10 May 2005 Blog Home : May 2005 : Permalink
ALGIERS, May 8 (Reuters) - President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has called on France to admit its part in the massacres of 45,000 Algerians who took to the streets to demand independence as Europe celebrated victory over Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945. Algeria is marking the 60th anniversary of the repression of pro-independence demonstrators under French colonial rule as Europeans celebrate the end of World War Two in Europe. "The paradox of the massacres of May 8, 1945, is that when the heroic Algerian combatants returned from the fronts in Europe, Africa and elsewhere where they defended France's honour and interests ... the French administration fired on peaceful demonstrators," Bouteflika said in a speech published by state media on Sunday. Colonial forces launched an air and ground offensive against several eastern cities, particularly Setif and Guelma, in response to anti-French riots, which killed more than 100 Europeans. The crackdown lasted several days and according to the Algerian state left 45,000 people dead. European historians put the figure at between 15,000 and 20,000.
I would have to do some research but my recollection is that no street protest against the British Empire anywhere resulted in 10,000 deaths. The worst single event I can think of - the 1919 Amritsar Massacre - killed about 400 and the entire Malayan Emergency (over some 12 years from 1948 - 1960) resulted in about 7000 rebel deaths, as well as the deaths of 3000 civillians and 2000 British and Malay government forces.He called, instead, on the people of Russia and eastern Europe to pursue reconciliation on the basis of the "humanist values" of Europe.
"A Europe reconciled with itself: a Europe whose people, proud of the diversity of their pasts, overcoming for all time the vicissitudes of history and its dramas, build together their common destiny."
If it wasn't so serious this hypocrisy would be funny