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 -------------- ¶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