Algeria Watch International
    P.O.Box 27423
    West Allis, WI. 53227, USA
    Tel: (414) 543-6534
    AWI email: awi@afn.org
    URL: https://members.tripod.com/~AlgeriaWatch
         
    Statement AWI9803003
         
    March 10, 1998
         
    Algeria Watch International wishes to join its voice to Amnesty
    International,The International Federation of Human Rights, Human
    Rights Watch, and Reporters Sans Frontieres in expressing its regret
    over the opposition by the European Parliament to an international
    investigation into the human rights situation in Algeria.
    The Parliament's decision is the more regrettable given that the
    delegation sent on its behalf was able to meet with neither human
    rights organizations nor with human rights lawyers on the ground.
         
    AWI strongly believes that the continuing violence in Algeria, the
    daily terror innocent civilians continue to suffer, and the repeated
    failure of the authorities to prevent and stop massacres, demand
    international scrutiny.  We therefore fully share the following
    recommendations made by Amnesty International, The International
    Federation of Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Sans
    Frontieres, that the European Parliament call for:
         
          - Prompt access to Algeria fo the UN Special Rapporteurs on
            Torture and on Extrajuridical Executions.
         
          - Prompt access for international human rights organizations
            to Algeria to freely carry out research.
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