Richard Bruton
Question:64 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Algeria. [27742/98]
Written Answers. - Algerian Affairs.
I have read with a deep sense of shock the latest media reports which indicate that 52 people were recently masssacred and over a dozen women abducted from a village 200 kilometres west of Algiers. I call on the Algerian Government to do all in its power to have the abducted women returned and the perpetrators of this horrible massacre brought to justice.
This latest atrocity unfortunately appears to be only one of a series. Given the pattern of violence of previous years — when such killings have risen to a peak during the holy month of Ramadan — there is a clear danger that the Algerian people may be heading into a period of intense violence.
This tragedy takes place against a situation where severe restrictions have been imposed on the media and where the political system is engaged in preparations for a presidential election which has recently been postponed from February to April next. The economic situation facing Algeria has also recently severely deteriorated, due to a sharp fall in oil prices, leading to a rise in social tensions. The resulting situation means that some of the basic causes of the current appalling situation, such as the lack of democratisation and accountability, cannot be addressed adequately.
I have already informed the Dáil on the outcome of the most recent EU troika meeting with the Algerian Foreign Minister. Together with our EU partners we continue to monitor the ongoing situation and will take whatever steps are necessary to bring home to the Algerian authorities our very deep feelings of repugnance at the current situation.