DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225652
TITLE=ALGERIA VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JESSICA JONES
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT NUMBER OF DEATHS IN FIRST GRAF OF TEXT
///
INTRO: ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE RELEASED AN OFFICIAL DEATH
TOLL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE ISLAMIC
INSURGENCY SIX YEARS AGO. JESSICA JONES REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE
EAST BUREAU THAT THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS ARE ABOUT THREE TIMES LOWER
THAN PREVIOUS, NON-OFFICIAL ESTIMATES.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER AHMED OUYAHIA TOLD A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
ALGERIAN PARLIAMENT THURSDAY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT PUTS THE NUMBER
KILLED IN SIX YEARS OF VIOLENCE AT 26-THOUSAND-536. HE SAID THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOUNDED DURING THAT TIME WAS ABOUT
21-THOUSAND-500.
MR. OUYAHIA TOLD LAWMAKERS THE DEATH TOLL INCLUDED BOTH CIVILIANS
AND SECURITY FORCES. BUT THE NUMBERS DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A
SERIES OF ALMOST DAILY MASSACRES SINCE THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF
RAMADAN BEGAN MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO.
THE ALGERIAN PRESS ESTIMATES THAT SO FAR, ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THE HOLIDAY. BUT GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS HAVE PUT THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AT ONLY SEVERAL
HUNDRED.
UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATES BY THE ALGERIAN MEDIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUPS OF THE NUMBER KILLED RANGE FROM 65-THOUSAND TO
80-THOUSAND. SOME MEMBERS OF POLITICAL OPPOSITION GROUPS INSIDE
THE COUNTRY CLAIM THE DEATH TOLL IS EVEN HIGHER.
THURSDAY'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WAS A DEPARTURE FROM THE
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT'S USUAL POLICY OF SILENCE OVER THE NUMBER OF
CASUALTIES. OFFICIALS ONLY OCCASIONALLY CONFIRM ATTACKS AGAINST
CIVILIANS. WHEN IT HAS ANNOUNCED DEATH TOLLS, THE GOVERNMENT'S
NUMBERS ARE CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN THOSE REPORTED BY THE MEDIA
AND OTHER SOURCES.
MR. OUYAHIA WAS SPEAKING THURSDAY AT A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
ALGERIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONVENED TO DISCUSS THE COUNTRY'S
CRISIS OF VIOLENCE. REPORTS SAY THE PRIME MINISTER WAS
RESPONDING TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MEASURES THE
GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO PROTECT THE ALGERIAN POPULATION.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, A HIGH-LEVEL EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION VISITED
ALGERIA TO URGE AUTHORITIES TO BE MORE OPEN TO THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VIOLENCE. BUT THE E-U DELEGATION FAILED TO
CONVINCE THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW A UNITED
NATIONS-SPONSORED HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION TO PROBE THE CAUSES
OF THE KILLINGS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JJ/PCF/KL
22-Jan-98 9:52 AM EST (1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
