Happy Independence, Algeria!
And as Redouane mentioned in his previous post, today marks the celebration of Algeria's 1962 independence from French control. Sadly, Redouane couldn't post today because 1) he injured his foot while doing work on a friend's house (it wasn't serious, thank God) and 2) his connection is putzing along at a painfully slow rate that just blogging is a big effort. Anyway, I'm next in command and will do my best blogging about Algeria's independence, considering I'm just a yank. But then I'm a yank who thinks Algeria is fabulous. So I'll do the best I can to honor the great nation.
ln 1830, the French invaded Algeria. The Algerian population was condemned to economic, social and political inferiority and an armed resistance to the occupation followed, lasting for decades. Unlike Morocco and Tunisia, which the French also occupied, Algeria was considered an integral part of France. Thus, education, for example, when available to Algerians, was in French.
The years before World War Il saw a revival of the Nationalist movement and the formation of the Party of the Algerian People (PPA). In 1942, Algerian nationalists called for the establishment of an Algerian constituent assembly, and, a year later, demanded reforms including the introduction of Arabic as an official language, and the eventual creation of an Algerian state. AIl these demands were rejected by the French.
In March 1944, after a visit to Algiers by General Charles de Gaulle, some compromises were made: membership of the French electoral college was opened to a small minority of Muslims. However, French settlers continued to reject any real concessions to Algerian aspirations and, during a peaceful demonstration on the 8th of May, 1945, during which Algerians called for recognition of their right to independence after having contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany, 45,000 Algerians were killed in a brutal repression.
By 1954, Algerian opposition had turned into full-scale revolt led by the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). Severe French repression of the Muslim population, including the use of torture and internment, and the hijacking and arrest of the FLN leader, Ahmed Ben Bella in 1957, was condemned both at home and abroad. By 1959, General de Gaulle was forced to recognise the strength of Algerian nationalism and the first secret talks between the FLN and the French took place in 1960.
In November, de Gaulle announced that a referendum on the future of Algeria would be held. The final step towards Algerian independence were taken in a referendum in July 1962 with 91 % of the population voting in its favour. Independence was declared on July 3rd, 1962. The long and bloody war, which had cost more than one million Algerian lives and the uprooting of much of the rural population, had finally ended.
ln 1830, the French invaded Algeria. The Algerian population was condemned to economic, social and political inferiority and an armed resistance to the occupation followed, lasting for decades. Unlike Morocco and Tunisia, which the French also occupied, Algeria was considered an integral part of France. Thus, education, for example, when available to Algerians, was in French.The years before World War Il saw a revival of the Nationalist movement and the formation of the Party of the Algerian People (PPA). In 1942, Algerian nationalists called for the establishment of an Algerian constituent assembly, and, a year later, demanded reforms including the introduction of Arabic as an official language, and the eventual creation of an Algerian state. AIl these demands were rejected by the French.
In March 1944, after a visit to Algiers by General Charles de Gaulle, some compromises were made: membership of the French electoral college was opened to a small minority of Muslims. However, French settlers continued to reject any real concessions to Algerian aspirations and, during a peaceful demonstration on the 8th of May, 1945, during which Algerians called for recognition of their right to independence after having contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany, 45,000 Algerians were killed in a brutal repression.
By 1954, Algerian opposition had turned into full-scale revolt led by the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). Severe French repression of the Muslim population, including the use of torture and internment, and the hijacking and arrest of the FLN leader, Ahmed Ben Bella in 1957, was condemned both at home and abroad. By 1959, General de Gaulle was forced to recognise the strength of Algerian nationalism and the first secret talks between the FLN and the French took place in 1960.
In November, de Gaulle announced that a referendum on the future of Algeria would be held. The final step towards Algerian independence were taken in a referendum in July 1962 with 91 % of the population voting in its favour. Independence was declared on July 3rd, 1962. The long and bloody war, which had cost more than one million Algerian lives and the uprooting of much of the rural population, had finally ended.
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