In Algeria, "it seems surrealistic to talk about human rights"
Interview with Houssin Zahouan, general secretary of the
Algerian League for Defence of • Describe your working conditions Houssin Zahouan: The situation of human rights in Algeria is grave, and it could not be otherwise. It seems surrealistic to talk about human rights today in a country where the number of dead can be counted in the tens of thousands, where a state of emergency has been in existence for years, where violence is an everyday occurrence.
Nevertheless, the League for the Defence of Human Rights has not given up. The situation we face is quite difficult for the simple reason that from the beginning the government has targeted our organisation as its enemy, and prevented us from opening an office. Our telephones are cut off and our post office box is monitored. In addition, we are boycotted by the media and are vilified as a proIslamic organisation. • Algerians continue to die in silence and with the almost total indifference of international public opinion. Why?
For almost 12 years, Amnesty International has been the only organisation internationally that took a systematic interest in Algeria. That said, their latest report' severely underestimates the problem. Other foreign NGOs and governments are rather indifferent. In Europe, reaction is severe if a dog or animal is injured. But human rights are subject to a different set of rules when it comes to developing countries, such as Algeria, where economic and strategic interests are at stake. • In June 1994 the president of the Algerian League for Human Rights (LADH), was assassinated. Why?
In 1984, Youssuf Fathallah joined me in defending political prisoners before the State Security Court. We became estranged when the state, having decided to create a progovernment group to oppose the LADDH in 1987, publicised his name as being part of the leadership of the new league. The goal was to lure him in, to integrate him into this league precisely because he was known for defending political prisoners.
He began to change the nature of the "official" league. But, given his deephonesty, he did not understand that this was beginning to derail it
Human Rights (LADDH) from the goals his sponsors wanted it to pursue. Toward the end of his life. he decided to simply close down this LADH through a unification of the two leagues. He did not appreciate the seriousness of this undertaking... • What are the repercussions of the recent referendum that approved greater powers for the president?
It signified the end of the period that opened up in 1988-89. After the coup aimed at heading off the elections, an emergency situation prevailed. People simply waited for an end to the emergency - that is the reestablishment of secure conditions and a normal life. Needless to say, such expectations have not been met.
President Zeroual wanted to secure his position through the referendum. This shows things are coming to a conclusion. We have entered into the final phase; the closing off of Algerian political and institutional life.
The results of the referendum are indicative. Estimates are that 15-20% of voters participated, compared to the government's claim of 75%. This shows how far a closed system can go in its falsifications. • Was the university strike launched on October 15 the start of the rebirth of the social movements?
Neither a beginning nor an awakening. There is considerable social unrest in Algeria, which is ignored because it takes place in the context of a media black-out on both sides of the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the situation is stymied because the leadership of the labour confederation (General Union of Algerian Workers, UGTA) is completely under government control. It does not allow this social unrest to advance as a co-ordinated national movement.
The teachers and university strikes lasted for weeks despite the repression and pressures. But there are other equally if not more important strikes in entire sectors, such as oil. These movements are still underway and will continue. The situation and the tension is such that we do not know what will make everything explode. * 1. Les Algériens souffrent et meurent en silence, Amnesty International, 1996
March 1997 #286 19
* Argentina
Trade union recomposition