BELLA PLEDGES REVOLUTION WILL CONTINUE TO Tif END
The ugly disturbances in Oran on January 7, in which counterrevolutionary forces sought to capitalize on unemployment and other grave . problems which revolutionary Algeria has not yet had time to solve, were answered the following day in the same city. by huge crowds who shouted approval of the Ben Bella government and its socialist orientation. [see World Outlook January 17. ]
A further resounding reply was given in Algiers January ll. A
~5m .
vast throng assembled in the Place des Martyrs, carrying such banners as "The Reaction Shall Not Pass!" "Hang the Speculators!" “Hang the Reactionariest" “Vigilance Committees!" "A Party. of the Vanguardy"
A number of speakers explained the development of the socialist revolution and attacked the reaction. A resolution condemning the incidents at Oran was introduced by the student organization and passed with applause and the "youyous™ “of the women, _ Ben Bella began his speech by explaining woet had happened at Oran. He wanted to counteract "tendentious rumors" spread "by scattered politicians lacking a program" who were sowing division in the country to the injury of the Revolution, exploiting unemployment and distress, He then issued a firm warning:
"The people are witness to the fact that we have never wanted to Spill blood, For a year and a half no Algerian has been condemned to death, But we are aware that there are people who do not hesitate at using force. I have signed a. decree instituting revolutionary criminal courts, These courts are going to meet in session todey and if there . are people who deserve to be snot, they will be shot, All thoge who steal will be condemned, no matter what positions they hold,'
Referring to the events at Oran, Ben Bella said, “It is bizarre to. observe that the demonstrations which began with cries of ‘We want work; we want bread! ended with cries of 'Long live Francet and the waving. of the French flag."
Ben Bella appealed for patience. “If we have struggled and suffered for 132 years against colonialism, if we have struggled for seven and a half years for our liberation, we can still accept some sacrifices for five :or six years in order to assure 4 better life for all, social justice, prosperity for all the Algerians."
He did not blame the unemployed for what happened in Oran, “Our unemployed were victims of politicians who did nothing when they were in power to solve their problems, They had beautiful villas and ate their fill while their brothers were homeless in the street.
"Whoever says he is able to regulate all the problems, including unemployment and hunger is a demagogue like the false miracle men, the liars, the counterrevolutionaries, v
Ben Bella denounced evidences of corruption, - He cited the case of an employee who had offered to restore the holdings of a European in return for three million francs [$6,000]. "He will be judged by the criminal court and I hope he. gets twenty years in prison."
Affirming the determination. of the Algerian people to carry their socialist revolution through to the very end, Ben Bella declared: "We repeat once and for all, that no force in the world can ever make us turn back from the objectives. wnich we have set. "