Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS1249
2006-07-09 11:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA PARDONS JOURNALISTS, SEEKS

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PHUM AG 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #1249 1901116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091116Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1520
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1370
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6221
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1328
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1883
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0783
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2711
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS ALGIERS 001249 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM AG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA PARDONS JOURNALISTS, SEEKS
FRESH START

REF: A. ALGIERS 1075


B. ALGIERS 851

NO MORE JOURNALISTS PENDING TRIAL OR IN JAIL
---------------------------------------------

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001249

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM AG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA PARDONS JOURNALISTS, SEEKS
FRESH START

REF: A. ALGIERS 1075


B. ALGIERS 851

NO MORE JOURNALISTS PENDING TRIAL OR IN JAIL
--------------


1. (U) On the occasion of Algerian National Day (July 5),
President Bouteflika announced July 3 the unconditional
pardon of all journalists in Algeria convicted of or facing
charges of defamation. The announcement followed the
"definitive convictions" of several journalists in previous
days so they could take advantage of the pardon originally
announced May 2 but not implemented because it covered only
those journalists with definitive convictions, not those
whose cases were under appeal. (Note: The number of
complaints set aside by Bouteflika's pardon was 83 by post's
count. Some 30 journalists were affected by the pardon.)
While some journalists, including the Benchicou Committee
which advocates for press freedoms, would like to have seen
Bouteflika go further by calling for changing the penal code
to decriminalize defamation, Bouteflika's announcement was
widely praised in the July 4 press. Liberte, a leading
French-language daily, quoted Bouteflika as describing the
decision in terms of "resetting the counter to zero" on
defamation.


2. (SBU) The lawyer representing the journalists charged
with or convicted of defamation told PolEc Chief July 3 that
the GOA hoped the pardons would encourage journalists to
refrain from attacking government officials personally and
lead to a reduction in the tensions between the press and
government. A leading FLN member of Parliament also
commented to PolEc Chief July 3 that the GOA wanted Algeria
to be portrayed in the international community as a country
that respects press freedoms. He admitted that the
defamation cases were hurting Algeria's image -- at home and
abroad -- to the point of doing more harm than good. This
member of Parliament added that while pressure from the
United States and European Union played a role in
Bouteflika's decision, the President -- and many others in
government -- had determined that the "internal climate" was
ripe for a change. (Comment: It was increasingly untenable
for the government to pursue reconciliation and pardon
terrorists while not extending a similar pardon to
journalists. Ali Dilem, a leading political cartoonist,
himself charged with 24 counts of defamation, aptly captured
the incoherence of the government's position with a recent
cartoon indicating it was okay to have blood, but not ink, on
your hands.)

GOVERNMENT OPENS DIALOGUE
--------------

3, (U) The newly appointed Minister of Communications,
El-Hachemi Djiar, paved the way for the President's
announcement by holding a June 29 "brainstorming session"
with the principal representatives of the press. Djiar
characterized the conclusions dawn from those discussions as
"good" and said it was clear the press needed more
professionalism, but also more resources and new protections
for journalists in the course of their daily work. Djiar
stressed in his public remarks Bouteflika's willingness to
improve the government's communications with the press. He
also remarked that consideration could be given in due time
to allowing private television and radio broadcasting.

ERDMAN