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Algerian Protests Continue Demanding Respct for the Constitution: Departure of the Ailing President, March 25, 2019

 

New protest staged by Algerian lawyers against extension of Bouteflika’s mandate, March 23, 2019	New protest staged by AlgerianS against extension of Bouteflika’s mandate, March 22, 2019

 

Algerian Protests Continue Demanding Respct for the Constitution (Departure of the Ailing President) Despite cold weather and heavy rains, tens of thousands of Algerians continued to protest, on March 22, 2019, for the fifth consecutive Friday, demanding respect for the Constitution and making fundamental changes in the poltical system. They also demanded justice and not foreign intervention. مسيرات سلمية في مختلف ولايات الوطن بتاريخ : 23-03-2019 ، المجاهد خرج عشرات الآلاف من المواطنين من مختلف ولايات الوطن، الجمعة، في مسيرات سلمية حاشدة، لخامس جمعة على التوالي، للمطالبة ب"التغيير الجذري" و"احترام الدستور" رغم تساقط الأمطار الغزيرة وبرودة الجو. بوسط البلاد, شرع الآلاف من المواطنين من ولايات البليدة وتيبازة وتيزي وزو منذ الصباح بالالتحاق بالشوارع الرئيسية للمدن، مرورا بالساحات العمومية، حاملين الراية الوطنية ومرددين شعارات تدعو ل"بسط العدالة على جميع المستويات" و"رفض التدخل الأجنبي في الشؤون الداخلية للبلاد". The full Arabic news story is at: http://www.elmoudjahid.com/ar/actualites/14898

New protest staged by lawyers against extension of Bouteflika’s mandate

DZ, By Hana Saada - March 23, 2019

Algeria –

Peaceful marches have been staged in the capital Algiers by lawyers. The demonstrators demanded “change of the system” and called for “the preservation of the country’s unity” .

Hundreds of lawyers demonstrated Saturday (March 23rd) in downtown Algiers against the extension of President Bouteflika’s term.

Dressed in their black robes, the lawyers met in the morning in front of the Grand Post Office. They chanted slogans for political change, expressing their support for the popular movement that Algeria has known for a month.

At the same time, UGTA trade unionists held a rally in front of the union center, demanding the departure of Sidi Said.

Algeria’s protests against regime/ Live coverage

DZ, By Hana Saada - March 22, 2019

Algeria –

This Friday, March 22 marks the V Act of anti-regime demonstrations. After three contests against the candidacy of Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth presidential term, the head of state responded favorably by giving up his candidacy and postponing indefinitely the presidential election that was scheduled for April 18.

In the wake of the announcement, a few dozen people had first parade expressing their joy, before realizing that their claims were not satisfied.

Indeed, the last letter of the President of the Republic explains that the latter will remain at the controls of the State after April 18 and will be in charge of organizing the transition itself. Which is not unanimous. Thus, citizens will come out today, not to say no to the 5th mandate, but to say no to the 4th extended term.

https://www.dzbreaking.com/2019/03/22/algerias-protests-regime-live-coverage/

Mass protests in Algeria as defiant 82 year old president won't quit

Euronews, By Daniel Bellamy, 23/03/2019 - 17:30

Hundreds of thousands of Algerians took to the streets of Algiers again on Friday to rally against their ailing 82 year old president.

Police used tear gas as some protesters moved towards the presidential palace but otherwise the rally was peaceful.

The protests are a month old now and Abdelaziz Bouteflika is under growing pressure to quit.

So far he's dropped plans to stand for a fifth term in office but insists he'll remain in power until a new constitution is approved.

Bouteflika is rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 and recently spent a few weeks in a hospital in Geneva receiving treatment.

Crucially some members of both the army and the ruling party have crossed sides and are now backing the protesters.

But the army has intervened in politics before - in 1992 they cancelled an election which Islamists were expected to win.

That triggered a civil war in which an estimated 200,000 people were killed.

Algeria stage new mass protests against Bouteflika

EWN, AFP, March 22, 2019

ALGIERS -

Despite bad weather, a two-kilometre long column of people snaked through one of the main streets of the capital Algiers to rally at the Grand Post Office in the city centre.

Algerians take part in a demonstration against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the capital Algiers on 22 March 2019. Bouteflika said on 22 February he would run for a fifth term in 18 April elections, despite concerns about his ability to rule. Picture: AFP

Tens of thousands of Algerians once again staged huge demonstrations Friday, a month after ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term sparked a protest movement that shows little sign of abating.

Despite bad weather, a two-kilometre (over a mile) long column of people snaked through one of the main streets of the capital Algiers to rally at the Grand Post Office in the city centre.

Like the past two Fridays, the Muslim day of prayer, when record numbers of protesters rallied in Algiers, drums and horns cheered the demonstrators as the crowds clogged other major roads.

Security sources have said last week there were demonstrations in 40 out of the North African country's 48 provinces, while foreign diplomats say "millions" of Algerians have rallied against Bouteflika's plans to extend his two-decade rule.

Algerian media and social networks said Friday there were also other demonstrations across the country of 40 million people, including its second city, Oran.

Now an indispensable accessory for protesters, the green and white Algerian flag with its red star and crescent moon could be seen everywhere draped around shoulders, flying from balconies or held aloft and waved.

MARCHING FOR CHANGE

"Stand down," cried one banner.

Retired civil servant Zineb, 59, said she would continue demonstrating "in rain or snow, until this rotten regime falls".

Bouteflika said on February 22 he would run for a fifth term in April 18 elections, despite concerns about his ability to rule.

The 82-year-old uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.

Following early protests, he made the surprise announcement on March 11 that he was pulling out of the race -- and also postponed the polls.

Protesters initially greeted the move with elation, but staged further mass demonstrations once they realised he intended to remain in office.

On Friday, many had again travelled far to attend demonstrations in the capital.

"I will march every Friday, until there is a radical change" to the system, said Younes Laroussi, an unemployed 24-year-old from Tiaret, 270 kilometres (170 miles) from Algiers.

Organisers used social media this week to call for further protests against Bouteflika and his entourage in the former French colony.

"The Algerian people demand the immediate and unconditional departure of President Bouteflika," read one widely-shared post, which urged that "the leaders of countries that support Algeria's illegitimate power stop... their interference".

The demonstrations, unprecedented since Bouteflika won a first term in 1999, have remained largely peaceful. The government has responded with promises of political and constitutional reform.

Authorities have pledged to hold a "national conference" to discuss reforms, followed by a referendum on a new constitution and eventually the election of a new president.

'CONCEPT OF A FUTURE STATE'

Deputy prime minister Ramtane Lamamra on Tuesday promised "open and transparent" steps to resolve the political crisis, as Algeria's ally Russia backed his government's plans.

Lamamra said Algeria was developing a "concept of a future state" and that a new constitution would be written "on the basis of an open and transparent discussion".

The national conference would decide the date of future elections, he said, adding Bouteflika was "ready to fully transfer his powers" to a new president.

But students, professors, medics, lawyers and magistrates have continued to protest this week and cracks have emerged within Bouteflika's own regime.

His National Liberation Front party said Wednesday it supports protesters' calls for change, while the main trade union confederation and business organisation have been hit by dissent and resignations over their leadership's initial support of another term for Bouteflika.

https://ewn.co.za/2019/03/22/algeria-stage-new-mass-protests-against-bouteflika  

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