Mr chikhoune visits old friends in the Kasbah, the old defensive fortress in Algiers. For 20 years the retiree was headmaster at the local school. Today, just like he did on the first day, he hands out sweets to his former pupils.
00:27
Many years have passed, but nothing has improved. There is still a chronic shortage of housing, and that there is, is liable to collapse. Children here once dreamed of a prosperous future, now they have become teenagers filled with bitterness and hopelessness.
00:46
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Former school Headmaster
Everybody wants to emigrate to France or Germany though it is hard for them to get a visa.
00:57
For them the only way out is to flee to countries with more opportunities, freedom and human rights.
01:07
OT
Boy
We have more rights abroad. Here there is nothing. The state doesnt even act in accordance with Islam.
01:16
Mr Chikhoune doesnt believe theocratic governance is the answer. He would prefer the separation of state and religion and is dedicated to a movement that, among other things, requires a secular form of government.
01:30
OT
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Previous school principal
In future our movement wants to create a new form of government for Muslims and also for all other religions. Christian churches and jewish synagogs should be built in Algeria. Here, everybody should be able to follow their beliefs peacefully.
01:53
The calls for increased freedom come from the Kabylei, situated in the North of Algeria. It is a barren mountain region, inhabited by Berbers, original people of the Maghreb. Today they are a minority of 7 milion people speaking their own language, the Tamazigh.
3 years ago the Berbers came to protest against the Government. The demonstrators not only wanted respect for their ethnic identity, but also demanded an open society and full democracy something most Algerians wish for.
The Governments response was brutal. 150 teenagers were shot dead by security forces.
However, the Berbers arent giving up lightly. Organised only in a powerless independent party, they ask, among other things, for their language to be considered equivalent to Arabic. But the Government refuses to act without a referendum.
02:
OT
BELAID ABRIKA
Speaker of citizens platform
In no other country of this world is acceptance of a major language dependent on a referendum. We dont want that because it would lead to a division of the Algerian population.
03:11 O
OT
NORDINE MZALLA
Political scientist
Every dictatorship acts on behalf of a national or social myth and negates parts of reality. This happened in communism as well as in panarabism or in Hitlers fascism. As you know, there was a connection with Hitler in Austria. We also experienced a connection to the dictators in Algeria its an ideological connection. We want Algeria to get over this inclination, so as to find themselves in the world again.
0:54
OT
KHALED GUERNAH
Father of a Berber who was shot
We are not hindered by the Arab but by the Algerian state. The rulers have led us into a dead-end street.
0:11
The civil war of the 1980s and 90s put the Berbers in an impossible position, threatened both by the military regime as well as by the Islamic opposition.
Many of them were killed.
04:27
The war was a tough time for this 90 year old man. During that time his son was the victim of an attempted murder.
The outspoken teacher repeatedly spoke out against the education policy of the government and especially against attempts of arabification.
These circumstances surrounding his sons shooting have never been cleared up. His mother believes the murderers were Islamic terrorists.
04:50
OT
DJOHER CHOUAKI
He was a french teacher and also taught Latin and Greek.
04:54
I am a practising Muslim under the rules of our religion. It is similar to those of the Christians in Europe : We pray and live in abstinence. You are not supposed to do anything bad but there are others who commit crimes even though they do pray.
Algeria is not an Arabic country. Arabs came and conquered here much as the French did later centuries later.
05:36
Djoher Chouaki nostalgically sings a colonial French song.
05:59
During the Algerian War of Independence, the Berbers fought on the front line against the French. Today they are Francophiles, in reaction to the Arabification of Algeria after the French were driven out in the 1960s.
05:59
Dinner at the Chikhounes cous cous, an Algerian specialty, and a rpogramme about the Berbers on the television.
06:08
OT
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Previous school principal
It is ironic that we can receive a Berberish TV channel due to the ancient colonial power. It is broadcast from Paris.
06:23
These Berbers have a strong connection with Europe. Some children of this family live in France, others in Austria. The youngest son studies languages in Vienna.
06:35
OT
NASSER CHIKHOUNE
Pharmacist
If society doesnt change, there will be a massive problem. At the moment the youth are emigrating in their droves. This will stop, however, when European countries refuse to accept immigrants any more. Then what? How will the youth cope with conditions over here?
06:55
OT
HOURIA CHIKHOUNE
Photographer
Another problem is the restriction on free thought. A lot of journalists have already been put in jail. I think this is very worrying.
Cut
07:14
OT
HaKIN CHIKHONE
Therapist
I think if we can get the whole population to follow our movement, then things will change.
07:36
OT
SORAY CHIKHOUNE
Art master
and dont forget women. The Algerian woman has always been very feisty!.
07:41
Women in Algeria are a long way from equal status. The Berbers want to change this, too.
The streets of the Kasbah are strictly the domain of men. The roofs belong to the women.
08:15
Here, Mr Chikhoune campaigns for his movement, with some success.
08:33
OT
KARIM
HOUAS
Housewife
It is the situation in Algeria that leads to terrorism. Look at me, Im sitting here together with my unemployed husband who doesnt bring home any bread. What am I supposed to do? I blow myself up. Stop the everlasting suffering.
With their civil movement the Berbers are demanding what everyone needs: freedom, work and housing. That is all. Im not against the Arabs . Although I agree with what the campaigners are asking for.
09:01
Many Algerians are disappointed with their government. This is why the demands put forward by the countrys oppressed indigenous people are falling on such fertile soil.
00:27
Many years have passed, but nothing has improved. There is still a chronic shortage of housing, and that there is, is liable to collapse. Children here once dreamed of a prosperous future, now they have become teenagers filled with bitterness and hopelessness.
00:46
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Former school Headmaster
Everybody wants to emigrate to France or Germany though it is hard for them to get a visa.
00:57
For them the only way out is to flee to countries with more opportunities, freedom and human rights.
01:07
OT
Boy
We have more rights abroad. Here there is nothing. The state doesnt even act in accordance with Islam.
01:16
Mr Chikhoune doesnt believe theocratic governance is the answer. He would prefer the separation of state and religion and is dedicated to a movement that, among other things, requires a secular form of government.
01:30
OT
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Previous school principal
In future our movement wants to create a new form of government for Muslims and also for all other religions. Christian churches and jewish synagogs should be built in Algeria. Here, everybody should be able to follow their beliefs peacefully.
01:53
The calls for increased freedom come from the Kabylei, situated in the North of Algeria. It is a barren mountain region, inhabited by Berbers, original people of the Maghreb. Today they are a minority of 7 milion people speaking their own language, the Tamazigh.
3 years ago the Berbers came to protest against the Government. The demonstrators not only wanted respect for their ethnic identity, but also demanded an open society and full democracy something most Algerians wish for.
The Governments response was brutal. 150 teenagers were shot dead by security forces.
However, the Berbers arent giving up lightly. Organised only in a powerless independent party, they ask, among other things, for their language to be considered equivalent to Arabic. But the Government refuses to act without a referendum.
02:
OT
BELAID ABRIKA
Speaker of citizens platform
In no other country of this world is acceptance of a major language dependent on a referendum. We dont want that because it would lead to a division of the Algerian population.
03:11 O
OT
NORDINE MZALLA
Political scientist
Every dictatorship acts on behalf of a national or social myth and negates parts of reality. This happened in communism as well as in panarabism or in Hitlers fascism. As you know, there was a connection with Hitler in Austria. We also experienced a connection to the dictators in Algeria its an ideological connection. We want Algeria to get over this inclination, so as to find themselves in the world again.
0:54
OT
KHALED GUERNAH
Father of a Berber who was shot
We are not hindered by the Arab but by the Algerian state. The rulers have led us into a dead-end street.
0:11
The civil war of the 1980s and 90s put the Berbers in an impossible position, threatened both by the military regime as well as by the Islamic opposition.
Many of them were killed.
04:27
The war was a tough time for this 90 year old man. During that time his son was the victim of an attempted murder.
The outspoken teacher repeatedly spoke out against the education policy of the government and especially against attempts of arabification.
These circumstances surrounding his sons shooting have never been cleared up. His mother believes the murderers were Islamic terrorists.
04:50
OT
DJOHER CHOUAKI
He was a french teacher and also taught Latin and Greek.
04:54
I am a practising Muslim under the rules of our religion. It is similar to those of the Christians in Europe : We pray and live in abstinence. You are not supposed to do anything bad but there are others who commit crimes even though they do pray.
Algeria is not an Arabic country. Arabs came and conquered here much as the French did later centuries later.
05:36
Djoher Chouaki nostalgically sings a colonial French song.
05:59
During the Algerian War of Independence, the Berbers fought on the front line against the French. Today they are Francophiles, in reaction to the Arabification of Algeria after the French were driven out in the 1960s.
05:59
Dinner at the Chikhounes cous cous, an Algerian specialty, and a rpogramme about the Berbers on the television.
06:08
OT
KADER CHIKHOUNE
Previous school principal
It is ironic that we can receive a Berberish TV channel due to the ancient colonial power. It is broadcast from Paris.
06:23
These Berbers have a strong connection with Europe. Some children of this family live in France, others in Austria. The youngest son studies languages in Vienna.
06:35
OT
NASSER CHIKHOUNE
Pharmacist
If society doesnt change, there will be a massive problem. At the moment the youth are emigrating in their droves. This will stop, however, when European countries refuse to accept immigrants any more. Then what? How will the youth cope with conditions over here?
06:55
OT
HOURIA CHIKHOUNE
Photographer
Another problem is the restriction on free thought. A lot of journalists have already been put in jail. I think this is very worrying.
Cut
07:14
OT
HaKIN CHIKHONE
Therapist
I think if we can get the whole population to follow our movement, then things will change.
07:36
OT
SORAY CHIKHOUNE
Art master
and dont forget women. The Algerian woman has always been very feisty!.
07:41
Women in Algeria are a long way from equal status. The Berbers want to change this, too.
The streets of the Kasbah are strictly the domain of men. The roofs belong to the women.
08:15
Here, Mr Chikhoune campaigns for his movement, with some success.
08:33
OT
KARIM
HOUAS
Housewife
It is the situation in Algeria that leads to terrorism. Look at me, Im sitting here together with my unemployed husband who doesnt bring home any bread. What am I supposed to do? I blow myself up. Stop the everlasting suffering.
With their civil movement the Berbers are demanding what everyone needs: freedom, work and housing. That is all. Im not against the Arabs . Although I agree with what the campaigners are asking for.
09:01
Many Algerians are disappointed with their government. This is why the demands put forward by the countrys oppressed indigenous people are falling on such fertile soil.