QUESTIONS LINGER IN ALGERIAN'S DEATH (WASHINGTON POST)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00789R001001550005-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: July 1, 1992
• Content Type: NSPR

Qusiioiis Linger in AlgeRV9
Press Looks Beyond Fundamentalists for Motivation of Assassin
By Jonathan C. Randal
Washington Post Foreign service
ALGIERS, June 30-More than
36 hours after the assassination of
chief of state Mohammed Boudiaf,
Algeria's military-dominated gov-
ernment faced widespread ques-
tioning today about the identity and
motives of Boudiaf's killer.
Although in permanent session
since Monday's assassination, the
government's two key bodies-the
High State Council and the National
Security Council-have said noth-
ing of substance other than an-
nouncing an official investigation of
Boudiaf's killing and arrangements
for his funeral here on Wednesday.
But the freest press in the Arab
world has underlined the lack of
a equatesecunty for Boudiaf' vxsi istryofficial accused of taking kick-
to the MJeI ~d' erranean ? pot 1cs o I'backs on arms procurement in the
Annaba a d suggested that sIamic mid-1980s_ At the times informed
to win a landslide victory in Alge- Khaled Nezzar, widely viewed as
ria's first free parliamentary vote the real power in the regime, was
when the military government concerned that the case would re-
seized power in January and can- vive charges of other corruption in
celed the elections-were not the the military.
only group with reasons to kill him. But in a recent communique
Suggesting "numerous" potential bearing Boudiaf's mark, the High
assassins, newspapers said Bou- State Council, the unelected collec-
diaf's campaign for "radical change" tive presidency hurriedly intro-
and against corruption had upset duced after the army forced pres-
not only the fundamentalists, but ident Chadli Bendjedid into retire-
various vested interests that many ment, swore to punish the corrupt,
Algerians believe wield excessive "whatever their social position or
political and financial influence. hierarchical rank."
ia,cY~ iain
anered funda- Known to be under study at Bou-
a ".-
t`s'" end~ ly ng~ hisg reputation diaf's reqest was legislation provid-
for honesty and his legitimacy as a ing criminal punishment for fiscal
hero of Algeria's war for indepen- fraud and creating a special tax on
dence from France to the military those who could not legally justify
crackdown against them. their wealth. -
But since returning from a 28- The press also warned of the
year self-imposed exile, he criti- dangers in automatically blaming
cized established interest groups the fundamentalists for the murder.
and spurned offers of "national rec- The daily Quotidien d'Algerie said
onciliation" from established polit- such accusations "would only cast
ical parties. the non-fundamentalist, Muslim
Newspapers also referred to majority into the camp of the ene-
Boudiaf's repeated vows to punish mies of progress."
corrupt officials and their well-con- Some observers suggested that
nected friends for tax fraud and such reasoning was at the center of
contraband trade. a debate that had paralyzed the gov-
In April, Boudiaf temporarily ernment's two' top councils: with
backed off the corruption issue af- some officials arguing for a stiffen-
ter the rearrest of Gen. Mostefa ing of the state of emergency, in
Belhoucif, a former Defense Min- force since Feb. 9, that has allowed
94
banning of the fundamentalist Is-
lamic Salvation Front, arrest of its
leaders and ouster of its elected
officials.
Others, however, are said to be
arguing that the regime should
open up and accept some form of
"national reconciliation" with the
National Liberation Front, which
monopolized power from 1962 to
1990, the Socialist Forces Front,
smaller democratic parties and
even moderate Islamic fundamen-
talists, including dissident members
of the Islamic Salvation Front.
Among practical questions raised
in the press were why Boudiaf's de-
tailed itinerary in Annaba had been
known for 10 days and whether the
A soldier guards entrance to Algiers' al-Alia cemetery, where chief of state Mohammed Boudiaf is to be buried today.
security-forces_had_beenrpenetrated
b the a sin, ho appareently had
trou 11 ~ thty's' e
~'
o 1
o tural tenter.
though the official Algerian
news service, APS, said the man who
killed Boudiaf was wearing a riot
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R001001550005-5
squad trooper's blue uniform, at 11' neck sweater and trousers it -
least one reporter disagreed. a er fr ehind l the stage, fire
A reporter for the daily Le Soir at he h adr f stae, and then disap
d'Algerie said-he saw Boudia f's}vrt kill- pear by the same route.
er-"abf mediumu ,h APS first said the assassin was.
hea 2 d. laud, w~earua ;short- killed, but later the High State Coun-
s shirtand a cil said he had been captured.