Massacre of October 17, 1961: for the descendants of the victims, Macron did not go far enough
The Bezons bridge.
President Emmanuel Macron denounced “inexcusable crimes” without really recognizing, as the associations demanded, a “state crime”.
AFP - RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
On Saturday, October 16, 2021, Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the victims of the bloody repression of October 17, 1961 in Paris.
Sixty years later, while the results of this tragic day are still unknown and much discussed - at least we are talking about more than 100 deaths - his gesture and his words are far from having satisfied the descendants of the victims.
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A wreath and a minute of silence.
Emmanuel Macron went to the Parisian suburbs at the Pont de Bezons on Saturday October 16, the police violently repressed the large demonstration on October 17, 1961. It is the first time that a French president has visited a place of memory.
Emmanuel Macron wanted to take another step in the duty of memory.
But for associations and historians, the French president did not go far enough.
The descendants of the victims demanded recognition of a “
state crime
”.
So if
Emmanuel Macron has admitted that "
inexcusable crimes
" had been committed on October 17, 1961
, he points to only one responsible: Maurice Papon, the Paris police prefect.
A “
denial
” for the associations which denounce the role of the government and of President de Gaulle.
Caution
Why this caution on the part of the Head of State?
The history of the Algerian war has always been sensitive in France.
Flammable land during the presidential campaign.
Not to mention the current climate of tensions with Algiers.
The French president did not want to do too much about the form of this announcement.
A sober ceremony and a press release, less media than a speech.
A policy of "small steps" assumed by Emmanuel Macron.
The Head of State chose the long term and the gentle method to reconcile all memories, and not just those of the victims.
Victims associations are organizing a demonstration this Sunday in Paris.
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To read and listen also: Large report on the massacre of October 17, 1961: will there be recognition of a state crime in the middle of Paris?
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