The National Assembly approved this Thursday, March 28, a draft resolution that “condemns the bloody and murderous repression of Algerians committed under the authority of police prefect Maurice Papon on October 17, 1961”, during which between thirty and more 200 peaceful protesters The protesters died, according to historians.
The text also “desires” “the inclusion of a day of commemoration (of this) massacre” in the “agenda of national days and official ceremonies.”
A “vote for history”
The bill proposed by the environmentalist Sabrina Sebaihi and the Renaissance deputy Julie Delpech was approved in a small chamber by 67 deputies, 11 of them against, from the ranks of the National Group.
At the origin of the text, Sabrina Sebaihi greeted in advance a “vote for history”, which represents the “first step” of “work for the recognition of this colonial crime, for the recognition of this State crime.”
The term “state crime” does not appear in the proposed resolution, the result of meticulous drafting work with the presidential party and the Elysée to reach an agreed text.
The minister delegate in charge of local authorities, Dominique Faure, mentioned in her speech a demonstration “repressed with violence by the services acting under the authority of the then prefect of police, Maurice Papon”, during which “in addition to numerous injuries, several Dozens (of people) were killed and their bodies thrown into the Seine.”
“Let us think today on this platform about these victims and their families seriously affected by the cycle of violence,” he said, under the gaze of the representatives of the groups that have been asking for this recognition for several years.
“Inexcusable crimes”, according to Macron
He recalled the memory work already done to recognize the massacre. In 2012, President François Hollande paid “tribute to the victims” of a “bloody repression” that fell on these women and men who were demonstrating for “the right to independence.”
His successor Emmanuel Macron declared on October 17, 2021 that “the crimes committed on October 17, 1961 under the authority of Maurice Papon are unforgivable for the Republic.”
Dominique Faure, however, expressed his reservations about the creation of a day of commemoration, stressing that there were already three dates to “commemorate what happened during the Algerian war.”
“There is much to be done to write this history, but in my opinion it is the only way to build a sincere and lasting reconciliation. I think it is important to let history do this work before considering a new specific memorial day for the victims of 17 October 61,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
