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DATE=9/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238817
TITLE=ALGERIA HUMAN RIGHTS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED WITH SATISFACTION TO 
A REPORT BY A SPECIAL U-N COMMISSION ON THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS 
AFFLICTED ALGERIA FOR THE PAST SIX-YEARS.  BUT AS CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CRITICIZED THE U-N 
STUDY AS A WHITEWASH. 
TEXT:  SENIOR ALGERIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH WHAT 
THEY CALL THE HONESTY OF THE REPORT BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSION 
BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS FAIR AND IT DID  NOT  MAKE ANY 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE OFFICIALS NOTE THAT THREE OF THE CONCLUSIONS BY THE U-N 
COMMISSION CALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP ALGERIA 
COMBAT TERRORISM.  THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE HAVE BEEN HUMAN RIGHTS 
VIOLATIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY FORCES, AS WAS NOTED BY THE
COMMISSION, BUT SAY THESE HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH.
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS REACTED ANGRILY TO THE U-N REPORT, 
SAYING IT DEFERS TOO MUCH TO THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE 
VIOLENCE.  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLED THE REPORT A WHITEWASH, 
SAYING IT FAILS TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION HAVE REACTED BY NOTING THEIR MISSION 
WAS  NOT  TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BUT RATHER TO GATHER
INFORMATION ON THE VIOLENCE.  THEY ALSO NOTE THE COMMISSION DID  
NOT  INCLUDE HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS, BUT RATHER RESPECTED FORMER 
OFFICIALS FROM AFRICA, ASIA, EUROPE, AND THE UNITED STATES.
ALGERIA ALLOWED THE COMMISSION TO VISIT WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE AND
ONLY AFTER SECURING A PROMISE FROM U-N OFFICIALS THAT IT WOULD  
NOT  UNDERTAKE AN INVESTIGATION.  ALGERIA SAID THAT WOULD AMOUNT 
TO INTERFERENCE IN WHAT IT CALLS AN INTERNAL MATTER.
DURING ITS TWO-WEEK VISIT, THE COMMISSION MET WITH GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL LEADERS.  IT ALSO VISITED THE SITES OF 
TWO MAJOR CIVILIAN MASSACRES AND A PRISON WHERE SCORES OF INMATES
WERE KILLED.
HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION WAS  NOT  ALLOWED TO MEET WITH LEADERS OF
THE BANNED ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT, WHICH WAS SET TO WIN NATIONAL
ELECTIONS SIX-YEARS AGO BEFORE THEY WERE CANCELLED BY THE 
ALGERIAN MILITARY.  THE VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED THE ABORTED 
ELECTIONS HAS CAUSED AN ESTIMATED 60-THOUSAND DEATHS.
THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT BLAMES THE VIOLENCE ON ISLAMIC 
EXTREMISTS.  HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY GOVERNMENT SECURITY 
FORCES ALSO HAVE ENGAGED IN TORTURE, ARBITRARY DETENTION, AND 
EXECUTIONS OF SUSPECTED MILITANTS AND SYMPATHIZERS.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/RAE
17-Sep-98 1:08 PM EDT (1708 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.