Algerian President Bouteflika

By Dr. Omima Ahmed, IOL Correspondent

ALGIERS, November 23 (IslamOnline.net) - President AbdelAziz Bouteflika has issued a Presidential decree pardoning over 3,000 prisoners, in a move marking the advent of the major Muslim event of Eid Al-Fitr.

An Algerian member of parliament (MP), however, dismissed the move as “mere propaganda” by Bouteflika, on the eve of Presidential elections slated for April, 2004, stressing “real conciliation in Algeria should be between the regime and Islamic groups”.

The pardon decree – issued Saturday, November 22 – excludes inmates serving time for “terror crimes, fraud cases, bribery, use of power, money forgery, drug dealing and trafficking, in addition to rape-related convicts”.

The Presidential decree, completely or partially pardoning 3080 prisoners, explained that the goal was “to lessen the suffering of disunited families, strengthen solidarity among family members and to raise the culture of tolerance and spirit of national reconciliation”.

“Electoral Propaganda”

Banned FIS leader, Abassi Madani

Commenting on the move, Algerian MP Hassan Uraibi considered it no more than “an early electoral campaign by Bouteflika”.

“If that decree is not an electoral chip, President Bouteflika should release Mubarak Bou Me’rafi – accused of murdering President Mohamed Bodiaf in 1992 – along with others who spent more than 10 years in jail. If the President really wants to honor his people at such a glorious occasion (Eid Al-Fitr), he should deal in a fair way with all Algerian prisoners,” Uraibi, with the National Reform Group, told IslamOnline.net Sunday, November 23.

He, however, denied meaning to call for releasing those involved in violent attacks.

“I don’t mean those who committed violent crimes and assassinations against innocent civilians. But many people are still in jail while they do not belong there”

Callers for national reconciliation in Algeria have one pre-condition for the process to yield any fruits; that is the release of all political detainees, including those accused of committing violent crimes.

In that regard, Uraibi weighed in saying, “I’ve always been saying that national reconciliation should not be with the front of Communist Powers, National Reconciliation Movement or with Liberation Front. It should rather be with the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) which overwhelmingly won the general elections in 1991.

“Since the military coup against it, its followers have dispersed. Some went to the mountains and lived on the run, others left Algeria or were jailed. So, real national reconciliation  should be with those guys.”

Commenting on the “initiative” launched by banned FIS leader, Abassi Madani days ago, Uraibi said, “I’ve read some elements of that initiative but I can’t elaborate on what I think yet. But it’s a good move for Algerian interests and it can put a permanent halt on violence and bloodshed”.

He further expressed his belief the initiative will find “listening ears” among concerned Algerian authorities.

On Sunday, November 16, Madani said in the Qatari capital Doha that he had received a positive response from the Algerian army to his initiative for peace in the country.

Madani, who was freed from an Algerian prison in July after more than a decade behind bars, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) he had received "a positive oral response" to his initiative, which he refused to discuss in detail.

"It's a collective initiative to gather the Algerian people ... It is to take the country out of crisis," he said in a statement, adding that it "does not involve the FIS because I did not consult my brothers in the Front."

A veteran of Algeria’s independence struggle against France, Madani arrived in Doha last week where he will spend Eid Al-Fitr.

The 72-year-old was jailed by a military court in 1992 for undermining state security.

Earlier the same year, legislative elections that his party was set to win, were called off by the army. Two months later, the FIS was banned.

His release from prison came with a ban preventing him from engaging in any political activity.