Nevertheless the government does not care about their problems because governmental officials have never visited their village. Journalists were also rebuked. TV Companies recall about Dvani population when shooting starts or somebody is killed.

Emzar Gelashvili commented about the complaints of the IDPs in his interview with the Human Rights Center. He said residents of Dvani get the following allowances: “They have some discounts on electricity bills; a family can use 150 kilowatt energy for free. This program will last for three months. The road was graveled. Red Cross continues food aid program and people get bread-wheat, macaroni, beans and oil once a month.”