Brussels, 20/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 19 April, Algerian NGOs (Ligue Algérienne des Droits de l'Homme, LADH, Ligue Algérienne de Défense des Droits de l'Homme, SOS Disparus and the Comité pour les Familles de Disparus en Algérie, CFDA) supported by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) sent an «open letter» to the EU Council and the EU/Algeria Association Council meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, in which they deplore the situation in their country, where there is denial of justice and truth. The charter for national peace and reconciliation launched by President Bouteflika gives a generalised amnesty to the members of the security forces, the armed state militia and the armed terrorist factions, on which there have so far been no inquiries, the letter states. The charter would also penalise exercise of the right to freedom of expression by victims and defenders of human rights, with punishments of up to 5 years' imprisonment for seeking truth and justice. NGOs also state that journalists continue to be prosecuted and condemned to prison for defamation, as set out in the Algerian press code. They regret that the law on amnesty extends to crimes of forced disappearance and other crimes against humanity committed in Algeria. They object to the extradition to Algeria of terrorist suspects held in Europe and express their concern for the treatment reserved for African migrants. The NGOs urge the EU to intervene by calling on the Algerian authorities to repeal the incriminated texts. (fb)