Interview- FIS ex-member Ahmed Merani: this is how Rabeh Kebir, Anouar Heddam and Abbassi’s sons fled Algeria (part 9)

(part 9)

So you hold authorities responsible.

Authorities were not wrong in stopping the electoral process only but their way in treating the crisis since the October 1988’s events was wrong as well.

But after the leading members were arrested, Hachani was wiser.

Hachani was not a wise leader of the FIS because he did the same thing as Abbassi. He excluded all the leading members who were wise and could have saved the situation. Yet, the Djazaara clan command took control and impsed its logic. I remember that General Nezzar tries to talk to them and he told Hachani: “you want to reach power while you are not even able to have control on your members in the street. Hachani answered: “we have no authority on anyone.”

Late President Chadi said in his memories that authorities should have let the FIS bear the responsibility when it won the elections.

This could have been done before people had taken to the street. Yet, after Abbassi and Belhadj had been arrested, the continuation of the electoral process would have led to a catastrophe in the country.

Who is responsible for the killing of 200,000 Algerians during the bloody decade?

I hold all the decision makers who issued their decisions between 1988 and 1992 responsible. I do not know who but I believe that they could, not bear their responsibility.

Do you have details about the resigning or dismissal of Chadli?

I do not know. What I care about is why authorities did not take protective measures before elections.

You mean that if the president resigned, Algeria would have avoided the crisis?

It would had been better if a transitional government was established in Algeria ahead of a new constitution and presidential elections.

Some said Chadli was forced to resign.

Chadli had a strong character. He is a brave man. No one can oblige him to resign. He said he resigned and was not dismissed. I think he did that because of conditions. He did not want to flee his responsibilities but he might feel that he was incapable of taking necessary measures at that time.

Why was Parliament dissolved at that time?

I think Chadli said why. He knew that parts did not trust Belkhadem and did not want him to be President at that time.

Who was responsible for the crisis the most, authorities or the FIS?

They were both wrong. Authorities were not wise. The FIS could not control its members as they used arms and killed each other.

Would Algeria have avoided the catastrophe if Chadli did not resign?

As far as I am concerned, if officials let the FIS work in Parliament, the president would have practiced his prerogatives when a law violation was noticed. The FIS command did not have the courage to wash hands of violent acts following its dissolving and the ban of the electoral process.

How do you assess Chadli as president and as a man?

I respect him a lot because he is a nationalist and honest man. His capacities were limited but he tried to serve the country faithfully. When he could not go on, he quitted. He made very mistakes but he cared for scholars. Because of that, he was loved by people. He could have been the leader of democracy but he did not take necessary measures at the right time. After the October’s events, he should have formed a technocrat transitional government and organized presidential elections.

What do think about those who went for armed acts?

Armed acts did not start after the ban of the electoral process. Many groups had prepared for violence since they were released. Their number was unknown. They operated without a leader. Most of those who joined mountains to carry out armed attacks were misled people aged at less than 20. Security forces did not have their identities.

The arrival and departure of President Boudief was surprising. Did you try to show the truth to him?

Few days after Boudief had taken office, I asked to meet him. I told him I came there to tell him he faced the FIS problem and if he knew how to deal with it, the country would have avoided big catastrophes. I advised him to listen to everyone so that he would have enough information for judgment.

Did he understand what was happening?

The information he had were no more than generalities. He was misled.

Did you meet him once again?

It was the first and the last meeting with him. He had insisted on me to contact him once again. I had done that for more than three times but there were people who prevented me from meeting him. Many people who surrounded him did not like me and clearly said: “we do not want Boudief to form a new FIS neither do we want him to fail in fighting the FIS.”

Who do you think killed Boudief?

His surrounding people killed him because he did not know what was happening. He needed a long time to understand the situation. The reports he obtained only said the FIS members used arms and were turned into terrorists.

Was that the reason why he suggested to appoint the RCD leader Said Saadi as the head of government?

He did not have the intention to dismiss Ghezali because he wanted to resign anyway.

When the FIS was dissolved and the elections were stopped, how could the rest of the members run away abroad?

Rabeh Kebir left the country through Morocco. Anouar heddam travelled with an ordinary passport to America. There were executives from the Djazaara clan who went to Switzerland. Abbassi’s sons were helped by their lawyer to go to Germany.

How was the relationship between Ali belhadj and Abbassi in prison?

Ali Belhadj did not want to show that he had different opinions than Abbassi even in prison.

The killing of Mohamed Said by the GIA caused noise.

Mohamed Said was in a news conference. The police came to arrest him. He run away and went to mountain. He was appointed as a spokesman for the Djazaara clan which planned to unify all the armed groups into one group led by Mohamed Said.