Algerian Gov't Uses Islamist Threat As Pretext To Quell Protests - Presidential Candidate

The alleged threat of Islamists coming to power in Algeria is being actively used by the incumbent government as an excuse to restrict people's right for protests amid the ongoing political turmoil, retired Maj. Gen. Ali Ghediri, a presidential candidate in the postponed Algerian election, told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th March, 2019) The alleged threat of Islamists coming to power in Algeria is being actively used by the incumbent government as an excuse to restrict people's right for protests amid the ongoing political turmoil, retired Maj. Gen. Ali Ghediri, a presidential candidate in the postponed Algerian election, told Sputnik.

Last week, newly appointed Algerian Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra embarked on a big diplomatic tour, having visited several EU countries and Russia. According to the TSA Algerie newspaper, in a bid to secure support during visits to Germany and France, Lamamra referred to the danger of Islamists' accession to power in the country and mass migration to Europe as the two main threats that the current anti-government protests could entail.

"The government does not stop referring to the Islamist threat so that Algerians do not take to the streets for protests due to the danger of a recurrence of the events of the 1990s ... Now all Algerians are taking part in street protests. Some media report about millions of demonstrators, and there are no Islamists among them! This does not mean that we should not be vigilant. Objectively, it is rather an excuse that the government abuses to limit demonstrators' right to protest," Ghediri, a former Defense Ministry senior official who now calls for a "change of the system" and establishment of a "second republic," said.

Dwelling on the 1991-2002 Algerian Civil War, Ghediri described a conflict between the Algerian government and Islamic rebel groups as a "solved problem." According to the politician, the Islamists have realized that they have to adhere to established rules if they want to stay in Algeria.

As for migration, the presidential candidate opined that "in the 1990s, in the midst of unrest and bloodshed, not many Algerians emigrated to Europe."

The migration, however, has taken on an "alarming scale" since President Abdelaziz Bouteflika came to power in 1999, Ghediri claimed, adding that the flows dropped after the current protests broke out, which makes any fears of mass immigration groundless.

On March 11 amid the anti-government protests, Algeria's ailing long-time leader Bouteflika withdrew his bid for re-election and postponed the vote, initially scheduled for April 18. However, protests have continued, with people demanding immediate changes. Now, a national conference, expected to take place soon, will decide on the election date, according to the country's leadership.