On Electing Tyrants “Some may be surprised...

On Electing Tyrants “Some may be surprised to hear me say that we suspended the electoral process in order to preserve our democracy and to protect our future and stability.

“Would it be acceptable for an electoral process to allow a totalitarian system to come to power, just as Hitler and his Nazi party arrived to power through elections in Germany? . . . We all know the terrible and horrifying consequences of that decision.

“Comments and declarations by innumerable extremist (Islamic Salvation Front) leaders who, immediately after the first round (of voting), were publicly announcing . . . their intentions once in power.

“Words were not minced, and leader after leader of the extremist movement were indeed promising nothing short of a return to the single-party system and to arbitrary rule. In essence, the FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) leadership promised to abolish the constitution and the multiparty system . . . suspend individual freedoms--particularly freedom of the press--impose Islamic law . . . set up emergency courts . . . (and) ban women from the workplace and schools.

“Algeria cannot be a ‘bazaar democracy’ or some sort of ‘mullah democracy.’ ”

Not a Religious Problem “This is not, I repeat ‘not,’ a religious problem. Algeria has been a country with a majority of Muslims for over 14 centuries. We are proud of the rich heritage of our great Muslim and Arab culture whose contribution to world civilization is exceptional. We believe in the Islam of tolerance and progress and we reject the archaic attitudes and the call to violence in the name of Islam.”

Looking Ahead * Sunday: Andres Duany, architect and town planner, will deliver a lecture at Million Dollar Theatre at 1 p.m. The lecture will be preceded by a musical performance. Sponsored by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Call (213) 977-1949.

* Wednesday: Henry E. Catto, director, United States Information Agency, will speak about “The Image of the U.S. Abroad” at noon at the Beverly Hilton. Sponsored by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. Call (213) 628-2333.

Announcements concerning prominent speakers in Los Angeles should be sent to Speaking Up, c/o Times researcher Michael Meyers, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053