Algeria — Back to square one

BY SALLY GALLAGHER

Fifteen years ago, the Algerian military annulled an electoral process that was certain to be won by the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). The military declared a state of emergency and formally dissolved the FIS. But this was no coup de’tat, merely the public acknowledgement of what was already privately known – that the military had always been in total control.
The country then descended into hellish chaos that was to last almost a decade. Islamic militants took up arms against the military and both engaged in a bloody war of attrition that took the lives of some 150,000. The violence was characterised by brutal, large-scale massacres of civilians, with the perpetrators typically surrounding a small village at night before murdering at will. While the Islamists, in the form of the GIA, were initially blamed, it later became clear that elements within the military may have been responsible for this particularly horrific aspect of the campaign.
Algeria recently went to the polls again in an exercise that appears to mirrors Karl Marx’s famous dictum  – History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce – with the ruling coalition winning on a turnout of just 35 percent. Millions stayed away from the polls.
The coalition, which includes the country’s once proud National Liberation Front (FLN) won 249 of the 389 seats and – surprise, surprise – the electoral victory has been marred by complaints of irregularities, emanating primarily from the National Electoral Commission. Indeed, prior to the election, the government decreed which parties were legitimate and would therefore be allowed to stand.
The FIS, for example, remains banned and could not contest the election.
In the event, the FLN won 136 seats, the pro-business Rally for National Democracy (RND) 61 and the moderate Islamist Movement for Society (MSP) and Peace 52.
For the opposition, the radical Workers’ Party  became the largest parliamentary opposition party after winning 26 seats.
The main political group linked to the Berber-speaking areas in the north-east boycotted the polls.
Thus, more than 10 years on and 150,000 lives later, the military remain the true power in oil-rich Algeria, with France – their former colonial master – now their keenest ally. Plus la change, as they say.

Perú

Perú’s former intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, who is already serving a lengthy jail term for involvement in an illegal arms sale and corruption, has now been brought to trial over his responsibility for the extra-judicial killings of hostage-takers during the infamous 1997 Japanese embassy siege.
All 14 rebels and hostage-takers were members of the left-wing Tupac Amaru armed movement. They died when Peruvian Special Forces raided the ambassador’s residence to free more than 70 diplomats who had been held hostage for four months. The commando raid happened 10 years ago, in April 1997, One hostage, two commandos and all the rebels were killed. But one of the freed hostages, former Japanese political attache Hidetaka Ogura, said he saw at least three of the rebels taken alive. Prosecutors say Vladimiro Montesinos gave troops the order to shoot three rebels who had been captured alive; two former military officers – chief Nicolas de Bari Hermoza and retired Col Roberto Huaman - are also being tried over the killings

World Bank

The US has said it will move “swiftly” to find a replacement for corrupt Paul Wolfowitz, who has finally accepted the inevitable and resigned as head of the World Bank, having been caught arranging a substantial salary hike and other perks for his girlfriend. Tony Blair has been mentioned as a possible successor, but that is unlikely as the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ governing these matters means a European heads the IMF and a US nominee gets the World Bank.
The controversy has deeply damaged an already weakened institution. Interestingly, Wolfowitz had made corruption in poorer countries a priority when he first took up the job. He became so unpopular that staff took to wearing a blue ribbon to show support for his departure, voluntary or otherwise. However, that did not stop the notoriously arrogant and detached Wolfowitz from asking a staff member sporting just such a ribbon, what exactly she was commemorating!

East Timor

Jose Ramos-Horta, former prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was sworn in as East Timor’s new president on Sunday 20 May. Ramos-Horta, who replaces former guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, vowed to work for unity and stability, urging an end to violence in the young nation. Ramos-Horta won the 9 May presidential run-off election with almost 70% of the vote, beating parliament head Francisco Guterres. Gusmao is contesting polls in June for the more powerful and hands-on role of Prime Minister vacated by Ramos-Horta.

Lebanon

Fighting between Lebanese troops and Islamist gunmen has killed over fifty people in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. A planned two-hour ceasefire on Monday 21 May ended after just a few minutes, with clashes resuming before United Nations and Red Cross vehicles could enter the camp. Medical workers have only been able to evacuate a few of the many injured civilians trapped inside the camp and water supplies have been hit in the clashes.