Interview- Islamist Bouali’s brother: Bouali family joined FIS but did not support violence (last part)
الشروق أونلاين
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Sid Ahmed Bouali continues his testimony about what happened after his brother Mustapha had been killed, the FIS creation and the family’s role.
What was Ahmed Sahnoune, Ali Benhadj and Abdellah Djaballah’s position toward Bouali’s armed movement?
Cheikh Ali Benhadj told Mustapha using arms is not easy but he also told him: “you can defend yourself using the way you see appropriate and you have the right to preach. Yet, using arms must not be justified by imposing your opinion.” Mustapha had never contacted Abdellah Djaballah and I have no idea whether he called Cheikh Sahnoune or not.
Merani mentioned names who were with Mustapha Bouali. Could you talk about them?
Chabouti, Mansour Miliani, Taibi Boulenouar, Amamera Mohamed, Mais and Djaafar Berkani were all with him. I do not remember how many people were killed with him in the last clash. They were about five. The policemen who led security forces was named Nourredine. He was the only policeman who was killed in those clashes.
Tell us about the way Mustapha Bouali was killed.
Mustapha’s driver told the police about him.
Why did he do that?
He was prepared for this mission. He stopped the car and tried to run away. The police immediately turned out lights and the driver was killed in the clashes.
Actually, I heard about what happened. I was not there. Mohamed Amamera and Taibi Boulenouar were there.
Is Amamera still alive?
Yes, he is still alive. As for the driver, I do not know a lot about him. He deceived my brother.
Do you think that security forces could have caught Mustapha alive?
Yes, it was easy to catch him alive but they wanted to eliminate him.
Did the family receive his body and who attended the funerals?
The family received the body and about 20 people only attended the funerals.
Who among Islamists attended the funerals?
No one. The place was watched by security forces. Ali Benhadj was in prison.
What happened to Bouali’s group after that?
Djaafar Berkani continued his action until he was killed. That was before the October’s events.
Was the family bothered after Mustapha had been killed?
The family remained watched by security forces and none of its members was allowed to do a job until the 1990’s.
How did society deal with the family?
Believe me, Bouali name remained respected by people. We were not respected by secular parties only.
Did an Islamist leader ask about the family’s news?
Yes, some Islamists kept touch with the family. Of them, there were Ali Benhadj and Said Kechi.
Merani says the idea of creating the FIS appeared for the first time at Bouali’s house in presence of his family, Kechi and Benhadj.
After President Chadli had talked about pluralism, meetings were held in my house and two mosques in Algiers. We also met at Benhadj’s home to discuss the creation of an Islamist party. The name was announced in Belhedad mosque.
Were you advised to not join the FIS?
We were advised to keep away from the consultation council. We did not want exploiting Bouali name in politics. We wanted to operate as activists in the FIS.
It is said your family still have a strong relation with Ali Benhadj.
Yes, that’s right. Benhadj visits me from time to time. He is a faithful man. I do not agree with Merani when he described the FIS as an elephant with an ant head.
But the FIS witnessed success in record time.
The FIS had its positive and negative points but it did not reach power anyway. The political strike was the final straw.
But things went viral.
Mustapha Bouali had nothing to do with armed groups early in the 1990’s. Many people incited our family to carry out armed acts.
Did you quit the party after armed groups had appeared?
The whole family was against using arms and the FIS involvement in violence and extremism.
Why didn’t you make a plea to terrorist groups on behalf of the family to stop bloodshed?
We did not make any plea because we did not know those groups.
Were you threatened by armed groups?
We remained watched but we got used to that situation. No armed group contacted us. We were against armed acts.
Did you support Islamist parties after the FIS had been dissolved?
No, we didn’t. All those parties support the regime. The FIS was the only party which said “No” to the regime.
What was your position toward the National Reconciliation?
The Reconciliation and the amnesty were not useful for us. We could not even open an investigation into the killing of my brother Mokhtar. On the day when I was released, I did not want to leave the prison. I told officers: “the State killed my brother and it did not open an investigation in that. I need to fill a lawsuit inside the prison.”
General Attorney came to me and told me he will write in his report that I will be released provided an investigation is opened.
Do you look for compensation?
It is not about compensation. Did the Reconciliation meet people’s demands after they had stopped armed actions?
Did the family convey its demands to President Bouteflika?
We lost trust in this regime. Bouteflika is a respectful politician but we did not try to contact him. Mustapha is a hero in the National Liberation Front. We want social compensation.
How is Mustapha’s family living?
We were very close to Mustapha. We supported him until the end of his life. His two sons have shops. They could not go to the school because authorities did not allow them to go out from home.
