Radio Algeria
US Department Of State Post Report
Dulles, VA 20189-6030Employees may send letters, film, and recording tapes from Algiers. U.S. customs regulations prohibit sending packages via pouch to the U.S. The only exceptions are goods received from catalogs that are unsatisfactory and need to be returned to the sender. Letter mail sent by pouch to addresses in the U.S. must carry postage at the mailing rates from Washington, D.C. Postage stamps are not available at post, so post recommends that all new arrivals bring an adequate supply with them. Alternatively, stamps may be purchased from the U.S. Postal Service website ( www.usps.com) and sent to post via unclassified pouch, using the aforementioned [Read More]
Algeria
The Amazighs are an ethnic minority centered in the Kabylie region. Amazigh nationalists have sought to maintain their own cultural and linguistic identity in the face of the Government's continued Arabization program. The law requires that Arabic be the official language and requires, under penalty of fines, that all official government business be conducted in Arabic. The law may be interpreted to require that Arabic be used for all broadcasts on national television and radios, for dubbing or subtitling all nonArabic films, for medical prescriptions, and for medical equipment. However, in practice one of the two Government television stations has a regular news program in Amazigh, and one of the Government radio stations broadcasts entirely in that language. As part of the national charter signed in 1996, the Government and several major political parties agreed that the Amazigh culture and language were major political components of the country's identity. In September 1999, Preside ... [Read More]
Algeria
Armed terrorists entered private homes either to kill or kidnap residents or to steal weapons, valuables, or food (see Section 1.a.). After massacres that took place in their villages, numerous civilians fled their homes. Armed terrorist groups consistently used threats of violence to extort money from businesses and families across the country. Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and press; however, the Government restricted these rights in practice. The Penal Code imposed high fines and prison terms of up to 24 months for defamation or "insult" of government figures, including the President, members of Parliament, judges, members of the military and "any other authority of public order." Those convicted face prison sentences that range from 3 to 24 months and fines of $715 to 7,150 (50,000 to 500,000 dinars). During the year, at least 96 prosecuti ... [Read More]
2003
1111--12/03/03 Interview With Mr. Chihab Zeriouh, Radio Diffusion-Television Marocaine (RTM-TV); Marrakech, Morocco ... 1111--12/23/03 Interview on The Michael Reagan Radio Show; Washington, DC ... [Read More]
December
1111--12/03/03 Interview With Mr. Chihab Zeriouh, Radio Diffusion-Television Marocaine (RTM-TV); Marrakech, Morocco ... 1111--12/23/03 Interview on The Michael Reagan Radio Show; Washington, DC ... [Read More]
Algeria
Radio and television remained under government control, with coverage favoring the Government's policies. Satellite-dish antennas were widespread, and millions of citizens had access to European and Middle Eastern broadcasting. ... The more than 30 existing political parties represent a wide spectrum of viewpoints and are engaged in activities that ranged from holding rallies to issuing communiqués. The Government continued to ban the FIS as a political party (see Section 2.b.). In 2001 the Interior Minister stated that the information in the Front Democratique's application for recognition, which was filed in May 2000, was too vague, and that the Ministry was in the process of gathering the information it needed to make a decision. The party's application remained pending at year's end. With the exception of the FLN and the formerly governing National Democratic Rally (RND), political parties sometimes encountered difficulties with local officials who hindered their organizational efforts such as access to public venues and permits for assembly. While opposition parties' access to state-controlled electronic media remained limited, opposition party leaders increasingly were permitted to represent th ... [Read More]
Algeria
The Constitution declares Islam to be the state religion and prohibits discrimination by providing various individual liberties. Though the Constitution does not specifically prohibit discrimination based on religious belief, the Government generally respects religious freedom in practice; however, there were some restrictions. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report. Islam is the only state-sanctioned religion, and the law limits the practice of other faiths, including prohibiting public assembly for purposes of practicing a faith other than Islam. However, the Government follows a de facto policy of tolerance by allowing, in limited instances, the conduct of religious services by registered, non-Muslim faiths in the capital, which are open to the public. The Government continues to require religious organizations to register; ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Equatorial Guinea is a transit and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation, involuntary domestic servitude, and other forced labor. Women and children are trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from West and Central Africa, principally Cameroon, Nigeria, and Benin. Women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation in Malabo, where demand is high due to the booming oil sector. Cameroonian and Beninese children are trafficked to Malabo for exploitation as street and market hawkers; Nigerian boys are trafficked to Rio Muni (the mainland) for exploitation as agricultural workers. The Government of Equatorial Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Over the past year the government has made a number of efforts that attest ... [Read More]
Algeria
Algeria is a multi-party republic based on a constitution and a presidential form of government. The head of state is elected by popular vote to a 5-year term. The President has the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss cabinet members, as well as the prime minister, who acts as the head of the Government. The president also serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. President Bouteflika, elected in 1999 in an uncontested election, completed a full term in office, the first president to do so since the adoption of the multi-party system in 1989. In Algeria's first democratic, contested presidential elections, he was re-elected in April from among five other candidates while the military remained neutral. The security apparatus comprises the army, consisting of ground, naval, and air defense forces; the national gendarmerie; the national police; communal guards; and local self-defense forces. All of these elements ... [Read More]
USIS -- Issues of Democracy, February 1997 -- Sidebar 1 to Remembering Journalists
(Great Britain)Indian OceanNiksa AntoniniSlobodna Dalmacija (Croatia)CroatiaDjilali ArabdiouAlgerie Actualite(Algeria)AlgeriaAchour BelghazliUniversal Com (Algeria)AlgeriaAbdallah BouhachekRevolution et Travail(Algeria)AlgeriaThun Bun LyOdom Katek Khmer(Cambodia)CambodiaStefan B ... [Read More]
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