8 May 1945, the events which became an opportunity

Today the world celebrates the end of WWII. Algeria also commemorates 8 May 1945, but for us Algerians, this day was a bloody sad one. Like most of the old world’s populations, the Algerian people wanted to share their happiness after the end of WWII and remind the French colonizer and the other victors that they existed and wanted their freedom back, so they organized some peaceful demonstrations. But France didn’t intend it that way and massacres were perpetrated in many parts of Algeria, especially in Setif, Guelma and Kherrata.

So the commemoration of these events is a good way so nobody forgets the past and how dearly paid was our independence. The commemoration should also remind France and the world of the ugliness and inhumanity of the colonisation system. These last years’ talks between Algeria and France, and the more recent questions which arouse in France around the “Outside of the law” movie, show that we probably need more frequent and stronger reminders if we want to convince everybody.

Having said this, I would like to deal with another aspect of these events.

Fighting against corruption in Algeria

Transparency International‘s 2009 index which measures the perceived level of public-sector corruption ranked Algeria at the 111th position. Algeria’s ranking was 92nd in 2008 and 99th in 2007. Another report ranked Algeria at the 92nd position over 180 countries.

This relative position can be discussed but there is no doubt that the level of corruption in Algeria is sky-rocketing and the situation is not improving at all. Cases of corruption are countless and almost everyday brings up a new one. The biggest in the recent weeks was the corruption around the East-West highway project. Many high ranked civil and military officials are involved and the judiciary system is still investigating. We can also mention the cases of Eriad and the different scandals around many public banks. The case of the former APN president is important too and made some noise in Algeria though all Amar Saidani lost was his public appearances but he is still enjoying a free life. 2006 broke the news of the Sonatrach-BRC scandal. And we can go on and on mentioning the biggest known cases of corruption.
Not to forget the other cases of corruption which happen at lower levels, in the wilayas around the walis (many walis are appointed to another wilayas leaving scandals behind them) or at the level of the APCs. The students in universities, the new graduates who take exams to get jobs, hospitals staffs and patients, all of them face corruption in a way or another.
It is indeed a generalised behaviour and many people try to get some illegal benefit out of their positions, and this is not restricted to the public institutions.

I love my country

One of my favourite articles from The Onion fits perfectly in this blog; here it is. Some quotes:

When I look at that grand old flag, waving up there, big and proud in the breeze, my heart swells near to bursting, and a tear forms in my eye from thinking of all that it represents. Freedom. Glory. Tradition. For this land—the greatest on earth—is the land that I love, and may its song of liberty ring out from now until—what in the hell am I saying? This country and all its inhabitants can go take a flying fuck for all I care, honestly.

Because, as I was saying, patriotism is my lifeblood. My very essence. Red-blooded American patriotism. For America. America the beautiful. O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, like Ray Charles ever saw amber fucking anything. Amber waves of nimrods trying to cut in front of me at the supermarket, maybe. Yes, in the words of Francis Scott Key: “Aw, who gives a crap?” And, of course, the purple mountains’ majesty, though the last time I was in the mountains was when I visited my pain-in-the-ass sister and her clammy-handed husband and it was the worst weekend of my life.

Alaa Al-Aswany’s analysis of the ‘crisis’

I don’t agree on many of the points Al-Aswany makes, but at least he tries  and makes some very valid points while being reasonable and up to his rank as an intellectual. I like his patriotism and love for his country’s flag and people, but I repeat myself and say he and others fail to point at what the Egyptians (all or part of them) did to the Algerians; and things won’t work out so long as they don’t acknowledge it.

Then he bases his analysis on Egyptian TVs reports and we (more and more people) know now there’s little truth in them.

Third point, he is exactly like his nationals who still have a too big idea of the Egyptian role in the world. It’s like time has stopped somewhere in the sixties and they are stuck in there.

Fourth point, I must admit that I don’t like how Gulf countries behave with other Arab and Asian nationals (yes, it’s not only the Egyptians) and I would love to see their respective countries react. But the issue has many aspects to consider and it needs some realism when dealing with them.

Fifth point, he talks of Nasser’s support to the Algerian country and tells us that even our anthem’s music was composed by an Egyptian, wow! The latter point is just irrelevant here, and we need an objective analysis of how and why Nasser supported the FLN members who believed in him :)

Sixth point, let’s be serious, how could the Egyptian population pressure the Algerian government, and how could they expect to get an apology from the Algerian government or people?!

Defending Egypt’s flag is the title of his analysis.