On the Commemoration of the independence of Algeria: Chilean veterans excluded

ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF ALGERIA (1962/2022)

THE CHILEAN ANTI-COLONIALIST VETERANS WHO FIGHTED FOR ITS LIBERATION HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS COMMEMORATION.

In the 1950s-60s, tens of millions of people around the world took part in an unprecedented international campaign aimed at exerting pressure on the French colonialist government.

Not well known enough, the Chilean resistance fighters, made up of young partisans of Arab origin mainly, played an important role. In Chile, the Committee for the Self-Determination of Algeria was created in 1956 with the active support of the Chilean Socialist Party , the Student Federation of the University of Chile (FECH) and labor unions such as the CUT.

This committee was chaired by the Deputy of the Agrarian Labor Party Marco Antonio Salum (of Lebanese-Syrian origin), his brother Eduardo Salum , Elías Salum , Yemil Harcha, Omar and Taoufik Rumie, Luis Karque Mukarzel, Joseph Silk, Fernando Musalem, among others.

This anti-colonialist organization will play a fundamental role in linking the Chilean popular organizations and the Algerian resistance organizations that we are not going to detail here but which went as far as collecting money for the supply of weapons of the National Liberation Front (FLN). In 1960, a large delegation of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA) was invited to Chile as part of a political support tour in South America and the Caribbean.

The Ambassador of Chile in Algeria under martyr President Salvador Allende, Eduardo Salum, now in his eighties, and who participated in many of our conferences in Tunisia and Granada * remembers this time of sincere and true commitment :

“The Committee for the Self-Determination of Algeria was created in 1956, at the request of a group of personalities from the Chilean Arab community. Its president was the deputy Marco Antonio Salum Yazigi and Omar Rumié Vera. Among its active members were: Luis Karque Mukarzel; Joseph Silk; Fernando Musalem; Elías Salum Yazigi and Norma Logomarsino, among others. An important group of university students was also integrated, who supported the committee by organizing information, agitation and propaganda activities and by organizing conferences in the different  Universities of Chile. “

It is regrettable and surprising that nowadays the heroism of these Chilean militants is forgotten and that they were not invited on the occasion of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the independence of Algeria. .

These persecuted and exiled ex-combatants really fought at the risk of their lives for many years and gave a lot of themselves by making huge sacrifices for the anti-colonial struggle and socialism.

But in 2022, the organizers have chosen other Chilean “people politics” who played no role in this period and will never play it.

This situation reflects the decline of militancy in our time, characterized by opportunism, media speculation, careerism that has shamelessly taken hold of truth, respect, honor, of comrades who REALLY MADE THE HISTORY.

Alba Granada North Africa Information Office

A L’OCCASION DU 60 -ÈME ANNIVERSAIRE DE L’INDÉPENDANCE DE L’ ALGÉRIE (1962/2022) – LES VÉTÉRANS CHILIENS ANTI-COLONIALISTES QUI ONT LUTTÉ POUR SON INDEPENDANCE ONT ÉTÉ ÉCARTÉS DE CETTE COMMÉMORATION. (FR/ESP/ENG/AR)

Some references :

* NOVEMBER 1, 1954 – 67 YEARS AFTER THE DECLARATION OF WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. Statement from the Ambassador of Chile in Algeria of Popular Unity to the Ambassador of Algeria in Chile, His Excellency Mohamed Berrah.

EL DJEZAIR – 1 ER NOVEMBRE 1954 – 67 ANS APRÈS LA DÉCLARATION DE GUERRE POUR L’INDÉPENDANCE. (FR/ESP)

 * CHILE – 11S- 1973: “LA GUERRA ES NECESARIA PARA ESTAS MAFIAS” (GRENADA- SPAIN)

 * SALVADOR ALLENDE” SCREENING – TUNIS – IN MEMORY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1973 (TUNIS)

 * TUNIS: INTERVIEW WITH AMBASSADOR OF CHILE/ALGERIA- EDUARDO S. YAZIGI BY WAJDI MSELMI/ INHIYEZ/TUNIS

BUREAU D’ INFORMATION

ALBA GRANADA NORTH AFRICA COORDINATION  

” Mas Vale una pizca de lealtad que cien años de Gloria”

” Este Pueblo de America sabe que su fuerza interna esta en la union y su fuerza continental esta tambien en la union ” Fidel Castro 2004

Alba Granada North Africa Coordination

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