Brussels, 23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EMHRN (Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network) has strongly condemned the repression of peaceful marches and protests organised on Saturday 19 February (by the Coordination nationale pour le changement et la démocratie - CNCD). These demonstrations followed those that took place a week earlier.
The EU should also publicly condemn the use of force by the Algerian authorities during the peaceful demonstrations, emphasises the EMHRN. It says that Algeria is obliged to ensure the safety of demonstrators during peaceful marches and calls on its government to “unreservedly lift the state of emergency, respect international human rights commitments, begin a dialogue with all components of the population and civil society, and put into place democratic reforms”. Its appeal to put an end to the state of emergency appears to have been met. This state of emergency has been imposed since 9 February 1992 and has just come to an end. A third peaceful demonstration has also been announced for next Saturday, even though there is no unanimous agreement among the opponents, the majority of which do not want their action to be misappropriated by the traditional political parties. (F.B./transl.fl)