Brussels, 14/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Algeria has officially lifted the state of emergency introduced in 1992. This decision was announced a month ago and was ratified on Sunday by parliamentarians. The EU has consistently called for the state of emergency to be lifted. Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz stated: “By adopting these important texts, our country will have put an end to the exceptional circumstances resulting from the state of emergency”.
Nonetheless, the decision was accompanied by the adoption of two rulings that give the army the right to ensure “missions for safeguarding public order, when circumstances prove exceptional” and procedures for administrative detention under the authority of an examining magistrate. This measure is opposed by certain fringes of the opposition.
Lifting the state of emergency is aimed at reducing the increasing level of tension in the country since the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt. Protest movements are regularly organised on a weekly basis and on each occasion the demonstrations are prevented by force, which was the case on 12 March. The Maghreb context is significant in the Algerian situation, which has been characterised by strong protest movement since 1988, except for the “black years” (of terrorism) during the 1990s. After Tunisia and the Libyan uprising, the Algerian writer, journalist and analyst Ihssane El Kadi explained: “The announcement made by the King of Morocco Mohamed VI for comprehensive reform of the constitution and greater powers to parliament and the prime minister has delivered a terrible blow to the state of emergency in Algeria. Suddenly, it is the Algerian power which appears the most threatened in a Maghreb marching towards certain freedoms.” (F.B./transl.fl)