Algeria: freedom of speech gagged

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President for life? the question is on everyone's lips. In an overwhelming majority, parliamentarians voted last Thursday a revision of the Constitution, which outlawed the number of terms a president can exercise at the head of his country. "This is a constitutional coup, a true democratic regression," says vehemently, Nouredine Ait-Hamouda, member of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD). This revision of the Constitution highlights the problems Algerian background. In this country, freedom of expression is often flouted.

Intellectuals pilloried

Since the arrival of Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 1999, journalists and publishers suffer the pressures of a government that does not want to be criticized. "Bouteflika does not recognize any entity outside the central government," said Mohamed Benchicou including printing the book "Diary of a free man" had been banned last October. The Algerian writer and journalist takes stock without appeal "the head of state failed to ensure good governance in his country and was distinguished by his absence and its repeated attacks against the press. Bouteflika of Algeria has experienced a decline accelerated, if not degeneration. "

When the president speaks, the people must be silenced. On October 26, the writer Amin Zaoui had been sacked from his post as director of the National Library of Algeria, for having invited the Syrian poet Adonis. At a conference, the author, known for his non-conformist positions taken, had criticized "the institutionalization of Islam in the Arab and non-recognition of an independent legal existence of women. A mistake of casting qu'Amin Zaoui has paid with his job.

For some time, restrictions of freedoms in this country have come to light. A gallery of Benyellès Rashid, a retired general and former Chief of Staff of the Algerian navy in the French daily Le Monde, tells a decline in Algeria where freedom of expression has been stifled. Filed by Reporters Without Borders to 121st place in the world ranking of press freedom, the country suffers from a little brighter. It is far short of 90 years, during which the head of state at the time, Mouloud Hamrouche, had enacted a law that gave freely to the press. With Abdelaziz Bouteflika is a "black out" progressive who has put in place. "The authority wants to return to single system, it considers its achievements as the prerogatives of state. Freedom of press, business ... has not been transferred to the people, "says Mohamed Benchicou.

The Press: enemy or friend Bouteflika?

In 1999, the head of the Algerian State had hardened the criminal code and, in particular, Article 144 bis "which provided for sentences of two to twelve months imprisonment and fines ranging from 50 000 250 000 dinars (about 500 to 2 500 euros) for all involved in the offensive, insulting or defamatory of the President, Parliament or one of its two chambers, or the ANP (National People's Army) . This has not prevented journalists Mohamed Benchicou to criticize the regime. During the 2004 presidential elections, the daily Algerian writer-journalist, Le Matin, had been closed and its director jailed. Not easy in those circumstances to exercise the profession of journalism. "Abdelaziz Bouteflika has never granted an interview to the press in his country. This attitude devalues us and discredit us, "says Ali Benyahia, the Algerian newspaper El Watan.

Despite these attacks, journalists are holding their own. "There will always be obstacles in the path of freedom. The role of a newspaper is to the truth, "he adds. A goal is not to the liking of the Head of State, to silence the dissidents, to create logs to it. These publications, for the sake of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, live through indirect subsidies they receive printing belonging to the State. Today, only two dailies, El Watan and El Khabar, on the 48 that exist have their printing.

The grip of power reflects the will of man to control all forms of expression. An attitude that is not ready to change, at a time when Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking a third term ...