Maurice Papon's Police massacred several Algerians in Paris on October 17, 1961. It is unknown how many died. However, around 30,000 Algerians marched peacefully to protest the curfew that was imposed upon them by the FLN (National Liberation Front).
In October 2021, the French presidency confirmed that nearly 12,000 Algerians had been arrested and taken to sorting centres at the Coubertin stadium and Sports Palace. Numerous injuries were sustained, and several dozen bodies were thrown into the Seine. On October 16, Emmanuel Macron, at a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the massacre, had released a statement in which he acknowledged "inexcusable crime" that was committed "under Maurice Papon's authority".
"There would have been 54 dead."
Mediapart published declassified archives Monday that show further evidence of French government complicity in these acts. These facts were reported to President Charles de Gaulle. He maintained in office Maurice Papon, the prefect, and the responsible ministers, according to the online media.
Mediapart discovered a note written by Bernard Tricot, General De Gaulle’s adviser on Algerian affairs. It was dated October 28, 1961. According to him, "there would have been 54 dead". "Some would have drowned, some strangled, and still others shot to death. Judicial proceedings were opened. The senior official stated that it is likely that these investigations will result in the interrogation of certain officers.
"We must bring the perpetrators to justice"
Bernard Tricot, in a second letter dated November 6, 1961, explains to Charles de Galle a question of governmental order: "To determine if we will restrict ourselves to letting affairs continue their course, in that case it is probable they will bogged down or whether the Minister for Justice (Editor’s note by Bernard Chenot), and the Minister for the Interior (Editor’s note: Roger Frey), must inform the magistrates, officers of the competent judiciar police that the government would like the light to be given to be given to the light to be given to the authorities. He said, "It seems very important for the government to take a position on this matter, while trying to avoid scandal as far as possible, but shows all concerned that certain actions must not be taken and that they don't allow them to," he added.
After being declassified last December, the note was found in the National Archives. It contains General De Gaulle’s handwritten response: "We need to shed light on the culprits and prosecute them" and "The Minister for the Interior must give police an attitude that is "authority", which he doesn't take."
However, no criminal proceedings against police officers have been filed. Roger Frey, Justice Bernard Chenot, and Maurice Papon were both confirmed in their respective positions. However, Maurice Papon has never denied any police violence. Maurice Papon was convicted of complicity with crimes against humanity in 1998 for his part in the deportation and relocation of Jews in 1942-44.
