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Al-Ahram Weekly 23 - 29 September 1999 Issue No. 448 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 23 - 29 September 1999 Issue No. 448
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Comment Focus Special Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Waiting for Bouteflika
By Amira HoweidyAlgerian President Abdel-Aziz Bouteflika received overwhelming public endorsement of his plans to restore peace to his country. According to official figures released last Friday, nearly 99 per cent voted yes to the question: "Do you agree with the president's approach to restoring peace and civil concord?" The turnout was 85.06 per cent of the country's 17.5 million eligible voters.
His confidence bolstered by the referendum, Bouteflika addressed the nation on television on Friday night. He called on Algerians to seize "the opportunity for reconciliation" to spread brotherhood and unity.
Contrary to expectations, with the president having mustered the overwhelming support he has repeatedly said he needs, there was no indication regarding the next steps to be taken. Rather, Bouteflika gave a public warning to the militants. "The [civil reconciliation] law is now in effect and all avenues are open [for repentance], but society cannot wait forever... those who tarry will eventually be regarded as outlaws," he said.
Under the civil reconciliation plan, militants must turn themselves in before 13 January in order to qualify for amnesty. According to Interior Ministry statements, "hundreds" of members of Algeria's most radical armed group, the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and the armed wing of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), surrendered themselves in response to the reconciliation law.
The law which was passed unanimously by both the upper and lower houses last July distinguishes between those who committed murder and those who joined armed groups but did not engage in acts of violence. Armed militants hiding in the mountains who turn themselves in will have to express repentance and loyalty to the regime. If they did not commit murder or rape or plant explosives, they will be pardoned. However, they will remain under observation by the security forces for periods ranging from three to 10 years till the administration verifies their confessions. During this time, they will not be permitted to engage in political activity of any sort. To prove his good intentions, Bouteflika declared that 2,500 of Algeria's 5,000 political prisoners had been released. He promised that the remaining half would be released shortly. FIS members and rights groups, however, said that only 1,000 have been released so far.
In effect, FIS's founders, leaders and a vast majority of its members will be unable to return to the political arena for some time.
Bouteflika's administration meanwhile hastily added a new provision after the law had been passed. This significant addition stipulates that the reconciliation law will be applied "when necessary", giving the authorities some legal freedom to manoeuvre.
Other than the law itself, Bouteflika has revealed nothing about his mandate for peace. A major cabinet re-shuffle is expected very soon, but observers predict the new government will comprise only pro-government parties such as the National Democratic Rally, the National Liberation Front and the moderate Islamic party Movement for a Peaceful Society (better known as Hamas).
The crux of Algeria's crisis -- the struggle over power and legitimacy since the army scrapped the 1992 elections which FIS was poised to win -- remains unresolved, and FIS continues as Bouteflika's most challenging enigma. Although FIS leader, Abassi Madani -- currently under house arrest -- issued statements supporting a truce between the AIS and the Algerian army in 1997, he has not voiced his opinion on the civil reconciliation law. The party's second-in-command Ali Belhaj who is still imprisoned, rejects discussing the law altogether as long as he remains "a prisoner".
A number of other FIS leaders expressed support for Bouteflika's effort, but have yet to express a position on the law itself. Anwar Hadam, a FIS leader in exile, issued a statement from prison in the US, where he describes the referendum results as an expression of the Algerian people's eagerness for "a genuine concord". However, he urged Bouteflika to "pull the military and police establishment out of politics" and "release more FIS officials and supporters and authorise the party to resume activity ".
Abdelkader Hachani, a FIS leader who was released from prison in 1997, asked last week in a letter to the president, "Will the military support the option chosen by the majority so that every effort is made to end the bloodshed and heal the wounds in a non-discriminatory and dignified manner?"
In his address last Friday, Bouteflika said he does not wield a magic wand. But many argue that his promises of "changing things from top to bottom" will require a magician in a country to all intents and purposes run by the military.
The overwhelming support Bouteflika got last Thursday should indeed strengthen his position both before the army and those who questioned his legitimacy after his six rivals stepped down on the eve of the presidential elections last April and cried fraud.
Will he take the risk and act independently of the powerful army generals who brought him to power? His proponents believe this is possible but will require some time. They expect him to give the FIS leadership a chance to integrate in some fashion into the political spectrum but only after they demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to make concessions. FIS leaders such as Abdel-Qader Boukhamkham and Rabeh Kebeir are already open to this option.
