Yesterday, Sunday, was a national day of commemoration for the harkis, a group of native Algerians who fought with the French forces in the war against Algerian nationalists from 1954-1962, but who were disarmed and abandoned when De Gaulle agreed to Algerian independence. In the event it is estimated that up to 75000 were massacred by the FLN armed forces and 60000 were brought to France.
Initially they were housed in precarious camps in "inhuman conditions" according to President Hollande in a speech to mark the day, but the community which today measures around 500000 is still facing discrimination, prejudice and racism. These were people who fought and whose families died for France and who 50 years later still feel that France abandoned them.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
