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AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
AI Index: MDE 28/010/2003 (Public)
News Service No: 219
22 September 2003
Algeria: New "disappearances" mechanism must lead to full investigations
The establishment
at the weekend of an ad hoc mechanism to look into the issue of "disappearances" in
Algeria is a welcome development, Amnesty International said today,
but immediate action must be taken
to ensure that it leads to full, independent and impartial investigations.
The mechanism was created by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on 20 September
2003 reportedly to serve as an interface between the Algerian authorities and
the thousands of families of those who have "disappeared" following
arrests by Algerian security forces or state-armed militias since 1993.
The decree defining the new mechanism’s mandate is yet to be published,
but Amnesty International is concerned that the mechanism appears to have limited
powers.
" The unresolved fate of thousands of persons "disappeared " is
one of the most serious continuing human rights violations in Algeria. Having
lived in daily anguish for up to a decade, the families of the ‘disappeared’ must
not again go through the pain and suffering caused by the failure of the authorities
to investigate the fate and whereabouts of the "disappeared".
"The new mechanism must be independent, empowered, effective and committed
to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice," stressed Amnesty
International. "Only then can there finally be hope for the families that
the truth will be revealed and justice done."
In particular, the mechanism should have the powers and resources:
` - to search unannounced and unaccompanied facilities and archives of the
police, gendarmerie, Military Security and other military and intelligence
services;
- to question state officials and members of all the security services and
state-armed militias in the country, including those implicated in carrying
out, ordering or acquiescing in "disappearances";
- to ensure that complainants, witnesses, lawyers and others involved with
the mechanism's work are protected from intimidation and reprisals.
Families of the "disappeared", Amnesty International and other human
rights groups have been calling on the authorities to investigate the thousands
of "disappearances" committed in Algeria during the last decade.
However, no effective action has so far been taken, despite government promises
dating back to 1998.
Amnesty International is calling on the Algerian authorities to ensure that
this initiative translates the unfulfilled promise of action on the issue of "disappearances" into
reality. One indication of the determination of the authorities to address
the plight of the families of the "disappeared" would be to invite
the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to Algeria.
The expert body of the United Nations Commission on human Rights asked to visit
Algeria in 2000 and has not yet been granted access.
Background
Algeria’s official human rights body, the National Advisory Commission
for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, headed by Farouk Ksentini,
proposed earlier this year that a commission of inquiry be established
to investigate "disappearances". In its latest report, Algeria:
Steps towards change or empty promises? (AI Index: MDE 28/005/2003),
published on 16 September 2003, Amnesty International had welcomed this
initiative and called on the authorities to ensure that any commission
of inquiry be independent, empowered, effective and committed to the
victims’ interests.
Since 1993, particularly between the years 1993 and 1998, thousands of
men and women have "disappeared" in Algeria after being arrested by members
of the security forces or state-armed militias. Amnesty International has compiled
information on around 4,000 cases of "disappearance", but acknowledges
that the true figure may be significantly higher.
The authorities have so far taken no effective action to clarify the fate of
the "disappeared" or to bring to justice any of those responsible.
They have even failed to acknowledge the responsibility of the state for a
pattern of "disappearances".
Public Document
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