la torture contre le peuple algérien a été généralisée par une note classée « très secret »
Summary of Torture Practices in Algeria during the War of Independence
Recent revelations by the French online newspaper "Médiapart" have shed light on the systematic use of torture against the Algerian people during the War of Independence against French colonial rule. According to an investigation based on a confidential military document dated March 11, 1957, it has been confirmed that the use of torture was not only practiced but actively ordered by senior military officials, specifically General Raoul Salan, with the approval of the political leadership in France.
The investigation outlines how the torture methods were empirically tested in Algiers in 1957 before being recommended for widespread implementation across Algeria. The note from Salan, titled "Interrogatoires des suspects," discusses the alleged efficacy of torture during interrogations. It suggested that rigorous and immediate questioning could yield significant intelligence, especially concerning urban populations.
Salan’s directive mandated military commanders to spread these orders verbally within their ranks, emphasizing the confidentiality of this strategy. The language used in the documents was deliberately crafted to avoid any potential legal repercussions for those involved in the torture, framing it in such a way that could obscure accountability.
The prescribed interrogation techniques included severe physical pain to break a suspect’s will to resist. Documented methods of torture harkened back to the practices used during the Indochina War, employing electric shocks and waterboarding, among other brutal tactics. Following Salan’s orders, General Massu issued a similar directive for the 10th Parachute Division under his command shortly afterward, with further dissemination occurring through General Allard, commander of the Algerian army corps, promoting the widespread use of these torture methods.
Additionally, the investigation highlights a systematic approach to rounding up and interrogating individuals perceived as potential threats. The military operated under the belief that any Algerian could be interrogated based on suspicion of knowledge about the activities of the moudjahidine (Algerian freedom fighters), which led to indiscriminate detentions and abuses.
Critically, the investigation contextualizes these atrocities within the framework of French political authorization. The practice of torture was sanctioned at the highest levels, notably by the socialist government of Guy Mollet, through laws that granted military forces extraordinary powers. These included the authority to designate individuals as "suspects" at will and subject them to detention and interrogation without warrants—the effects of which resulted in tens of thousands of torture victims across various demographics until 1962.
In the aftermath of the war, even as the agreements of Evian in 1962 ushered in the end of French colonial rule, the French state under Charles de Gaulle absolved itself of responsibility for the torture practices through amnesty decrees, effectively covering up these war crimes.
In conclusion, the revelations from "Médiapart" articulate a grim legacy of institutionalized torture sanctioned by both military and political hierarchies in France during the Algerian War of Independence. This historical reflection poses serious questions about accountability, justice, and the lasting impacts of colonial violence on the societies involved. The implications resonate deeply, as they prompt ongoing discussions about human rights, memory, and historical reckoning in both Algeria and France.
