Retro Raunch Revisit

This month marks the 55th anniversary of the publication debut of CAD magazine (1965). The final print issue was Sept 1970.


JUNE 1965 ON THE WORLD STAGE Police in the Algerian capital Algiers have broken up demonstrations by hundreds of people who have taken to the streets chanting slogans in support of deposed ex-President Ahmed Ben Bella. The protests began with an orderly march by students but police attempts to disperse the crowds turned them into rioting groups running through the streets. Ben Bella was first brought to power after leading the country's struggle for independence from France, known as the 1956-57 Battle of Algiers which saw an urban guerilla campaign of terrorist attacks & bombings waged by the National Liberation Front (FLN) Algerian political party against the ruling French colonial authorities. Independence was finally achieved in July 1962 with help from Colonel Houari Boumedienne then Chief of staff of Algeria's 60,000-strong army. Ben Bella however was unable build up political strength to equal military authority so he took control of many key ministries himself. He is currently being held prisoner in a remote Sahara outpost and was overthrown by Boumedienne (who is now Chief of the armed forces) and his National Revolutionary Council. In the early hours of the morning, two tanks moved into position at the Presidential villa in Algiers where police guards were quietly relieved by soldiers. There was a sound of breaking glass and a light was briefly seen before being turned off again. By the time dawn broke, more tanks had moved into various strategic points throughout the city, the airport was under military control, and all communications with the outside world were cut off. After several hours of military music on the radio, Colonel Boumedienne broadcast a long statement accusing Ben Bella of treason and promising him the "fate of all despots". The statement broadcast in the name of the Revolutionary Council also pledged to work for a "democratic, serious state" and the recovery of the economy. One of the colonel's first actions has been to order the release of political prisoners held on "arbitrary" grounds, and he has also given assurances no French people or property in the country will be harmed. The coup has taken place 10 days ahead of an Afro-Asian Conference due to be held in Algiers but there is some speculation it may have been inspired by the Russians to prevent the meeting -- from which they were excluded -- from taking place.