Condemning Recent Events in Kabylia
DECLARATION
Condemning Recent Events in Kabylia
World Algeria Action Coalition
May 1, 2001
The lack of the most basic human rights–that of one’s self identification–as well as the authoritarian and adamant denial to recognize the indigenous language, Tamazight, along with continued harassment and humiliation from the authorities in an attempt to strip the people of their dignity, their language, their culture, and their identity, has led, once again–twenty-one years later–to an explosion of fire and blood in the densely-populated region of Kabylia in Algeria.
After the assassination of a young studentarrested allegedly for insulting the police, along with two othersat the police station in Beni-Douala, the peaceful demonstration for recognition of the Tamazight language, held on Friday, April 20, 2001, as a commemoration of the repressive and bloody events of 1980, turned into violent confrontations, which have continued for over a week as police continue to further ignite the fire with reported incidents of brutality. The result so far has been at least 80 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and the destruction of several government institutions throughout the region.
We, the undersigned, uncompromisingly denounce:
· the continued provocation of the Amazigh, in general, and Kabylia, in particular;
· the massive repression of the Algerian population; and
· the assassination of youth, committed with impunity by the police forces in the Kabylia region.
We demand the immediate termination of repression and utilization of firearms against the population and the establishment of an international inquiry to rapidly illuminate the facts of this tragedy and identify those responsible.
We salute the determination of the Amazigh youth, who defend the dignity of their people at the price of their lives.
We declare solidarity with the family of martyrs, assuring them of our compassion during this difficult time, and with those who mobilize people to fight against the injustice and tyranny of the pouvoir through peaceful means.
We call the national and international community to react and rise against this massive violation of all human rights by the pouvoir in Kabylia.
Blanca Madani
WAAC Founder-President
Washington, D.C., USA
Virginie Kharouby
WAAC Vice-President and Head of WAAC in France
Paris, France
[This petition has been sent to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the
media (especially Algerian media), the United Nations, the Algerian
embassies in Canada and the U.S., and to human rights organizations.]
List of original signatories (alphabetical order):
Ahmed Lachgar Agwilal, Tamaynut National Council Member and Representative
of Amazigh Commission On Development and Human Rights In America
Merzouk Allache (California, USA)
Moh Alileche, Amazigh singer (California, USA)
Krimo Bouaou, software engineer (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Mo Benali (USA)
Karim Boughida, information architect (California, USA)
Renée Bornstein (California, USA)
Driss Chalabi, chef d’entreprise (Switzerland)
Rachida Tefassed Djebel, ACAA member (Windsor Mill, Maryland, USA)
Benjamin Djerroud, university researcher (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Faouzi Houha, enseignant (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)
Dalila Fridi, computer analyst (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Lise Garon, professeure, Département d’information et de communication,
Université Laval, Quebec (P. Quebec, Canada)
Aziz Gouali (Austria)
Ali Haouchine, political scientist (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Sadek Haddadou (California, USA)
Kathy Kramer (California, USA)
Hsen Larbi (USA)
David Sanchez Molina, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (UPC) (Barcelona,Spain)
Makhlouf Redjdal (USA)
Mitch Ritter, co-founder: BAAG (Bay Airwave Auditors Group) (Concord,California, USA)
Myriem F. Saddok, marketing specialist (San Diego, California, USA)
Rabah Seffal (USA)
Additional signatories, in receiving order (updated May 28, 2001):
Amar Khennane, scientist (Australia)
Pascal Holenweg, politologue, Coordinateur Commission socialiste de solidarité internationale (Geneva, Switzerland)
Steven Fine, accountant (Bowie, Maryland, USA)
Heba Nimr, law student (California, USA)
Rasha Mumneh, student (Beirut, Lebanon)
Suhair Al Qadasi, student (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Moza Al Faqeer, businesswoman (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Mr. and Mrs. Manuel E. Pérez (Los Angeles, California)
Marco Antonio Pérez (Indiana, USA)
Marco T. and Antonia Pérez (Florida, USA)
Jeannette K. McIntosh (Washington, USA)
Omar Senouci (Geneva, Switzerland)
Luzia Ricci (Maryland, USA)
Dr. M’hand Mechekak, engineer (Mexico City, Mexico)
Asma Regragui (Florenceville, N.B., Canada)
Samira Ibrahim, activist (New York, NY)
Dr. Salah Badjou, Professor (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Amara Houria, ancien membre du conseil national du FFS (Algeria)
Karim Kettani, jurist (Sweden)
Gary C. Gambill (USA)
Farida Benmansour-Sellami (USA)
Fauzi Sellami (USA)
Nacer Belabbes, analag IC design (Toronto, Canada)
Azzedine Mansour, architect and city planner (Montreal, Canada)
Mouloud Idir, Group for research and initiatives for liberation of Africa (Grila, Montreal, Canada)
Djamel Aissat (Pullman, Washington)
Boualem Aourane (Montreal, Canada)
Hocine Sayad (South Bay, California)
Ouiza Sayad, dentist (South Bay, California)
Mourad Louali (Ldjemaa N Saridj, Grande Kabylie, Algérie)
Valerie Reibel (Alsace, France)
Mohamed S Mesloub (New Jersey, USA)
Rabah Belkebir, USARMY disabled veterant (New York)
Saadi Louali, ingenieur, MBA (Canada)
Chabha Belabid, ingenieur, MSC (Canada)
Ouidja Boussad, ingenieur mecanique (Montreal, Canada)
Kahel Chafia, ingenieur en informatique (Montreal, Canada)
Aicha Ouaret (Canada)
Said Azzi (Canada)
Yahia Belkebir (USA)
Fazia Aitel (New York)
Meziane Ait Mimoun, medical doctor (Paris, France)
David Benhamou, anthropologue (Paris, France)
Richie (Arezki) Slimani, ingenieur en informatique (New York, USA)
Daisy L. Perez (New York, USA)
Moh Cherif Merbah (New York, USA)
Abdel Khemisi (New York, USA)
Akli Kebaili (Germany)
Dr Mehdi Azwaw, chercheur (Paris, France)
Iskander Debbache, director de la publicación de : Perspectivas Latino Africanas
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Yazid at Yaagun (Djerbib) (Ottawa, Canada)
Jimmy Alloul, real estate broker (New York, USA)
Belkacem Lounes, universitaire (Grenoble, France)
Dr. Adel Chems-Eddine, university Professor, University of Algiers (Algiers, Algeria)
Amor Nouri, Project Manager (USA)
Abdenour Maza (Germany)
Achour Ouamara, Université Stendhal de Grenoble, Département Informatique Pédagogique (Grenoble, France)
Karim Achab, University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada)
Jeffrey Blankfort, former editor, Middle East Labor Bulletin (San Francisco, California)
Elisa de la Torre, respiratory therapist (California)
Ourida Sadaoui, Accountant (Australia)
Kamal Bouaissi London (U.K.)
Frawsen Gari (political economist, Sweden)
Ighmouracen Khelifa (Stockholm, Sweden)
Farid Belkadi (USA)
Shiraz Belkadi (USA)
Meziane Touati (USA)
Hakim Foudi (USA)
Said Cherifi (USA)
Mokrane Ougache (USA)
Khider Ahmim (USA)
Vyshlush Bucky (New York, USA)
Louiza Sellami (USA)
Philippe Ouali, hotel manager (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)
Mokrane J. Ourad, IT-Strategist (Sweden)
Ellis Johansson, student (Sweden)
Rachid Beguenane, Doctor-Engineer Telecommunications (Ottawa-Canada)
Stéphane Arrami, Association Kabyle France International (AKFI) –
Kabyle.com Emazighen Search (Lyon, France)
Ahmed Bouchebaba (Ottawa, Canada)
Arav Benyounès (Hull, Canada)
Malika Mehenni (Hull, Canada)
Mohamed Sebti, enseignant (Montréal, Canada)
Houria Chami, enseignante (Montréal, Canada)
Farida Bouferguene (Hull, Canada)
Bélaid Seffal, ingenieur (Montréal Canada)
Sennad Saliha, Computer Science Student (Ottawa – Canada)
Salah Haddad, enseignant (Montréal)
Mohand-Saïd Hacid, Professeur (Lyon, France)
Ann Azegagh (Sandnessjøen, Norway)
Abdenour Bouzouane, Professeur (Québec, Canada)
Mahfoud Hamadouche IT analyst (London, UK)
Arezki Sadat, Journalist, daily Zycie (Warsaw, Poland)
Mourad Itim, Tech, Télécom (Montréal, Canada)
Lila Kecili (Montréal, Canada)
Yahia L’Hocine, professeur Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal (Montreal, Canada)
Boualame Mokrane, IT engineer (California)
Said Benamar et famille (L’hay les roses, Val de marne, France)
MC Bilek, chercheur en histoire (Paris, France)
Addi Christiane, infirmiére à colmar (France)
Rachid Nour-Eddine (Canada)
Karim Hadidi (Boston, USA)
Dr. Kherbouche Farid, Consultant Altran (Paris, France)
Nasser Achab, électronicien (Paris, France)
Hacene Tachet (Montréal, Canada)
Aimee FitzGerald (Boston, USA)
Arezki Kessal (Canada)
Dehvia Sahi (Canada)
Dihya Kessal (Canada)
Massinissa Kessal (Canada)
Gaya Kessal (Canada)
K. H. Bounar (USA)
Rachid Bandou (Canada)
Madame Khaouis Djouha (Pointe-Claire, Canada)
Hamid Krim, University Professor (Raleigh, NC)
Zahra Boukersi, enseignante à Pointe-Claire (Montréal, Canada)
Mohamed Said Abdallah, conseiller en voyages (Montréal)
Steven Sebili (USA, New York)
Melissa Khemici (USA, Michigan)
Smail Abderhman (USA, New York)
Eddie Greenberg (USA, New York)
Nacer Ladjadj (USA, New York)
Jean Preriea (USA, New York)
Ferhat Salah (USA, New York)
Ramdan Aissani, P. Eng., President, Advansys Electronix (Canada)
Kera Zourdani, Daycare Manager (Canada)
Dr. Yacine Hemar, Lecturer, Massey University, (New Zealand)
Yacine Tassadit (France)
Madjid Boutemeur, Professor (Munich, Germany)
Amar Ouerdane (Canada)
Vermondo Brugnatelli, professeur de dialectologie berbere a l’universite’ (Italie)
Aziza Manceur, étudiante en génie biomédical, Polytechnique (Montréal, Canada)
Aimee FitzGerald (Boston, USA)
Amar Debbouz, Chercheur (USA)
Ahmed Taleb, Coordinator, project in Hassi Messaoud (Kabylia, Algeria)
Arezqi Buzefran, Ingenieur systemes (Paris, France)
Anna Maria Di Tolla, chercheuse de langue et litterature berbere et berberologie IUO (Naples, Italie)
Lilia Selhi, professeur (Montréal, Canada)
Arezki Ait Yahia, simple citoyen de Bejaia (Bejaia, Algeria)
Celine Boutet, student (Rennes, Bretagne, France)
Massinissa Bandou (Québec, Canada)
Ghenima Dirami (USA)
Fateh OUAAZ (Docteur, Universitaire à New York City)
Rabah Boukherroub (Ottawa, Canada)
Akli Benakli (Pierrefonds, Canada)
Nick Bouchettout de Bejaia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
To sign the petition, please copy and paste to e-mail, add your name, title,
and location, and send to: [email protected].
