Algeria rejects UN probe into December 11th attacks
2008-01-17
The United Nations has declared its intentions to conduct an independent inquiry into the events of December 11th in Algiers. The Algerian government has rejected the idea, saying it represents interference in the country's domestic affairs.
By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 17/01/08
 [Getty Images] Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem spoke out against the UN call for an independent probe into the December 11th attacks in Algiers. Belkadem called the inquiry a "unilateral measure" and expressed "grave reservations and concerns". |
Algeria has opposed plans announced by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday (January 14th) for an independent probe into the December 11th suicide bombings, saying the move is an attempt to interfere in domestic affairs. Despite international pressure, Algiers has refused to allow inquiry committees into the country since the terrorist attacks of the 1990s.
In the official statement on Monday, the UN chief "decided to appoint an independent panel to establish all the facts concerning the Algiers attack and also to address strategic issues vital to the delivery and enhancement of staff security for the United Nations in its operations around the world."
Although the statement specified that the panel "will seek the full co-operation of the Algerian governmental authorities", the Algerian government has roundly disapproved of the initiative.
Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem signalled Algeria’s sentiments to the UN chief Wednesday in Madrid at the Alliance of Civilisations conference. According to state media, Belkhadem expressed "grave reservations and concerns of Algeria" over what he called a "unilateral measure".
"The Algerian ambassador to the UN was not consulted and Algeria’s views have not been taken into account", Belkhadem said, adding that "the rules have been totally ignored".
Ban Ki-moon has said talks will continue between the UN and Algeria.
Algerian political parties have unanimously condemned the UN initiative, defending the principle of national sovereignty and insisting that domestic security forces are capable of carrying out investigations.
"It was an attack which took place in Algeria and is a matter for [Algeria] alone," said National Liberation Front spokesman Said Bouhadja. "It’s our security services who should be conducting the inquiry, not a foreign body", he added, asking why the UN did not consult Algerian authorities.
The UN investigation is also seen as infringing on national sovereignty by the Movement of Society for Peace. Communications chief Mohamed Djemaa spoke of "interference" in Algerian affairs, stating that party members "totally reject the idea of an inquiry being conducted on Algerian soil [and] have always declared our opposition to such initiatives."
Djemaa continued, "If attacks occur in Europe or other countries, these states carry out investigations unaided. So why is it that in a third-world country which is also a sovereign state, people are quick to call for independent inquiries?"
"Security in Algeria and all events in the country are a matter for Algerians, no one else", commented Mr. Boulahia of the El Islah movement, which also opposes the idea of "foreign agents carrying out inquiries in Algeria". He added that "with all the experience our security services have gained in over a decade, they are quite capable of carrying out inquiries without any help."
The public is also calling the UN probe into question. Bank worker Abdellah Faisal asked: "The fact that they’re thinking of setting up an inquiry committee indicates that they have doubts, but about what – the identities of those who carried out the attacks? The people who masterminded them?"
Teacher Omar Boudaoui said the UN should explain the suspicions behind its decision to investigate the attacks, for which al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb has already claimed responsibility.
Commenting on the investigation announcement at a press conference on Wednesday (January 16th), UN Development Programme head Kemal Dervis said Algerian authorities disregarded a UN request to step up security around the UN offices in Algiers. Although the UN resident security officer proposed some measures to improve security at the UN building, including blocking off nearby streets, "The government did not respond to that. That we know as a fact," AFP quoted Dervis as saying.
The attacks on the offices of the High Commission for Refugees in Algiers and the Supreme Court in Hydra on December 11th killed at least 41 people, including 17 UN employees.
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justice Posted 2008-01-17
A lot more than this is needed, for example, given the status of the mafia state, an international court.
M'hammed Posted 2008-01-17
The UN, which lost some of its personnel in this bombing, is well within its rights to interfere by making a full investigation in order to bring everything to light. The Algerian leaders must understand that the time has come to take account and bring into light everything about these unexplained butcheries, whose main victims are people who do not deserve such a fate. (They suffered enough from colonialism.) Who are the perpetrators? To which level does the responsibility for these security failures belong? Come on, Gentlemen, lets try to be men here.
امين Posted 2008-01-18
I don't understand well the Arabic language.
بوكرش محمد Posted 2008-01-18
Let the United Nations (The nations recruited to hide oppression) start the independent investigation (independent?) from Palestine the raid of the British battalion (Israel) then the nations raids (America?) on Iraq without any right. The multiple American bases including the face which call themselves Salafists who follow the other facet called Al Qaeda and Ben Laden; they’re all Amrican via infiltration, good exploitation to achieve their Nazi and bloody goals with the rights that are taken wrongly…All the employees of the recruited nations are an extension to the American-English-Israeli spying organization. Their presence as an entity isn’t different from the presence of the black water in Iraq and other places supported by the intelligence accessories including the Magharebia website dedicated to the Arab Maghreb States in order to share out revenue, robberies and shed blood the brightness of which painted the colour of the American flag. We know all this which is ignored by the American citizen who pays the price with blood and soul to make minimum wage. Vampires take advantage and steal their resources through attacks and incurable diseases. You should open hospitals of intensive care for the moral and physical destruction which you caused to all the enslaved American youth who joined the sites of death and delusion. Through investigation of the independent committee of the United Nations in Algeria you want to control a scenario suitable to your intention with or without legitimacy of control of the people who were created free by God. Every Algerian and every free person, and some of us still profit from it, is entitled to refuse such careless attitude and intervention in the internal affairs in his or her country and those of other countries. You violate their freedoms in the name of freedom and human rights are reserved only for you and the Israeli-English military battalion in our destroyed Palestine. This disgusting red colour of the American flag with the whiteness of the brightness of blood (African blacks, Indians…) which was averted by the psychological study in making the flag of the English Israeli destructive military battalion using the blue and white (the flag of creatures living from water) and they increase the redness of the American flag and the English flag with their crimes in Palestine and more blood shedding as an expression of gratitude for allowing them to take a land which isn’t of their right and no
Toufik Posted 2008-01-18
At last ...someone cares when Algerians (for the largest part) die. Give us a break. When UN offices are situated in a residential neighborhood, i do not see how they can block a road. In that case, to protect all citizens, UN or not, perhaps vehicles should not be allowed in cities. It is clear that from a UN perspective the loss of life in Algiers has totally modified its most recent statistics. For Algerians however, it is a continuation of the Algerian drama staged in front of a silent international audience (including the UN). The UN security guys have a job to do and they delivered to the SG (after all they need to justify their job)who, under pressure from the union (remember that call by the union?), had no other choice than create a money-wasting 'investigation' team. While it is correct that a host country is responsible for the security of UN personnel there is no known, and practical way to prevent suicide attacks. No one can be guaranteed safety and security unless you live within a fortress. Look at the 1000's of Algerians who died under the hands of the islamist barbarians despite of the tremendous efforts of the police, gendarmerie, military and armed patriots. The US with all its might is not able to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban. One can only sympathize with the all the victims of the attacks on that day and hope this does not happen again. Zerhouni is right in claiming that "There's no magic wand". On an ironic note, i will end by saying that Algerians should welcome the 'experts' of the investigative team, board them up in a bus and drop them off, unescorted of course, somewhere in the middle of the Boumerdes or Kabylie maquis so they can start their investigation.
محمد Posted 2008-01-18
From investigation in the attacks to establishing military bases no no no
algerien libre Posted 2008-01-18
I think that the U.N. should freely conduct its investigation in Algeria. The FLN, having always been the only party, has forever accustomed us to phoney investigations like the one into President Boudiaf. This is not a question of sovereignty, but an implication of the security services.
الجزائري Posted 2008-01-19
Algeria never witnessed a disgrace such as the one it's living now. It's a certain result of the policy of denial and rejection of the other: the voice of the people whose mouth was closed, poverty in a rich country, the voice of true opposition, the voice of the intellectual class, the voice of scientists...I think that change is coming but it seems that its price will be very high...Maybe it's like the price it was paid by the people during revolution days.
بوكرش محمد Posted 2008-01-20
Thanks for Magharebia administrators for managing to get rid of the Superman complex and opening an opportunity for free expression and acknowledging right and wrong, whether for Americans or others. More humane attitude and respect in American policy, and adapting it to the moral exchange of interests and respect of rights and you will find us your friends- that is, we Algerians who were the first to recognize you historically. And we have in America a city called Al Kader named after prince Abdelkader which is evidence to this.
KADRI Posted 2008-01-22
You don’t know how much the FLN is hated (the current FLN party, not the historic liberator of Algeria).
جعوطي محمد شريف Posted 2008-01-22
I the name of God, peace and prayer on the most honourable messenger my master and your master Mohammed, peace and prayer be upon Him and all the guided Imams, his family, companions and followers. Salam alaikoum. Without partiality, calmly and wisely, I ask the two parties, the Algerian government official ministerial representative and the United Nations, to be diplomatic and be an example and peaceful model for broader world peace without forgetting those who sacrificed their lives for it. The colonel Mounir Sadik Boumdiri El Mahdi Nadir, for example, fought seriously all forms of big robberies. His protection and his family is necessary. He defended the oppressed many times, until he became himself like an oppressed. He’s really an intellectual but diplomatic as well and very indulgent. He can bring something new in this temporary crisis and high tension, since the lives of victims are a priority and I’m very proud to work with him side by side. He’s like a teacher to me after Mohammed, peace and prayer be upon Him. So may God bless him. Signed: the Messiah, the expected Jesus, Mahdi Ilyas from Algeria.
موطن جزائري حر لكنه صالح Posted 2008-02-07
Yes it is certainly a mafia state. It's not even a state, but just an entity, an oppressor Nazi mafia. It separates families and kin ties between Algerians and their Moroccan brothers to the point that the Algerian people hate the Moroccans and vice versa. By God, this is a mafia state, we can’t live here and can’t go on. As Algerians we ask for an international and UN court and more to repress this mafia. What’s hidden is even worse.
يونس Posted 2008-02-14
Algeria should know that its injustice to its neighbours won't pass without punishment from God. It should return to its reason and apologize to Moroccans- especially those it has deprived of their properties and separated from their kids and wives since 1975. Moreover, Morocco provided them with all their needs during the armed struggle against the colonizer. Wasn't it Morocco which refused to France to outline borders in the absence of the Algerian nation? Let's have a comment.
amr Posted 2008-02-17
Algeria doesn’t accept to be a country controlled from outside, even if they are its brothers. And this is the only country which denies and opposes any relation with the Zionist enemy, and this is a source of pride for us as Algerians. I commend my government for such decisions namely the reply of Mr Abdelaziz Belkhadem which is thorough, complete and convincing to the American policy. Finally, I suggest to the secretary general if the United Nations to dispatch his investigators first to Iraq, Palestine and the Sahraoui republic (Western Sahara).
djazairi Posted 2008-12-11
Terrorism and crime is committed by one sole system that reigns over the country of Algeria and is run by foreign people like those of France and France’s and Israel’s intelligence services. And, the losers are the Algerian citizens. I can attest that the criminal Khaled Nezzar is at the head of the mafia running my poor country.
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