Algeria: Riots which began in April 2001, consequences and situation of the Berbers since the riots

The Berbers, approximately eight million of whom live in Algeria, are reportedly a non-Arab population that represent between 20 and 25 per cent of the population (IPS 2 May 2001; The Economist 5 May 2000; The Independent 2 May 2001).

They have their own culture and language, which Mideast Mirror calls amazighi but The Independence calls it tamazight and have been demanding for its recognition as a national language and its introduction in the education system since independence in the early 1960s (The Independent 3 May 2001; The Economist 5 May 2001; Jeune Afrique 8-14 May 2001; 24 Apr. – 7 May 2001, 110). Although they reportedly participated in the Algeria war of independence (1954-1962) (Mideast Mirror 10 May 2000), their aspirations for recognition were frustrated when President Ben Bella declared that "we are all Arabs" (The Independent 3 May 2001). However, the Berbers have periodically agitated for recognition of their cultural identity since then. Riots reportedly broke out in 1963, 1980, and 1994 (Jeune Afrique 5-11 June 2001).

The shooting death of a Berber youth in police custody at Beni Doula station on 18 April 2001 reportedly provoked protests in Algeria's Berber-speaking region of Kabylia in April and May 2001 (Amnesty International 1 May 2001; The Economist 5 May 2001; Jeune Afrique 8-14 May 2001; The Independent May 2001; AFP 28 May 2001; IPS 2 May 2001; The Mideast Mirror 10 May 2001; New York Times 30 Apr. 2001; WAAC 7 July 2001). In the wake of this incident, protests broke out in "the Berber towns of Bejaia (300 km east of Algiers), Tizi Ouzou (capital of Greater Kabylia, 100km east of Algiers), and Bouira (120 kms to the east of the Algerian capital) (The Mideast Mirror 10 May 2001).

In the violence that ensued between the rioters and the police, between 50 and 80 people were reportedly killed by Algeria's security forces, and several hundred were injured (; IPS 2 May 2001; The Economist 5 May 2001; The Independent May 2001; AFP 28 May 2001; The Mideast Mirror 10 May 2001; New York Times 30 Apr. 2001).

The Independent reported that "hundreds of police were among up to a thousand wounded in four days of violence." Jeune Afrique (5- 11 June 2001) provides the following chronology of events [translated from French]:

18 April 2001 Massinissa Guermah, an 18-year old high school student is killed in the in police custody at Beni Douala. From 25 May, protests marches turn into riots. At the heart of the riots: departure of security forces [from Kabyle] and recognition the Berber language and culture.

30 April Abdelaziz Bouteflika [Algerian president] addresses the nation and promises an independent commission of inquiry.

3 May In response to a call by Aït Ahmed of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) [a Kabylia-based opposition party], more than 100,000 people march to Algiers.

21 May Approximately 500,000 take to the streets of Tizi-Ouzou.

27 May Bouteflika's second address to the nation in which he announces three decisions: no impunity for the excesses committed during the riots; organization of a second session of high school examinations in Kabyle; inclusion of the identity question in the next constitutional review.

31 May Close to 200,000 protesters in Algiers.

The measures announced by the president did not appease the rioters (MEI 1 June 2001, 16). The commission of inquiry was reportedly "boycotted by most representative groups and personalities in Kabylia, essentially because of the experience of previous commissions of enquiry," and "while the presidency seems hamstrung or inert, other forces" (ibid.; 15 June 2001, ibid., 29 June 2001). Although protests initially involved Berber youths, [and were mainly directed at the police] (AFP 28 May 2001; The New York Times 30 Apr. 2001), they turned into organized region-wide protests by doctors, lawyers, women and civil servants denouncing the presence of security forces in Kabylia (MEI 15 June, 16) and an end to hogra – an Arabic word which reportedly signifies arrogant, repressive, and arbitrary behaviour by a government – and an end to unemployment and lack of affordable housing (The Economist 5 May 2001; The Independent May 2001; AFP 28 May 2001; IPS 2 May 2001; Jeune Afrique 26 June – 2 July 2001; Middle International, 29 June 2001; ibid., 15 June 2001; 1 June 2001; The Mideast Mirror 10 May 2001).

According to the MEI,

The new wave of violence initially seemed mild by comparison with the events of late April ... but as the rioting again spread across Kabylia, it soon became lethal once more, with numerous youths gravely wounded by live ammunition over the next few days and several killed, notably at Feraoun in Lesser Kabylia on 23 May and at Bouzeguen in Greater Kabylia the next day. By this stage, moreover, many localities, government buildings and offices of the local political party offices burned to the ground (MEI 1 June 2001, 17).

The MEI of 29 June 2001 reports that

as many as 20 people, demonstrators and gendarmes, have been killed in the latest confrontations ... gendarmes are also reported to have carried out punitive raids against villages where there have been protests. They have ransacked shops, entered homes, sending the local people fleeing to neighbouring villages (ibid., 14).

Additionally, 100 Kabyles who took part in a demonstration of June 14 in Algiers, reportedly disappeared. The government allegedly denied holding them in custody while "many believe that the only explanation for their failure to return home is that they are being held in secret detention." In the estimation of the MEI, this will ensure that "Kabylia will stay angry" (ibid.).

For a detailed account of events in Kabylia between April and June 2001, please see the attached WAAC preliminary report of the Commission of Inquiry.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 May 2001. Boubker Belkadi. "Algeria: Berber City Smoulders in Aftermath of Riots." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 1 May 2000. Urgent Action: Amnesty International Calls for a Prompt and Impartial Investigation into the Recent Bloodshed in Kabylia. (AI Index: MDE/28/005/2001). London: Amnesty International.

The Economist. 5 May 2001. "The Berbers Rise." (NEXIS)

The Independent [London]. 3 May 2001. Robert Fisk. "Berber Revolt Quelled with 62 Deaths in Four Days. Algeria: Little Hope of Justice for Nation's Ancient People Despite Government Promise of Full Investigation' Into Police Killings of Protesters." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). Julio Godoy. 2 May 2001. "Rights-Algeria: Berber Violence Provoked by Gov't, Say Activists. (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 26 – 5 July 2001. "Algerie. Avec les rebelles sans cause de Tiz- Ouzou."

_____. 5 – 11 June 2001. "Bouteflika face à la révolte."

_____. 8 – 14 May 2001. Cherif Ouazani. "Pourquoi tout va Changer."

_____. 24 April – 7 May 2001. Cherif Ouazani. "Algerie: Au Milieu du Gué."

The Mideast Mirror. "Algeria's Amazigh Struggle: A Conflict of Language and Identity." (NEXIS)

The Middle East Times [Cairo]. 8 June 2001. "Berber Women March Against expression." (NEXIS)

The Middle East International [Algiers]. 29 June 2001. Heba Saleh. "Kabyle Fury Unabated."

_____ [Cairo]. 15 June 2001. Heba Saleh. "Algeria: Simmering Anger."

_____ [Cairo]. 1 June 2001. Hugh Robers. "Riots Without End?

New York Times. 1 May 2000. "Ethnic Anger Erupts Again in Algeria." (NEXIS)

World Amazigh Action Coalition (WAAC). 7 July 2001. Le rapport préliminaire de la commission nationale d'enquête sur les événements de Kabylie. [Accessed: 22 Aug. 2001]

Attachment

World Amazigh Action Coalition (WAAC). 7 July 2001. Le rapport préliminaire de la commission nationale d'enquête sur les événements de Kabylie. [Accessed: 22 Aug. 2001]