Algeria south: sit-in instead of march in Ouargula

Jobless residents in the province of Ouargula (south of Algeria) refused to change their mind about their march due to be organized on Thursday although local authorities called for keeping calm and some of them met the prefect. The main problem is employment as officials in charge of appointments are corrupted, a number of them told Echorouk.

March organizer: “we will not backtrack”

Ammar Kouitene, the march organizer said Thursday’s planned march will be turned into a sit-in next to the council building due to fears of possible viral events.  

“Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and his cabinet must hold a press conference and apologize for describing residents as little group. This was a big humiliation. Some of them have master degrees and are still jobless. A number of them committed suicides.

Asked about the FFS’ attempt to politicize the issue, Kouitene said the unemployed residents welcome any one who support them whatever his or her political orientation. “Our question is fair. It is a legitimate and constitutional right. The government wants to accuse us of separation but it is not true.”

He added that most of the jobless people in Ouargula are excited about the march. “Security measures which were taken by the government are exaggerated and we are not afraid of them. We are able of organizing a peaceful march and have control over the situation.”

Opposition representative: “the march is politicized and pointless”

Abdelkader Dechache, a member of opposition jobless residents believes that the march has political purposes and is not beneficial to people.

“Present circumstances are not appropriate for this march. We reject any representation among notables and members of parliament who seize the opportunity to get positions,” he said.

“Our ancestors took to the streets on February 27^th, 1962 in order to modernize the State and preserve freedoms. Yet, reality is quite different from the truth. Because of that, we will not participate in the march so that we would not be exploited to politicize the issue by people out of the province,” he added.

According to Dechache, some parties, national commissions and unions representatives who came to Ouargula to take part in the march want to promote their programs through media. “Because of that, we reject this. No one represents us. We are represented by our free will which expresses our demands as residents. Our issue does not have a national dimension. Our reference is the Constitution and local and international laws. How it comes that a city like Ouargula is rich of oil, mines and agricultural resources while its residents are living in poverty? The government must show a strong will if it wants to solve the problem.”

Employment expert: foreign companies are the “bogey man”

Mohamed Athmani, a former member of a provincial commission in charge of employment in Ouargula held higher authorities responsible for the situation. “In spite of warnings and former reports, favoritism and counterfeiting in employment procedures fuelled the situation.”

He said the commission sent reports to authorities about possible viral events in the province due to unemployment problem.

“There is a need for a decisive presidential order. Ministers did not keep their promises. Some of them keep silent over wrongdoings committed by foreign companies. A rapid and urgent solution must be found,” he added.