The profound disillusionment of Algerians makes following in Tunisia's footsteps difficult, but activists believe change will come
Karima Bennoune
(Karima Bennoune is professor of law and Arthur L Dickson scholar at Rutgers University school of law in Newark, New Jersey)
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 March 2011
".....However, the big question for Chitour is not whether change will come or when, but how. "Will it be by peaceful means or not?" She says Algerians are terrorised by the idea that blood could flow in the streets again. And so she and the other members of the National Co-ordination for Change and Democracy will keep organising their peaceful protests every Saturday trying to make sure that grievances are channelled nonviolently.
Meanwhile, the Committee of the Unemployed will meet soon to assess its next move as well. My fervent hope is that the leaders of Algeria will heed the calls of the peaceful protesters, while that is possible. Among other things, change will require responsiveness to the youth, unity in the opposition and a seizing by all of this "moment of grace" as Tunisian human rights activist Alya Chamari described this spring across north Africa.
Is there a road that leads from Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the Tunisian revolution, to Algiers? That remains to be seen. Still, I cannot forget what Chamari says when I ask her if there is a message for Algerians, and others, from the Tunisian revolution: "You must never lose hope. And you must count on your youth.""
Karima Bennoune
(Karima Bennoune is professor of law and Arthur L Dickson scholar at Rutgers University school of law in Newark, New Jersey)
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 March 2011
".....However, the big question for Chitour is not whether change will come or when, but how. "Will it be by peaceful means or not?" She says Algerians are terrorised by the idea that blood could flow in the streets again. And so she and the other members of the National Co-ordination for Change and Democracy will keep organising their peaceful protests every Saturday trying to make sure that grievances are channelled nonviolently.
Meanwhile, the Committee of the Unemployed will meet soon to assess its next move as well. My fervent hope is that the leaders of Algeria will heed the calls of the peaceful protesters, while that is possible. Among other things, change will require responsiveness to the youth, unity in the opposition and a seizing by all of this "moment of grace" as Tunisian human rights activist Alya Chamari described this spring across north Africa.
Is there a road that leads from Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the Tunisian revolution, to Algiers? That remains to be seen. Still, I cannot forget what Chamari says when I ask her if there is a message for Algerians, and others, from the Tunisian revolution: "You must never lose hope. And you must count on your youth.""
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