(New York, May 16, 2001)
The inquiry should examine whether the French government ordered or
tolerated the use of torture and summary executions against supporters
of Algerian independence in the mid-1950s, as recently alleged by
General Paul Aussaresses, and lead
to prosecution of those considered responsible, as such crimes are not
barred by a statute of limitations. The government should also initiate
criminal proceedings against Gen. Aussaresses.

In a letter to President Jacques Chirac, Human Rights Watch said the
revelations in the book Special Services, Algeria 1955-1957, and in
articles written by Gen. Aussaresses indicated that French civilian and
military authorities may have been complicit in a policy of war crimes
and crimes against humanity. In his book, Aussaresses described in
detail his own participation in torturing prisoners to death and in
extrajudicial executions of Algerian activists, including National
Liberation Front leader Larbi Ben M'Hidi.

Aussaresses alleges that torture was "tolerated, if not recommended" by
high French officials who had an "exact knowledge" of his actions.

"The Aussaresses case has rekindled a national debate about how to
address French activities in Algeria almost 50 years ago," said Kenneth
Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "But that doesn't mean
that France can avoid its responsibility to find the truth and to do
justice."

Human Rights Watch commended President Chirac for saying that he was
"horrified" by Gen. Aussaresses disclosures and for calling for
disciplinary sanctions against him and his suspension from the
prestigious Legion of Honor. "But the gravity of Aussaresses' crimes
demands much more," said Roth. "For France to ignore allegations of war
crimes as have been made in this case would seriously undermine efforts
around the world to enforce these essential standards."

The rights group, based in New York, noted that opposing Algerian forces
also violated humanitarian law by targeting civilians, but said this did
not provide valid grounds or excuse for France to use summary executions
or torture, nor excuse it from probing these matters now.

In its letter to President Chirac, Human Rights Watch said that the
government should also initiate criminal proceedings against Gen.
Aussaresses. It noted that a policy of summary executions and torture is
a crime against humanity, which under international law is not subject
to statutes of limitations or to the French amnesty laws that purport to
cover the events in Algeria.

Human Rights Watch has recently made similar recommendations to the
government of the United States regarding the allegations, which
surfaced around the case of former Senator Bob Kerrey, that United
States troops committed violations of international humanitarian law
during the Vietnam War.

A copy of the Human Rights Watch letter to French President Chirac can
be found at http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/05/chirac-ltr0515.htm. It can
be found in French at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/05/chirac2-ltr0515.htm.