The Harkis, a part of France's history
Var MP Stéphane Rambaud paid tribute to the Harkis in Hyères, Le Pradet, and La Garde, recalling their sacrifices for France.
On the occasion of the National Day of Tribute to the Harkis on September 25, the Var MP traveled to Hyères, Le Pradet, and La Garde to participate in the commemorations.
He commended the courage, commitment, and sacrifices of these fighters and their families, speaking of a "painful and complex page of our national history".
For the parliamentarian, "this tribute is an essential moment to remember the men and women who, during the Algerian War, chose to serve France, often at the peril of their lives".
A personal heritage
Born in Algiers, son and grandson of returnees, Stéphane Rambaud highlighted the intimate bond uniting him to this period in history. He insisted on the need to link personal remembrance to greater national history for a respectful transmission.
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"This history is therefore part of my family heritage. It belongs to an intimate memory, but also to a collective memory that we must continue to pass on with respect, without forgetting the suffering, broken fates, and human dramas that marked this period".
The MP recalled the tragic fate of many Harkis after the Évian Accords and Algeria's independence in 1962. He spoke of abandonment, violence, and exile, as well as the particularly difficult reception conditions on French soil.
Many were placed in camps or precarious housing, facing family separation and painful living conditions. Stéphane Rambaud made a point of recalling the human dimension of this tragedy, beyond historical facts.
"Behind the numbers and historical events, there are above all women, men, and children. Families who had to leave their land, their homes, their memories, and sometimes their loved ones".
Transmitting to refuse oblivion
For the elected official, commemorating does not mean pitting memories against each other, but approaching them with courage and dignity, while accepting the complexity of history.
He stressed the importance of this duty of memory for younger generations, so that they can understand the human tragedies and consequences of this period.
"Memory only makes sense if it is passed on. This act of remembrance is recognition of the history of the Harkis and their families, of their commitment and the trials they went through. Their history is part of France's history. It deserves to be known, recognized, taught, and passed on".
Finally, the parliamentarian extended a "respectful and fraternal thought" to the Harkis and their descendants, who continue to keep this memory alive from generation to generation, never to forget.
Photos PRESSE AGENCE.