Amnesty Slams Algeria For Lack Of Steps Against Rights Abuses
LAUSANNE (AFP) - Human rights group Amnesty International slammed the government of conflict-torn Algeria Tuesday for not having taken any steps to deal with the "huge problem of impunity" it claimed prevails in the country.
Algiers has done nothing to carry out independent investigations into murders and other abuses of human rights committed over the past years, Amnesty said in a statement published here.
The accusation came as a delegation headed by the director of Amnesty's Canadian section, Roger Clarck, was visiting Algeria in hopes of meeting victims of human rights abuses and their families, human rights activists, other members of civil society and government officials.
"No concrete measures have been taken to deal with the huge problem of impunity that prevails in the country," Amnesty said.
Amnesty also said it "opposes amnesty laws and other mechanisms that prevent the truth from coming out and prevent those responsible for attacks on human rights from being held accountable for their actions."
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in a bid at civil reconciliation, last year amnestied many of the Muslim opposition who took up arms in 1992, and vowed to crack down ruthlessly on the remainder.
Amnesty’s delegation arrived November 5th for a two-week visit. It was the second time the human rights group has visited Algeria this year after the organization was expelled in 1996.
The civil war in Algeria, which broke out in 1992 after the military stepped in to deny a certain electoral victory to the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
