des organisations françaises appellent à la reconnaissance des crimes coloniaux
Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Massacres of May 8, 1945, in Algeria
On Thursday afternoon, various French organizations and associations gathered in Strasbourg to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the brutal massacres that occurred on May 8, 1945, in Algeria. This tragic event claimed at least 45,000 lives, and participants at the gathering called on the French government to acknowledge its role in these bloody events.
Organized at Place Kléber, the event was attended by over 120 people, representing several groups, including Libre pensée du Bas-Rhin, the Movement against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples of Strasbourg (MRAP), the Association of Maghreb Workers in France (ATMF), and political organizations such as La France Insoumise from Bas-Rhin and the Independent Workers Party of Bas-Rhin.
Additionally, more than 70 members of the New Popular Front and La France Insoumise recently submitted a resolution to the French National Assembly. This resolution seeks to officially recognize and condemn the massacres that took place in Sétif, Kherrata, Guelma, and neighboring areas, characterizing these atrocities as “a state crime against an unarmed civilian population,” violating universal human rights principles. The proposal also calls for these events to be integrated into school curricula, the full opening of archives, and the establishment of a national day of commemoration.
Historians and researchers, including Olivier Le Cour Grandmaison, have also joined in advocating for formal acknowledgment of these colonial crimes. They argue that the violent repression of 1945 has often been overlooked in France’s collective memory. They note that compared to other colonial powers such as the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the US, and Canada, France is lagging in its official recognition of these massacres.
Le Cour Grandmaison states that acknowledging these massacres by the highest authorities would significantly improve Franco-Algerian relations. Nils Andersson, another member of the collective, highlighted the lingering anti-Algerian sentiments in France, asserting that political leaders should focus on recognizing the colonial past rather than exacerbating identity and religious tensions.
In addition, the French National Audiovisual Institute (INA) recently published an article describing the massacre as a "forgotten" event that has long been silenced. According to INA, the few existing images of the massacre were not aired in France until 2005, as the authorities had made considerable efforts to conceal or downplay the violent repression.
This anniversary has also garnered attention from various media outlets, both in France and internationally, which have highlighted the importance of May 8, 1945, in the context of Algeria’s struggle for independence. The event serves as a stark reminder of the colonial impact that continues to resonate in present-day France and Algeria, pushing for a reckoning of the past and fostering a dialogue about reconciliation and acknowledgment.
As France reflects on this significant historical event, the call for recognition and remembrance stands as a pivotal point in addressing the unresolved traumas of colonization and fostering a more constructive relationship between France and Algeria.
