A/HRC/16/48 disappearances who were allegedly forced to request a presumption of death certificate, stating that it considered this communication an urgent appeal and a repetition of vague allegations and general accusations from a politically motivated source. Therefore, the Government did not deem it appropriate to reply. 49. In the same communication, the Government also replied to the prompt intervention letter sent on 5 January 2010. It stated that, following receipt of the communication, the competent authorities had gathered additional information from the subject of the communication, who made a statement to the national gendarmerie reiterating his position on refusing compensation and restating his request that an investigation be opened to determine the circumstances of the disappeared person or to find incontrovertible evidence of his death. In the absence of such evidence, he maintained his refusal to follow any judicial procedure to obtain a legal declaration of death. The Government stressed that the subject of the communication had at no point stated that he had been the victim of harassment or reprisals on the part of any authority. The Government also noted the general framework for handling the issue of disappeared persons in Algeria in accordance with the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation adopted by referendum in 2005. It stated that the procedure has been accepted by a majority of the families concerned and that families are informed of their rights by the competent administrative and judicial authorities. In addition, it stated that in full conformity with this approach, the opinions, positions and choices expressed by those families who refuse the approach were fully respected. 50. On 25 May 2010, the Government replied to the prompt intervention letter sent on 19 April 2010 stating that, during the morning of 11 April 2010, officers in charge of public order dispersed a group of people in front of the Ministry of Justice who were demonstrating and thereby creating traffic problems. The majority of those demonstrating agreed to leave except for a small group. Contrary to what was alleged, the persons were never subjected to ill-treatment by public order agents who, at first, simply invited them to disperse and, when they refused, proceeded to disperse them. None has submitted a complaint to the authorities and for this reason no investigation has been opened. Request for a visit 51. On 25 August 2000, the Working Group requested an invitation to undertake a mission to Algeria. A reminder was sent on 21 October 2010. On 12 November 2010, the Government informed the Working Group that it would not be in a position to forward all supporting documents which were requested concerning outstanding cases; however, the Government proposed that the Working Group could travel to Algiers to consult the abovementioned documents and meet with the families of those allegedly disappeared but found alive. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 52. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted 2,950 cases to the Government; of those, 18 cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by the source, 9 cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by the Government, and 2,923 remain outstanding. Observations 53. It is gratifying that after a long period of lack of engagement the Government of Algeria continues to be involved in a process of dialogue and cooperation with the Working Group. 54. The Working Group notes that about 200 cases of its present backlog concern Algeria. It will deal with them at its ninety-third session. 20