The October 17, 1961 massacre in Paris of several dozen Algerians was reported to President Charles de Gaulle, who nevertheless kept in office the prefect Maurice Papon and the ministers responsible, according to a declassified archive published Monday by Mediapart.
On that day, about 30,000 Algerians demonstrated peacefully at the FLN’s (National Liberation Front) call against the curfew imposed on them.
The French presidency recognized that in October 2021 for the first time nearly 12,000 Algerians were arrested and transferred to sorting centers at Coubertin stadium, Sports Palace and other places. In addition to the many injuries, several dozen died, their bodies thrown into the Seine.
On October 16, on the occasion of a ceremony for the fiftieth anniversary of this massacre, Emmanuel Macron acknowledged, in a press release, crimes that cannot be forgiven clerk under the authority of Maurice Papon.
De Gaulle informed
In the declassified archive, Mediapart, an online media, saw a note dated October 28, 1961, written by General de Gaulle’s adviser for affairs in Algeria, Bernard Tricot. He writes to the President of the Republic thatthere will be 54 dead.
Some drowned, some were strangled, some were shot. Judicial proceedings have already opened. Unfortunately, it is likely that these investigations could lead to questioning some police officers.explanation of senior officials.
In a second note dated November 6, 1961, Mr. Tricot explained to Charles de Gaulle a government issues : if we just let things go their course, where they are likely to be messy, or if the Minister of Justice [NDLR : Bernard Chenot] as well as the Minister of the Interior [NDLR : Roger Frey] magistrates and competent judicial police officers should be informed that the Government wants the light to shine.
It is very important, it seems, that the government take a position on this matter which, while aiming to avoid as much scandal as possible, shows concern to all that certain things should not be done and that are not allowed. these.he continued.
The note, found in the National Archives after its declassification in December, contains General de Gaulle’s handwritten response: We must clarify and prosecute the culprits and the Interior Minister must adopt an attitude of “authority” vis-à-vis the police, which he does not do..
No action
No proceedings against the police have been initiated. Interior Ministers Roger Frey and Justice Bernard Chenot have confirmed their positions, as has Maurice Papon, who has always denied any police violence.
Maurice Papon was convicted in 1998 of complicity in crimes against humanity for his role in the exile of Jews between 1942 and 1944.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
