TIMANIT I TMURT N YEQVAYLIYEN
MOVEMENT FOR THE AUTONOMY OF KABYLIA

Eighth anniversary

Hope reinvented

On 5 June 2001, a new hope was born in Kabylia : That of a regional autonomy. Now the Kabyle people will no longer turn in circles as he used to do previously, like someone lost in history. The blocked horizon of the linguistic claim “Tamazight, national and official language” is finally over. A new perspective and a new way to visualize the future are emerging. From this date, the Kabyles have become a people who is aware of its existence and who is entitled to its own institutions such as parliament and local government. We can finally have a flag while fraternizing with Algerians who hitherto were quite tricked by the Algerian power which wants them to view the Kabyles as those who plan to achieve hegemony over the country, if they do not constitute a threat to the national unity.

Despite the innocence that characterizes the new-born, this idea, which would a few days later be defended by the MAK, is celebrated with an avalanche of attacks of a rare violence. In political families, things don’t go as in biological families. Newcomers to the world are not welcomed with tenderness, but with criminal intent. In politics we are in a world of predators ; if they (our opponents) could, they would have plotted to get this idea "nipped in the bud".

Though bullied by all kinds of opponents whose interests and vision of things have been destabilized, disfigured by wrong definitions which present it as a yearn for independence and separatism, mocked or demonized, the idea of Kabyle Regional Autonomy became more and more rooted in the heart of the Kabyles. If it is already in its 8th year, this denotes that it has been fed by the accession of tacit or manifest Kabyles that recognize its significance, the direction of History which feeds hope. Having known through these eight years a continual strengthening proves that this idea has excellent seeds of life and that it became a component of the Kabyle people and his dream of freedom.

Thanks to all those who supported the idea at one time or another throughout this period of time and for whom the MAK pays a heartfelt tribute for the role they played in its favor, thanks to all the activists who have patiently helped in building our success, particularly the historic march of 20 April 2009, thanks to the sacrifices of others including that of Ameziane Mehenni which we commemorate the 5th anniversary of his assassination in two weeks, or that of Ait Ahmed Bashir pushed into exile by a judicial ruthlessness seeking to put him into economic collapse, the idea of regional autonomy for Kabylia became a real project carried out everyday by an increasing number of people.

These successes we have recorded encourage us to redouble our efforts to be more efficient. The future success of MAK, in the Kabylia and abroad on the international scene, will be even more successful than those that we have already achieved. Thus, if we have more than 20,000 advocates at the march last April, we set the goal of more than 100,000 demonstrators for next year’s march. A new stage will be initiated at the beginning of the current social year. It is time for us to give the Kabylity its meaning with all the respect it deserves. Our duty is to assert it, to protect it, and to enhance it in all areas. We’ll speak Kabyle, we’ll think Kabyle and we’ll consume principally Kabyle products. Reinvigorate the solidarity between us will be salutary to our people. MAK reaches out to all those who sincerely wish to build together the future autonomy of Kabylia. It is ready for a constructive dialogue with all political, union, social and cultural kabyle forces. It will have a word with all the key figures who accept its invitation.

Finally, if the MAK is concerned above all about the rights of the Kabyle people, it doesn’t forget at all the Algerian people that it invites to brotherhood and understanding. The MAK is convinced that the autonomy of Kabylia will be an achievement that will have positive effects for all the other regions of Algeria. The peaceful and innovative approach of the MAK for the autonomy of Kabylia raises hope for all the peoples of the world suffering from the denial and misunderstanding of political powers or their environment.

Washington, 5 June 2009

For the MAK, President Ferhat Mehenni