Authorities enter into clashes with opponents

The way in which the Algerian interior ministry dealt with last week’s meeting of 14 parties as part of the Group for Memory and Sovereignty Protection shows an attitude transformation toward opposition and authorities’ political rivals.

Human rights activists criticized practices against all the authorities’ rivals either politicians, union activists or even unemployed people. They believe that authorities use double standards when they are involved in a conflict.

According to observers, authorities entered a “face-to-face” clash against anyone who tries to stop their project to continue ruling Algeria.

This comes as it said Algeria avoided the “Arab Spring” and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika lifted up the emergency state. Yet, many believe that the country enters a new phase of history based on individual and collective freedoms in accordance to the law.

The interior ministry did not authorize the Group 14 to hold a political conference to announce their reject to any attempt to change the Constitution before the forthcoming presidential elections.

Partisans of the FLN party’s leader Amar Saidani could obtain two permissions in less than 48 hours to hold the party’s central committee session.

President of the Algerian League of Human Rights Boudjemaa Ghachir told Echorouk the ban on marches and rallies shows that human rights are violated in Algeria.

He criticized authorities for marginalizing and hindering political parties which oppose them.

“The real problem behind the crisis in the country is the regime pyramid culture. The emergency state mentality still rules Algeria although it was lifted up,” he added.