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Hocine Aït-Ahmed, Algerian Leader, Dies at 89 Hocine Aït-Ahmed, a Pro-Democracy Algerian Leader, Dies at 89
(about 17 hours later)
ALGIERS — Hocine Aït-Ahmed, a leader of the Algerian war of independence against France that began in 1954 and a major opponent of the Algerian governments dominated by the military since then, died on Dec. 23 in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was 89.ALGIERS — Hocine Aït-Ahmed, a leader of the Algerian war of independence against France that began in 1954 and a major opponent of the Algerian governments dominated by the military since then, died on Dec. 23 in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was 89.
His death was reported by the state news agency, the Algerian Press Service.His death was reported by the state news agency, the Algerian Press Service.
Though he spent decades in exile in Switzerland, Mr. Aït-Ahmed remained an influential figure in Algerian politics, pushing for democracy and opposing successive governments.Though he spent decades in exile in Switzerland, Mr. Aït-Ahmed remained an influential figure in Algerian politics, pushing for democracy and opposing successive governments.
Of Berber origin, he came from Kabylia, a fiercely independent mountainous region in northeastern Algeria that was the first to resist French rule and remains restive to this day. Mr. Aït-Ahmed was in high school when he first entered politics as a member of the nationalist Algerian People’s Party, which had been banned by French authorities.Of Berber origin, he came from Kabylia, a fiercely independent mountainous region in northeastern Algeria that was the first to resist French rule and remains restive to this day. Mr. Aït-Ahmed was in high school when he first entered politics as a member of the nationalist Algerian People’s Party, which had been banned by French authorities.
He was a founder of the Special Organization in 1947, a group that became the nucleus of the National Liberation Front, or F.L.N., which unified nationalist factions and led the struggle against the French.He was a founder of the Special Organization in 1947, a group that became the nucleus of the National Liberation Front, or F.L.N., which unified nationalist factions and led the struggle against the French.
After the authorities broke up the Special Organization in 1950, Mr. Aït-Ahmed sought refuge in Cairo.After the authorities broke up the Special Organization in 1950, Mr. Aït-Ahmed sought refuge in Cairo.
When the war of independence began, he worked from Cairo to win international support for Algeria’s liberation struggle, eventually opening an F.L.N. office in New York.When the war of independence began, he worked from Cairo to win international support for Algeria’s liberation struggle, eventually opening an F.L.N. office in New York.
In 1956, he was among several Algerian leaders aboard a flight to Tunisia from Morocco who were arrested by the French military. He remained in prison until the end of the war in 1962.In 1956, he was among several Algerian leaders aboard a flight to Tunisia from Morocco who were arrested by the French military. He remained in prison until the end of the war in 1962.
After Algeria won independence, Mr. Aït-Ahmed soon opposed President Ahmed Ben Bella because of the military’s control of the government, and he created the nation’s first opposition party, the Socialist Forces Front.After Algeria won independence, Mr. Aït-Ahmed soon opposed President Ahmed Ben Bella because of the military’s control of the government, and he created the nation’s first opposition party, the Socialist Forces Front.
He was arrested in 1964 on charges of antigovernment activities and given a death sentence that was later commuted to life in prison. He escaped in 1966 and fled to Switzerland.He was arrested in 1964 on charges of antigovernment activities and given a death sentence that was later commuted to life in prison. He escaped in 1966 and fled to Switzerland.
Mr. Aït-Ahmed was widely respected in Algeria for his opposition to the successive authoritarian governments of Mr. Ben Bella, Houari Boumediene, Chadli Bendjedid and the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.Mr. Aït-Ahmed was widely respected in Algeria for his opposition to the successive authoritarian governments of Mr. Ben Bella, Houari Boumediene, Chadli Bendjedid and the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Despite Mr. Aït-Ahmed’s criticism of the government, officials declared eight days of mourning, and a state funeral was held in Algiers on Thursday. Thousands of supporters gathered on Friday in his native village for his burial.Despite Mr. Aït-Ahmed’s criticism of the government, officials declared eight days of mourning, and a state funeral was held in Algiers on Thursday. Thousands of supporters gathered on Friday in his native village for his burial.
Mr. Aït-Ahmed opposed the military coup that suspended the elections in 1992 and triggered a bloody civil war, but he was also an opponent of the Islamic Salvation Front that appeared to be on the brink of an electoral victory at the time. He came up with the slogan, “No to a police state and no to a religious state.”Mr. Aït-Ahmed opposed the military coup that suspended the elections in 1992 and triggered a bloody civil war, but he was also an opponent of the Islamic Salvation Front that appeared to be on the brink of an electoral victory at the time. He came up with the slogan, “No to a police state and no to a religious state.”
Mr. Aït-Ahmed ran for president in 1999 but withdrew his candidacy, along with all five other candidates, to protest the fraud that critics said brought Mr. Bouteflika to power for the first of his four terms.Mr. Aït-Ahmed ran for president in 1999 but withdrew his candidacy, along with all five other candidates, to protest the fraud that critics said brought Mr. Bouteflika to power for the first of his four terms.
Mr. Aït-Ahmed was born on Aug. 24, 1926, at Ait Yahia, a village east of Algiers, the son of a wealthy landowner. He earned a law degree from the University of Paris.Mr. Aït-Ahmed was born on Aug. 24, 1926, at Ait Yahia, a village east of Algiers, the son of a wealthy landowner. He earned a law degree from the University of Paris.
He is survived by his wife, Djamila; two sons, Jugurtha and Salah-Eddine; and a daughter, Bushra.He is survived by his wife, Djamila; two sons, Jugurtha and Salah-Eddine; and a daughter, Bushra.