The National Assembly approved, this Thursday, March 28, a proposed resolution which “condemns the bloody and murderous repression of Algerians committed under the authority of the prefect of police Maurice Papon on October 17, 1961”, during which between thirty and more than 200 peaceful protesters died, according to historians.
Sixty-seven deputies voted for and 11 against, from the ranks of the National Rally. The text also “wishes” for “the inclusion of a day of commemoration (of this) massacre” in the “agenda of national days and official ceremonies”.
The bill proposed by the ecologist Sabrina Sebaihi and the Renaissance deputy Julie Delpech was approved in a sparse hemicycle by 67 deputies, 11 voting against, from the ranks of the National Rally.
A “vote for history”
At the origin of the text, Sabrina Sebaihi welcomed in advance a “vote for history”, representing the “first stage” 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, resulting from meticulous writing work with the presidential party and the Elysée to reach a consensual 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 prefect of police at the time, Maurice Papon”, during which “in addition to numerous wounded, several dozen (people) were killed, their bodies thrown into the Seine.”
“Let us today at this platform have a thought for these victims and their families hit hard by the cycle of violence,” she said, under the eyes of representatives of the collectives who have been pleading for several years for this acknowledgement.
A tribute from François Hollande in 2012
She recalled the work of memory already accomplished 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 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 inexcusable for the Republic”.
Dominique Faure, however, expressed reservations about the establishment of a day of commemoration, stressing that three dates already existed to “commemorate what happened during the Algerian war”.
“Much remains 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 commemorative day for the victims of October 17, 61,” she said.