20 APRIL 2009 MEMORY AND FUTUR
Berber Spring & Black Spring.

29 years ago, thanks to many brave activists, the fight for identity was taken to the streets to publicly challenge fear, denial and anathema.

29 years ago, we were there and other youngsters have joined us in a steady stream of constantly renewed militants. And 8 years ago, the Algerian authorities opened fire on our unarmed children killing 126 and injuring thousands among them. We gather today to honor their memory and struggle.

Yesterday, our sisters and brothers have come to Place de la République in Paris to raise our voices and our hopes. We can never thank them enough for their courage and availability. They need to know that their mobilization means a lot to ours.

Today, 20 April 2009 in Tizi Wezzu, the MAK writes another page in our history.

We came from Tuvirett (Bouira), Vgayet (Bejaia), Boumerdes, Tiaret, Ain Oussera, Djelfa, Algiers and elsewhere to support the rebirth of Kabylia which gives us a new sense of renewal and liberation.

The support that we get from everywhere esle is a proof of the justness of our struggle.

Todays marching is an expression of our gratitude to all generations of Kabyles who had made great sacrifices that enable us today to fight for the autonomy of Kabylia. It is a gathering of memory and future.

The intimidation and repression that could not overcome the struggle for language and identity of the Kabyle activists during the reign of the single party can only, today and for ever, strengthen our resolve to move forward.

If the killing of our brothers during the "black spring" showed the true face of the regime towards Kabylia, it was not able however to stop the course of history towards our freedom. On the contrary, it even led to the birth of the MAK.

The rejection by Kabylia of the presidential elections on 9 April 2009 is yet another slap to all those in power, who have never follozed another route other than political repression against Kabyles. The message that Kabylia has always sent to Algiers is the following: "I demand respect and recognition of my identity, my people and my legitimate rights instead of the denial of existence which is opposed to me! "

This is the message that was delivered by our parents to Colonial France and is tirelessly sent to the Algerian state since 1963, with the FFS back then in 1980 with the MCB in 2001 with the Archs and today with the MAK.

From now on we are sending it clearly, without encryption or misunderstanding, taking history and opinion as witnesses.

Tizi-Ouzou on 20 april 2009