Berber Arouch Citizen's Movement
Encyclopedia
The Arouch Movement or Berber Arouch Citizen's Movement (Kabyle
: Laarac) is an organization in Algeria
representing the Kabyle people
, an ethnic
Berbers
group of the province of Kabylia
. Their name, Arouch, is the plural form of the word Arch, referring to a traditional Kabyle
form of democratic political assembly. The movement was started after the Black Spring
disturbances in 2001, in which 126 Kabyle protesters were killed by Algerian gendarmes
. The Arouch have a horizontal leadership and it has no leader, although charismatic arouch representatives like Belaïd Abrika
have emerged.
The United States Department of State
and Congressional Research Service
have reported on state harassment of the Arouch.
The Arouch views about the status of Kabylie are as diverse as the number of its representatives, some supporting a federal state, others support a regional autonomy, and the rest are for decentralization.
Kabyle language
Kabyle or Kabylian is a Berber language spoken by the Kabyle people north and northeast of Algeria. Estimates about the number of speakers range from 5 million to about 7 million speakers worldwide, the majority in Algeria.-Classification:The classification of Kabyle is Afro-Asiatic, Berber and...
: Laarac) is an organization in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
representing the Kabyle people
Kabyle people
The Kabyle people are the largest homogeneous Algerian ethno-cultural and linguistical community and the largest nation in North Africa to be considered exclusively Berber. Their traditional homeland is Kabylie in the north of Algeria, one hundred miles east of Algiers...
, an ethnic
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
group of the province of Kabylia
Kabylie
Kabylie or Kabylia , is a region in the north of Algeria.It is part of the Tell Atlas and is located at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Kabylia covers several provinces of Algeria: the whole of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia , most of Bouira and parts of the wilayas of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Jijel,...
. Their name, Arouch, is the plural form of the word Arch, referring to a traditional Kabyle
Kabyle people
The Kabyle people are the largest homogeneous Algerian ethno-cultural and linguistical community and the largest nation in North Africa to be considered exclusively Berber. Their traditional homeland is Kabylie in the north of Algeria, one hundred miles east of Algiers...
form of democratic political assembly. The movement was started after the Black Spring
Black Spring (Kabylie)
The Black Spring was a series of violent disturbances and political demonstrations by Kabylian Berber activists in the Kabylia region of Algeria in 2001, which were met by repressive police measures and became a potent symbol of Kabylian discontent with the national government...
disturbances in 2001, in which 126 Kabyle protesters were killed by Algerian gendarmes
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
. The Arouch have a horizontal leadership and it has no leader, although charismatic arouch representatives like Belaïd Abrika
Belaïd Abrika
Belaïd Abrika is a professor of History at the Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou. However, he has become one of the best-known modern Kabyles through his role as a leader and spokesperson of the Arouch protest movement in the region of Kabylie in Algeria.He has been arrested several...
have emerged.
The United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
and Congressional Research Service
Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service , known as "Congress's think tank", is the public policy research arm of the United States Congress. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS works exclusively and directly for Members of Congress, their Committees and staff on a...
have reported on state harassment of the Arouch.
Goals
The Arouch has stated political goals in a document known as the El Kseur Platform. Among them are:- Recognition of the Berber language as a national and official language alongside ArabicArabic languageArabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
; the demand was partially met. - The withdrawal of the Algerian gendarmerieGendarmerieA gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
security forces from KabyliaKabylieKabylie or Kabylia , is a region in the north of Algeria.It is part of the Tell Atlas and is located at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Kabylia covers several provinces of Algeria: the whole of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia , most of Bouira and parts of the wilayas of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Jijel,...
; the demand was met. - Expanded democracy.
- Expanded social rights.
The Arouch views about the status of Kabylie are as diverse as the number of its representatives, some supporting a federal state, others support a regional autonomy, and the rest are for decentralization.
See also
- Politics of AlgeriaPolitics of AlgeriaPolitics of Algeria takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Algeria is head of state while the Prime Minister of Algeria is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- Rally for Culture and DemocracyRally for Culture and DemocracyThe Rally for Culture and Democracy is a political party in Algeria. It promotes secularism and has its principal power base in Kabylia, a major Berber-speaking region...
(RCD) - The main LiberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Berber party. - Front of Socialist Forces (FFS) - The main Socialist Berber party.
- Movement for the autonomy of the Kabylie (MAK) - A pro-autonomy Kabyle movement.