Parliament south deputies meet protesters to listen to their concerns

Elected people were unanimous on the fact that residents in the Algerian south suffer from problems which must be solved. They believe that a supposed million march and demands for separation are no more than rumors promoted by the country’s enemies.

“Rumors about a possible million march in the Algerian south were fabricated by people who tried to cause internal conflicts in the Kabylian area, a few years ago,” said Senator Abbas Bouaamama on Monday.

“A parliamentary delegation from the FFS party and Algeria’s Green Alliance has recently visited the province of Ouarguela (south of Algeria). They met residents and it seemed that they encouraged them to protest,” he told Echorouk on the phone.

“We did not agree with those deputies. We told them there are elected people in the south and it is a shame to seize the opportunity to incite residents,” he added.

He also said residents in Ouarguela have legitimate rights and they can defend them. Algeria’s enemies “could not do anything neither in the Kabylian area nor in Algiers. They will not manage to do that in the south. They want to exploit the employment problem to serve foreign plans but they will not succeed.”

“If they think they will be able to fuel the situation like what happened in Syria, they are wrong. We will not give up any part in our country.”

The senator announced a suggested initiative to unify south deputies in Parliament to meet residents, listen to their concerns and find effective solutions in coordination with supreme authorities.

Deputy Mahmoud Kemama said those who talk in the name of residents in the south do not represent them. “It’s about legitimate demands for jobs and development projects. They will be satisfied.”

“I am in the province of Adrar (south of Algeria) and I will visit the provinces of Tamenrasset and Illizi (south of Algeria) to meet residents and convey their concerns. Earlier, we met Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. Actually, there is a problem of unemployment but we should not allow enemies to shake Algeria’s stability. Algeria is targeted and there are people who want to create internal problems.”

“We did not hear anyone in the south calling for separation. It is a lie and rumor circulated by people behind the call for protests,” he added.

He called on residents in the south to be unified so that “Algeria’s enemies” will miss the opportunity to create problems. “Deputies must do their job and listen to the concerns of residents who elected them.”