Algeria steps up repression against Hirak activists in restive Kabylie region

The Algerian military junta arrested scores of the pro-democracy Hirak activists in the restive Kabylie region, where an independence movement known as MAK is active.

The repression comes in a series of measures aimed at cracking down on Hirak activists in key cities in Algeria by a military regime reluctant to respond to the demands of the people for a civilian rule.

In Kherrata near the Kabylie city of Bejaia scores were arrested and hundreds were injured as police used rubber bullet to disperse crowds of protesters demanding the release of Hirak activists.

Videos shared on Algerian social media showed a heavy police deployment and disproportionate use of force as well as arbitrary detention in a region that still carries the flame of the Hirak which was repressed elsewhere in Algeria.

Kabyle activists blame the regime for the wildfires which cost the lives of 190 people at least, according to independent observers.

The regime, which failed to extinguish the wildfires, blamed the tragedy on its peaceful political opponents Rachad and the MAK drawing in Morocco and Israel to its silly conspiracy theories.

Analysts believe the Algerian regime is evoking Morocco and the MAK in order to justify its bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters of the Hirak whose epicenter is now the Kabylie region.

The MAK has on multiple occasions called for the release of its peaceful advocates in the Kabylie region which its leadership said is targeted by a genocide by the Algerian state.

 

Algerian justice has launched recently an international arrest warrant against Ferhat Mehenni, president of the provisional government of Kabylie in exile and leader and founder of MAK, listed as “terrorist” by the Algerian regime.

 

The Algerian request for Ferhat Mehenni’s extradition of was turned down by France where Mehenni has been benefitting from a political asylum status for more than 20 years.