Algeria: "Disappearances" must be on presidential election agenda
Six months on from the establishment of an ad hoc mechanism to look into the issue of "disappearances", Amnesty
International urges all candidates in the presidential elections scheduled for 8 April to pledge their commitment to
guaranteeing truth, justice and reparations for the thousands of families whose relatives "disappeared" in Algeria
during the 1990s.
Amnesty International echoes the declaration made at the end of a seminar in Paris on 28 February 2004 organized by the
Collectif des familles de disparu(e)s en Algérie (Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria), which recalled
the Algerian state's obligations under international law to establish the truth about "disappearances" cases, bring
those responsible to justice and provide reparations for the victims.
The ad hoc mechanism on "disappearances" was established on the basis of a presidential decree dated 11 September 2003
and charged with serving as an interface between the Algerian authorities and families of the "disappeared".
Amnesty International is concerned that, among other things, the mechanism has only limited powers to gather information
on "disappearances" cases and no mandate to identify those responsible for acts of "disappearance". In addition, its
members do not include any representative of the families of the "disappeared". In view of these limitations, there is
concern that it may not lead to the full, independent and impartial investigations necessary to provide families with
verifiable information concerning the fate and whereabouts of their relatives, nor contribute to ending the impunity
from which those responsible for "disappearances" continue to benefit.
There is a yawning gap between what can be achieved within the narrow mandate of the ad hoc mechanism and what must be
done to ensure the rights to truth, justice and reparations of families of the "disappeared". Amnesty International
calls on all presidential candidates to declare that they will guarantee this gap is bridged without delay.
Background
Since 1992, 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 abducted by state-armed militias. Amnesty International has compiled
information on around 4,000 cases of "disappearance", but acknowledges that its records are far from comprehensive and
that the true figure may therefore be significantly higher. The organization believes that, given the widespread and
systematic nature of the violations, they constitute crimes against humanity.
Since 1998 families of the "disappeared" have held regular peaceful demonstrations outside state institutions in various
Algerian cities to protest at the authorities' failure to take their concerns seriously. They have also organized
themselves into associations to coordinate their campaigning work, but to date have been unable to legally register
them.
The issue of "disappearances" is just one aspect of the traumatic legacy of over a decade of violence, in which armed
groups, the security forces and state-armed militias have been responsible for gross human rights abuses. For more
information, see Amnesty International's latest report Algeria: Steps towards change or empty promises? (AI Index: MDE
28/005/2003 http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde280052003), published on 16 September 2003, and the press release Algeria: New "disappearances" mechanism must lead to full
investigations (AI Index: MDE 28/010/2003 http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde280102003), published on 22 September 2003.
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