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To begin a new year of struggle for autonomy of Kabylia, the MAK has once again challenged the racist regime of Bouteflika by organizing two successful marches in Vgayet and Tizi-Ouzou. Despite repression and insecurity sustained by the Algerian regime and Islamists in the Kabyle country, these events have attracted more than 10,000 peoples. The MAK, which records the victory, remains without news of some of its activists. It alerted international opinion on the disappearances and urged Kabyle people to be vigilant. Its President, from abroad, is following the developments closely and will certainly make a media intervention if necessary.

Following these demonstrations, a statement on the formalization of the Kabyle language was read on site. Here is the text and its English translation.

Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia -MAK

Call on the people Kabyle for the generalization of the Kabyle language usage

Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 10, 1948 including:

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

In addition, there will be no discrimination on the political, jurisdictional or international status of countries or territory to which a person belongs, whether that country or territory is independent, trusteeship, non-autonomous, or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Considering the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including:

Article 1

Indigenous peoples have the right, collectively or individually, to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the international law on human rights.

Article 2

Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all others and have the right not to be subjected, while exercising their rights, to any form of discrimination, especially for their origin or aboriginal identity.

Article 3

Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Considering the Algerian Constitution including:

Article 3a

Tamazight is also national language.

The state implemented its promotion and development in all its linguistic varieties in use on the national territory.

Noting that since 1962 the Arab-Islamic power in Algiers is working tirelessly to pass rogue laws that are contrary to the general history of the country and its ancient customs and mores for the sole purpose of evading the historical, cultural and spiritual reality of the Kabyle people that no invader has managed to absorb.

Aware of the danger of extinction programmed against the Kabyle language through a furious Arabization and rampant Islamization conducted with the assistance of foreign powers,

Affirming the right to speak his mother tongue is an inalienable, unalterable and unchangeable right that no reason, nor law, nor any circumstance may prohibit or limit the use.

Timani tmurt i n yeqvayliyen (Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia) calls upon all the Kabyle people to use daily, without any limitation of its inherent right consolidated by international conventions, to speak first in Kabyle rather than any other language.

It urges the Kabyle people to exercise this right at any place, anytime and in any circumstance to any vis-à-vis, be it private or public.

It particularly recommends to use this right in the courts, police stations, gendarmerie, roadblocks, municipalities, sub-prefectures, prefectures and in other public or private administration.

It invites the municipalities of Kabylia to proceed with the Kabylization of the environment of their territories; traders, retailers, industrialists and heads of schools and Universities, the pediments of their respective establishment.

Kabyle People! The time has come for us to straighten the head and face all challenges. Our dignity does not convert into cash. Be proud of our elders who have transcended all adversities to bequeath us a language, culture, and civilization that we must promote and perpetuate.

Long Live Free and Autonomous Kabylia!

Kabylia, January 12, 2010

Translated from French by Izem