Racist French General on Trial for Algeria Atrocities

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Racist French General on Trial for Algeria Atrocities

AP via The Times of India - Nov 27, 2001
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=147860561

PARIS: An 83-year-old French army general whose recent memoir
contained confessions of torture and summary executions during the
Algerian independence war went on trial Monday, charged with
justifying war crimes.

Paul Aussaresses faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and
a 300,000-franc ($41,000) fine.

The publication of Aussaresses' book in May - "Special Services,
Algeria 1955-57" - provoked outrage in France. It has been widely
assumed that atrocities were committed during the war, but the
general's lack of remorse shocked the country. The book became an
instant best seller.

The aging general, on trial for "complicity in justifying war
crimes," entered the Paris court Monday flanked by his two editors.
Olivier Orban, head of the Plon publishing house, and Xavier
Batillat, of Perrin publishers, faced related charges.

Aussaresses' lawyer, Gilbert Collard, said in an interview Sunday
that his client was in good spirits and "ready to defend himself" at
the trial, which ends Wednesday.

Aussaresses has repeatedly said that he felt no remorse or guilt for
his actions during the 1957 Battle of Algiers, a pivotal moment of
France's brutal war with Algeria. The 1954-1962 war ended with
Algeria's independence from France after 132 years of colonial rule.

In an interview published in Monday's Le Parisien newspaper,
Aussaresses said the war was "a period where we were fighting against
terrorists. Torture was useful and necessary."

"I am entering this trial in serenity," he was quoted as saying.

The lawsuit was filed by France's League of Human Rights, which
targeted the general for justifying war crimes in hopes that the
charge would not fall under a 1968 general amnesty for "all
infractions" committed during the war. Several other human rights
groups are civil parties to the lawsuit.

Shortly after the publication of his book, the decorated general was
stripped of his army rank, and President Jacques Chirac revoked
Aussaresses' Legion of Honor.

In France, passions remain high over the Algerian war, which is
considered the most troubling chapter in the country's recent
history. Only in 1999 did France officially call the combat a war. It
was previously referred to only as "operations to maintain order." (AP)
 
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