Police break up CNCD march in Algiers

The National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD) fails for the eighth time since February 12, today to start a march down town Algiers.

Algerian security cervices broke up a march started by some 20 protesters, including head of the Algerian Association for Defending Human Rights Mr. Ali Yahia Abdennour, some representatives of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) and activists from two political parties, the Democratic and Social Movement and the Party for Secularism and Democracy.

Protesters called for radical change of the political system in Algeria through chanting usual slogans such as “Free and Democratic Algeria”, “Algeria has Youth”.

Algerian authorities said the protests are not authorized since 2001 due to security measures and not to prevent freedom of organizing peaceful protests.

CNCD called upon its activists last Sunday to continue protests and proposed a political program that includes seven points; establishing a national council for democratic change and drafting a new constitution.

Previously, CNCD leader Ali Yahia Abdennour told the press; “We don’t care if this is the sixth failure since February 12”.

This is the third time, since February 12, in which RCD leader Said Saadi does not participate in the protests.

Few weeks ago, Human Rights Watch has criticized Algerian authorities’ ban of protests in Algiers, and had called upon Algeria government to stop what it called violations of Algerians rights to peaceful protests in the capital, and suppression of popular protests.

“Lifting the state of emergency by President Bouteflika on February 24 is an important step towards giving back basic rights to Algeria people, including the right to protest”, Sarah Leah Whitson, director of Human Rights Watch in Middle East and North Africa division said.

The spokeswoman invited, at a press conference, Algerian officials to the need to protect the right of assembly enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Algeria is a part, especially the article 21 which states the rights of organizing peaceful protest.