Kabylia Movement for Self-determination

Section of North America

The conviction that the Algerian State was and still is part of the Panarabist and Islamist ideology goes back to the aftermath of the Algerian independence in 1962. Fifty-seven (57) years of struggle by the Kabyles in favour of a democratic, authentic and culturally diverse Algeria were met with contempt, violence humiliation, Arabization and salafization, first by the Algerian regime and, later, through indoctrination and brain-washing, by part of the non-Kabyle population of Algeria.

Arabicization and salafization of Kabylia went to the top of speed when the Algerian regime realized that Kabylia was so determined to resist. In 2001, after 128 youth killed and hundred of others injured for the rest of their lives, the Algerian paramilitary police called gendarmerie was declared persona non grata in Kabylia.  Since then, the Kabyles moved from the illusory struggle for their rights in a diverse Algeria to their right to self-determination, which is a prerequisite to their full independence. This independence agenda put the Algerian decision makers, basically military generals, in a state of real panic calling for more anti-democratic and unrealistic measures against Kabylia including economic asphyxiation aiming clearly at delocalizing companies and businesses as well as what seems to be a troched earth policy, setting fire to huge forests. More than 70 fires are started every week in Kabylia alone according to Algerian media, while regions of Algeria are spared. What is worse is the fact that the Algeria regime has always remained passive, with no attempt whatsoever to help put off the fires or investigate the causes. Such an attitude can only confirm the suspicion that is weighing on the Algerian regime.

Recently, taking advantage of the resignation of the 20 years-long president of Algeria under the pressure of street demonstrations, the General Gaid Salah openly seized power. His dictatorship has become crystal clear by throwing to jail protesters wearing a Kabyle dress or waiving the Amazigh flag in public demonstrations. As a result, more than sixty (60) demonstrators were arrested and jailed just for waiving the Amazigh or the Kabyle flags and for wearing a Kabyle dress. One of the detainees, Amazigh Chouater, has been on hunger strike, which sadly brings to mind the death of Kameleddine Fekhar, another Amazigh political detainee from the Mzab who also undertook hunger strike and whose death was also due to poor anti-hygienic conditions.

On this memorable day of Saturday August 24, we are bringing to the United Nations Kabylia’s call for its freedom and right to Self-determination and denounce:

• The complicity of the Algerian regime in forest fires according to the suspicions hanging over the Algerian regime in Kabylia.
• The passivity of the Algerian regime in forest fires in Kabylia, which have lasted for three years and in a consequent manner, reinforces these suspicions. Analyzes and press clippings show that more than 78 forest fires started within 48 hours, all in Kabylia.
• The impunity granted to the murderers (gendarmes, policemen and minister of the interior) of the 128 Kabyle citizens rebelled in 2001, using explosive bullets.
• The camouflage of the investigation into the assassination of Matoub Lwennas and the impunity granted to his killers.
• The desire of the Algerian regime to economically suffocate Kabylia through the blocking of several projects emanating from Kabyle citizens, the harassment of tax services and the cancellation of business registers.
• Calls for the assassination of MAK-ANAVAD President Ferhat Mehenni by a member of the Algerian parliament and leader of a political party, broadcast on social networks, to the full knowledge of the government and Algerian authorities, without them reacting.
• Calls for terrorist acts in Kabylia via social networks, in the total indifference of the Algerian authorities.
• The harassment, humiliation and kidnapping of Kabylian independence activists by the Algerian police and gendarmerie.
• The arbitrary deprivation of independence activists of their travel documents by the Algerian administration.
• The harassment, intimidation and sequestration of independence activists at airports by Algerian customs officers.
• The arrests of Kabyle citizens brandishing the Kabyle flag and the Amazigh federal flag in public demonstrations.
• The arrests of Kabyle women wearing Kabyle dress in public demonstrations.
• The crime against the Kabyle identity by Arabizing the school by salafi mosques, built by the thousands.
• The Algerian constitution, which is rogue vis-à-vis the Kabyle identity by unjustly declaring that Algeria is an Arab land.
• The closing of the Axxam n Tmussni Kabyles associative schools, whose mission is to promote the Kabyle language and culture by providing school support to underprivileged children.
• The closure and destruction of Christian churches in Kabylia.

Kabylia is at a crossroads. The Algerian Arab-Islamic regime, in all its forms, is determined to eradicate the identity, linguistic and cultural specificities of the Kabyle people.

Win yesduran iman-is, di tizi n lḥeṛs, iɛemmed neɣ iţekka!

Long live free and independent Kabylia!

New York, August 24th, 2019

Section of North America of the Kabylia Movement for Self-determination

SIWEL 241815 AOU 19