Thousands of protesters from the pro-democracy movement Hirak marched on Friday in favor of a “free and independent press”, urging the authorities to end all repression against journalists.
Hirak demonstrators again in the street in Algiers. They were thousands, Friday March 19, to march in the capital, demanding with force a “free and independent press”.
Journalists were violently attacked during the parade a week ago and the communication ministry threatened France 24 with “permanent withdrawal” of its accreditation.
“Nothing justifies assaulting a journalist or any other person,” Ali, a retired teacher, told AFP. The sixty-year-old said “dreaming of a free, professional, and above all objective and impartial press“.
“Freedom is to express myself as I want, not as you want“, could one read on a sign.
“Hand over the power to the people!”, Intimated the protesters to the leaders of the country while Algeria celebrated Friday the feast of the Victory marking the anniversary of the ceasefire of March 19, 1962, after a war of independence nearly eight years with France.
“March 19, 1962: cease-fire; March 19, 2021: cease-la-repression“, one could read on a sign held up by a young person.
Hirak relaunched
The demonstrators chanted the historic Hirak slogans: “Rule of law and independent justice”, “Civil and non-military state”, for the “demilitarization” of the regime, and “Silmiya!” (“peaceful”), in reference to the non-violent nature of the unprecedented popular uprising that began in February 2019.
They also castigated the decision of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to organize early legislative elections on June 12 in an attempt to get out of the political and economic crisis which is shaking the largest country in the Maghreb. “No election with the gang of mafiosi (in power),” sang the protesters.
Since the second anniversary of Hirak on February 22, Algerians have descended by the thousands every week into the streets, despite the ban on all gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Walks were held in several other cities across the country on Friday despite terrible weather, according to media.
With AFP
