Committees set up to solve Beriane conflict, says prefect

Prefect of Ghardaia (south of Algiers) Yahia Fahim reassured Beriane’s residents and confirmed that all necessary measures will be taken in favour of victims of the recent clashes.

• Each time calm is restored in Beriane, violence breaks out again. How do you justify that?
• Beriane is a sensitive place but I am sure that the people in conflict do not accept such situation. Beriane is a precious part in Ghardaia. That’s why, its residents will accept to turn it into a disaster.
• A year after the March 2008 events, clashes broke out once again. What are the measures meant to eradicate the conflict origins?
• What we did this time is setting up committees of intellectuals and politicians to take the necessary measures. They will coordinate with the State institutions to figure out how to eradicate the conflict origins. It is unreasonable that Beriane witnesses calm then clashes all the time. The society here is looking forward the better. They are not asking for repairing roads or creating facilities. All what they are looking for is security and stability.
• What about the casualties?
• There have been fewer losses compared to the previous ones. Almost the same shops were torched. A total of 80 people were wounded. Most of them do not have serious injuries.
• What about wounded policemen?
• There are about 40 wounded but most of them were injured in the first day of the clashes. One of them is in a critical condition. He was taken to a hospital in Algiers.
• How much material casualties are estimated?
• Whetveer the casualties are, we will compensate all the affected people. The most important thing is to have calm and stability restored. We are ready to work with the State instiutions to compensate everyone.
• Schools have been closed for four days. The education minister pledged to offer books for affected people. What are you planning to do in this regard?
• I appreciate the efforts of the State institutions in favour of Beriane. We will open the schools and people will attend classes again. We will intensify catch-up classes and schools will be opened even on Friday’s.
• Will security forces stay in Beriane for a longe time and what about food supply?
• They will leave it. We can say that calm has been restored in Beriane. Shops are opened.