GOA OUTLINES STEPS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE CHARTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000751

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM AG
SUBJECT: GOA OUTLINES STEPS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE CHARTER
FOR PEACE AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

REF: ALGIERS 390

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman: Reasons 1/5 (b),(d)


1. (U) The Government of Algeria released April 23 a
communique outlining the steps taken by the GOA in
implementing the Charter for Peace and National
Reconciliation. Among the more important points of the
communique were:

-- Nearly 2200 detainees have been freed, which is almost the
total number of concerned persons.

-- The communique reaffirms that the "police services" are
following up the releases with vigilance and that security
services are relentlessly continuing their efforts to destroy
the remaining small groups who have decided to "turn their
back to the out-stretched hand of the Algerian people."

-- Persons arrested after February 27 for terrorism-related
offenses will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

-- The total list of persons who disappeared during the
terrorism of the 1990s stands at 7,100 cases.

-- More than 7,000 persons claiming to be relatives of the
disappeared have filed compensation claims. (The communique
pointedly welcomed this high number of citizens filing for
claims as a telling response to activist groups who claim the
families of disappeared would not participate in the
compensation program).

-- By the GOA's count, close to 17,000 terrorists were killed
in the battle waged against terrorism in Algeria.

-- More than 7,000 persons claiming to be relatives of slain
terrorists have identified themselves to the state under
provisions of the Charter that prohibit discrimination
against the families of former terrorists.

-- The Commission overseeing the implementation of the
Charter has instructed the governors of Algerian provinces to
provide biweekly updates on new claims across all possible
categories.

-- Despite rumors and allegations to the contrary, the
communique confirms that prisoners liberated under provisions
of the Charter are ineligible for financial assistance or
pensions from the state.

-- The communique reaffirms President Bouteflika's
determination to enforce fully the provisions of the Charter
in letter and spirit.

COMMENT
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2. (C) This communique provides a benchmark for the
implementation of the Charter on National Peace and
Reconciliation. It also provides figures we have not seen
before in open documents, most notably, the official number
of terrorists killed (around 17,000). This figure should be
viewed against official estimates of 27-28,000 armed
terrorists at the height of the terrorist troubles.
President Bouteflika's low-key affirmation that the Charter
would be implemented in letter and sprit is another sign of
GOA determination to ensure that individuals released under
the Charter do not violate its terms by engaging in political
activity. In this regard, it is notable that since the
initial releases, when there was a flurry of statements by
released former leaders of the banned FLS, among others,
there have been no further media reports of political
statements being made. While we suspect these individuals
have not abandoned their radical agenda or plans, their
new-found public silence is striking, and probably due to a
combination of: 1) quiet reminders from the security forces
that the political ban will be enforced and 2) the press'
cautiousness, no doubt with some official encouragement,
about giving Islamic radicals a platform for promoting their
agenda.
ERDMAN