Human Rights Report 2010: U.S administration distorts Algeria’s image, Ksentini

Human rights conditions deteriorated in Algeria, with restrictions on freedoms of assembly and association, arbitrary killings, poor prison condition, and lack of judicial independence, Human Rights Report 2010 said on Friday.

In this report the U.S administration distorts Algeria’s image and the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in it. It accuses the authorities of violating the rights of citizens, despite lifting the state of emergency in force since 19 years ago.

The report also criticized the government’s arbitrary and unlawful deprivation of life which affects respect for the integrity of citizens and their capacity to change the regime by peaceful means, encouraging the widespread corruption in the country accompanied by limited transparency, while women face violence and discrimination and the government maintained restrictions on worker’s rights.

There were reports of official impunity, overuse of potential detention, poor prison conditions, and abuse of prisoners and lack of judicial independence, as authorities use security grounds to constrain freedom of expression and movement, as the national minimum wage is 15.000 dinars, which does not represent the minimum standard of the workers living.

Same report analyses the security situation in Algeria, pointing to the occurrence of more victims of terrorism during 2010, adding that government agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, and security forces killed, injured or arrested over 1.935 suspected terrorists. It asserted that the constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, overuse of pretrial detention occurred in practice.

It criticized the government’s restriction of freedom of speech and of the press through accusations of defamation and informal pressure on publishers, editors and journalists. Government monitored a-mail and internet chat rooms and phone calls, especially of political opposition, journalists, human rights activists and suspects in terrorism cases, while constitution guarantees individual privacy.

Head of the National Consultative Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Farouk Ksentini, strongly criticizes the U.S. report saying; “It is too exaggerating and full of lies and ignores improvement in several sectors”. He accuses opposition for standing behind the preparation of this report, describing it as “people who distort Algeria’s image in overseas.

“The report is not in line with the truth. Justice is not subject to orders but to law and the judge resorts only to his conscience. The regime is not policing or oppressive, it is democratic. Americans have to pay attention to their own problems instead of launching void judgments”, Mr. Ksentini added.

“My position does not mean that the situation in Algeria is good. I prepared a detailed report on this subject to be delivered after two weeks to the president indicating the deficiencies, including lack of experience among judges and lawyers, restrictions on freedom of expression, the ban on adoption of political parties and ban of protests in Algiers”.

Head of the National League for Human Rights, Boudjemaa Ghachir said; “I support this report because the content confirmed by events that took place in Algeria including the ban of protests in the capital, and overcrowding in prisons”.