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URGENT ACTION
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 28/04/00
UA 70/00 Arrests / Prosecution / Police intimidation / Fear for safety /
Fear of further detentions
24 March 2000
ALGERIA Relatives of the "disappeared" - Fatima Kime (f), Fatima Ben
Mousa (f), Rahmouna Bourahla (f), Faouzia Guene (f) and Badra
Leban (f)
Amnesty International is very concerned that a peaceful demonstration of
mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and other relatives of the
"disappeared", which is held weekly in Oran, Western Algeria, was violently
broken up by police on 22 March 2000 with the arrests of at least 15 women.
As the demonstrators were standing in front of the building of the district
administration (Wilaya) they were surrounded by police who hit them with
clubs and kicked them. All the women had been released by the next morning
except for Fatima Kime (whose brother "disappeared" from Relizane) who is
still detained at the central police station in Oran, Western Algeria.
Two mothers of the "disappeared", Fatima Ben Mousa and Rahmouna Bourahla
and two wives, Faouzia Guene and Badra Leban, who were detained until the
morning of 23 March, were made to sign police statements and told to report
back to the police station in Oran on 25 March. It is expected that they
and Fatima Kime will be charged with participating in an unauthorized
demonstration.
One of the mothers, Setti Bouteiba, was apparently kicked in the legs. Her
son, Miloud Bouteiba, a 40-year-old post and telecommunication inspector
who was married with two children, "disappeared" after being arrested at
his workplace in July 1994.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 1993, around 4,000 people have "disappeared" in Algeria after being
arrested. Their families have been searching for information on their
whereabouts ever since at police stations, army barracks, prisons, morgues
and cemeteries. They have also petitioned the judicial authorities and
appealed to the government, the parliament and the President of the
Republic. Despite government promises in 1998 to carry out investigations
into "disappearances", no concrete action has yet been taken.
For years most families of the "disappeared" have been too afraid to
protest publicly. Since August 1998, however, hundreds of relatives,
especially mothers, began to hold regular demonstrations in the capital,
Algiers, and other cities, demanding news of their missing loved ones. On
some occasions, notably in December 1998 and January and March 1999 in
Algiers, and more recently in Relizane (near Oran), the security forces
have violently broken up the demonstrations and ill-treated women taking
part.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in
French, Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern that a peaceful demonstration of mothers, wives,
sisters, daughters and other relatives of the "disappeared" was violently
broken up by police on 22 March 2000 in Oran and that at least 15 female
relatives were arrested, and calling for the immediate and unconditional
release of Fatima Kime;
- expressing concern at the continuing detention of Fatima Kime and the
fact that she and four others: Fatima Ben Mousa, Rahmouna Bourahla, Faouzia
Guene and Badra Leban, are at risk of being prosecuted for their part in a
peaceful demonstration;
- expressing concern that police ill-treated Setti Bouteiba and other
demonstrators and threatened them with arrest and prosecution if they took
part in future demonstrations;
- urging the authorities to ensure that the security forces do not arrest,
ill-treat or threaten the families of the "disappeared" for peacefully
demonstrating.
APPEALS TO:
Interior Minister
M. Yazid ZERHOUNI
Ministre de l'Intérieur
Ministère de l'Intérieur et
des Collectivités Locales
18 rue Docteur Saâdane
Alger
Algérie
Telegrams: Ministre l'Intérieur, Alger, Algérie
Faxes: + 213 2 73 61 06
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Your excellency
Minister of Justice
M. Ahmed OUYAHIA
Ministre de la Justice
Ministère de la Justice
8 Place Bir Hakem
El Biar
Alger
Algérie
Telegrams: Ministre Justice, Alger, Algérie
Faxes: + 213 2 92 21 95
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Your excellency
COPIES TO:
State Human Rights Institution reporting to the President
M. Kamel REZZAG-BARA
President
Observatoire National des Droits de l'Homme (ONDH)
Palais du Peuple
1 Av. Franklin Roosevelt
Alger
Algérie
Faxes: + 213 2 239005 / 239037
and to diplomatic representatives of Algeria accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 May 2000.