Please find attached a previous response to a request similar to
yours. However, we add the following information.
The Berbers, which form between 20% and 28% of the Algerian
population [ Yvan Cliche, "La question berbère en
Algérie",
Le Devoir. 24 septembre 1985.], are
concentrated around two major groups located in the massif of the
Aurès and in Kabylie, in East Algeria [
La grande
encyclopédie du monde. Algérie. Editions Atlas,
1986. P. 4260.]. Other Berbers are found in the coastal mountains
between Cherchell and Ténès, in the Atlas of
El-Boulaïda, in the oriental Ouarsenis and near the Moroccan
border [ Ibid.]. 30% of the Berbers, such as the Mozabites of the
Mzab region and the Touaregs in the Hoggar massif, have kept their
language and their traditions, whereas 70% speak Arabic, became
muslim and adopted arab customs [ Ibid.].
The Berbers of Algeria are represented by "Le Mouvement culturel
berbère" of which leaders have links with Algerian workers
in France and Belgium [ Amnesty International,
Algeria: Playing
with splinters. April 1986.]. The Berber problem mainly emerged
in 1980 with the banning of a lecture given by a Kabyle
intellectual on Kabyle poetry [ Yvan Cliche, "La Question
berbère en Algérie".]. Recognition of the cultural
diversity and of the national popular languages, Berber and Arabic,
are the Berbers' claims [ Ibid.]. Berbers also ask for political
pluralism, Algeria having a one-party system [ "Discos and
discourse for the `bearded and the turbaned'",
Arabia.
October 1985.]. In April 1980, the students at the University of
Tizi-Ouzou in Kabyle occupied the university and called for a
general strike which was heavily followed [ Yvan Cliche, "La
question berbère en Algérie".]. During the night of
April 19th to 20th, a strong repression occurred followed by three
days of violent riots [ Ibid.]. Again in 1988, violent riots in the
Kabyle region occurred and about 60 persons were killed ["Troops
fire on Algerian protesters",
The Toronto Star. Monday,
October 10, 1988.]; Official Algerian texts make no reference to
the Berber community nor does the word "berber" appear in official
speeches [ Yvan Cliche, "La question berbère en
Algérie".]. A policy of arabization was implemented a few
years ago [ Ibid.].
In March 1984, members of the Algerian human rights league, newly
created by Berbers, were imprisoned for "challenging the official
dictatorship" [ "Discos and discourse for the `bearded and the
turbaned'",
Arabia. October 1985.].
Attachment
La grande encyclopédie du
monde. Algérie. Editions Atlas, 1986. P. 4260.