For the right of assembly and to claim publicly truth and justice in algeria

In reaction to the brutal prohibition of the weekly sit in of the families of the disappeared in Algers

For 12 years, each Wednesday, in Algiers, the mothers and relatives of the disappeared have gathered to claim Truth, Justice and Reparation about the disappeared in the 1990s. This weekly meeting, which became a symbol of claim and resistance, has suddenly been forbidden on August 4th 2010. 

Since then, each week, the families of the disappeared try to maintain their sit-in. The gatherings of August 4, 11 and 18 have been dispersed, the first two times in an unprecedented violence, and have resulted in arrests of some relatives of the disappeared and human rights defenders. The president of the national institution for human rights (CNCPPDH) himself, in public statements in Medias, said that he asked to prohibit the sit-in because the families of the disappeared would have gone too far. The families of the disappeared remain without recourse against scorn and arbitrariness.

The prohibition of the weekly gathering worries and confirms that Algeria has still a long way to reach a fair and adequate solution to the issue of the disappeared. Despite the countless constructive efforts of the associations, Algeria is still at the stage of denial and amnesty of the criminals at the expense of the truth and justice. Authorities refuse categorically to investigate on the fate of the disappeared.

The families of the disappeared, with the support of civil society, demand their testimony to be taken into account. They demand t all means to reach the truth to be implemented, notably within the frame of a truth and justice commission such as experienced in several countries.

At the time when authorities show more than ever their will to close the unresolved issue of disappearances and to make the families disappear from the public space, it becomes essential to demonstrate a huge and international solidarity with the mothers and relatives of the disappeared in Algeria.

The Collectif des Familles de Disparus en Algérie (CFDA) calls to relay the speech of those who are being silenced in their own country.

For freedom of the mothers and relatives of disappeared in Algeriato gather and publicly demand truth and justiceSo that the light be made on the fate of all missing

In front of the Embassy of Algeria in Paris, 50 rue de Lisbonne, 75008

Wednesday 25 August 2010, 5: 30 to 7: 30 pm

With the support of (organizations):

Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT), Amnesty International France, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Federation of Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International euro-Mediterranean Network against Enforced Disappearances (FEMED), French League for Human Rights (LDH), Mediterranean Network of Human Rights (REMDH), World Organization against Torture (OMCT), Mundial Network of Mothers and Relatives of the Disappeared
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Collectif des familles de Disparus en Algérie (CFDA)
148 rue du Faubourg St Denis
75010 Paris
00330 (0)1 43 44 87 82
www.algerie-disparus.org