[Maghrebia] The number of GSPC leaders choosing to support reconciliation efforts in Algeria is growing. At a meeting on Thursday (May 7th) in Algiers, GSPC founding members Omar Abdelbari, Abu Zakaria, Moussaab Abu Daoud, and Abu Amar Hadhifa announced that Amar Saifi -- aka Abderrezak El Para -- has joined the cause for national peace.The commanders showed Magharebia a letter from El Para, who has been in detention since October 2004, that clearly states his intent.
In the letter, El Para acknowledges the efforts of GSPC founder Hassan Hattab to end the fighting in Algeria.
"I'm sorry for what I have done, and I have prayed to God that those who remain in the underground will feel the same," he writes. "Hassan Hattab's action is laudable, as he has put the interest of the nation, an end to the spilling of Algerian blood and an end to fitna, above all other considerations."
El Para calls into question decisions by current leader Abdelmalek Droukdel that led to "the spilling of Muslim blood in crowded public places, without any distinction between young and old, man and woman, through bombings, under the pretext of targeting government institutions".
He goes on to state that his position "is not dictated by the current situation, but arises from a deep conviction... God has saved me by removing me from the arena of armed conflict, so that I could take a look at myself and what has been done by the group (GSPC) since it was created," he writes.
"I realised that the action taken in our country has caused a lot of tragedy for our people and it would be difficult to avoid excesses, as was the case in the past with the GIA and is now the case with the GSPC."
El Para closed with an appeal to the terrorists still in hiding: "It's our duty to convince those who remain in the underground... [they] must pull themselves together and ask: are their actions jihad? The truth is that these acts have nothing to do with Islam or Muslims."
He writes that he and Hassan Hattab "already warned of this, by withdrawing from the GIA in 1996 and denouncing its criminal acts".
Discussing their motivation to join the peace movement, the four commanders said in the meeting that their initiative is a response to appeals from ulemas in Algeria and abroad for an end to violence in the country. Their voices join that of Hassan Hattab and countless others who want to see peace re-established.
This appeal, the four told Magharebia, will not be the last. They are continuing their efforts to convince those who are still involved in underground operations to lay down their weapons.
The former comrades of Droukdel said that they know the character of the remaining fighters better than anyone. They are working in the community to raise awareness among the families of terrorists and most importantly to discourage young people who might be tempted by the underground. They use their firsthand experience to describe the bitter realities of life in al-Qaeda, and talk about the benefits of the Charter for National Reconciliation.
According to Omar Abdelbari, former GSPC communications officer, the appeal has been broadcast far and wide and must have reached the underground. Nevertheless, he said the four know they will have to wait to see the fruits of their work in the community.
As for the men still fighting, former GSPC medical officer Abu Zakaria said that many still have concerns they want answered before making a decision.
"The armed elements are waiting for the government to open the door to them, to open up lines of communication. There needs to be a guarantee that these people will receive social assistance," he said.
"We need to cap the well of terrorism if the underground is to feel the impact."
Abdelbari has the same aim. "Those who are fighting in the underground will judge by what happens to those who turn themselves in," he said.
For Moussaab Abu Daoud, the project begun by Hattab required careful consideration. He held a meeting with leaders in "Zone 9", his region of responsibility in the GSPC. "We handed over a list of those who wanted to lay down their weapons to the security forces," he said. "We are still working to bring the remaining elements back into society. People have come to see us and have been convinced by our appeal."
Abu Daoud also revealed that he had sent intermediaries to meet Abu El Abbas (Mokhtar Belmokhtar) to try to convince him to lay down his weapons.
He also criticised Droukdel for blind adherence to al-Qaeda doctrine. "The ideas being spread by al-Qaeda [in Iraq] are taken up again here. Even the attacks they committed have been copied. Look at the attack on the UN headquarters: who could have imagined that? No one. It's an unthinking imitation of al-Qaeda's actions."
Finally, Abu Daoud encouraged the lingering armed elements to accept the terms of reconciliation. "The fact that we are in the midst of society -- that we can move around in total freedom -- is in itself palpable proof for those who are still reluctant to stand down."