Former revolutionary figure Abdelkrim Hassani to Echourok: I’m ready to testify over the case of Amirouche
Abdelkrim Hassani
In a wide ranging interview with Echorouk the former revolutionary figure Abdelkrim Hassani takes the veil off several issues including the trial of the historical leader Abane Ramdhane and the reasons behind his assassination in Morocco and other thrilling historical truths that remained classified until now.
- Echourok: Let’s start with the latest declarations made by Yassef Saadi, who was one of the closest companions of the hero of the Algerian revolution Laarbi Ben M’Hidi, who said that this one was shot to death and hanged any comment?
- Hassani: In 1963 I stood along with his sister, who is my wife, Dhrifa Ben M’Hidi and then mayor of Algiers M Bellamane by the corpse of the hero who died five years ago.. He was looking as if he was sleeping and the rope’s trace visible on his neck. The scene was self explanatory that he was hanged contrary to Saadi’s version of facts. I would like to add that the General Oussaress has asserted that he personally hanged Ben M’Hidi in addition to the testimony made by the General Bigeard who indicated that Ben M’ Hidi was executed.
- Echourok what about the contradictory versions over his arrest and the betrayal of some?
- Hassani: Actually there are many versions… Most of them are reported from French print media. The first version says that Ben M’Hidi was arrested on February 1956 while he was going to his shelter at “Debussy” compound here in Algiers, but unfortunately for him, the French security forces have arrested one of the resistant who didn’t hesitate to communicate his whereabouts ignoring that the man was Ben M’Hidi. The second version was related by the late Ben Youcef Ben khedda who indicated that the hero was not arrested there but on his way there. A third version says that Ben M’Hidi was arrested wearing a pyjama which is not true of course.
- Echourok Much has been said and written recently over the corps of the other leader Amirouche, in your quality as a member of “MALG” organization what can you say?
- Hassani: I knew both Boyumedienne and Boussof and cannot keep silent over this issue, the hiding of the hero’s corpse was an unforgivable mistake that’s why I consider that that explanations are more than necessary especially that those who were involved in this affair are still alive.
- Echourok: Can you elaborate?
- Hassani: Who transported the corpse from Bousaada to Algiers? Of course the national gendarmerie led at that time by Colonel BenCherif, but he obeying to orders.
- Echourok: Who issued the order?
- Hassani: The head of the state and the defence minister; Boumedienne was holding both posts.
- Echourok: For what purpose?
- Hassani: I think that Boumedienne was deeply convinced that he was the unique Algerian symbol and was upset by the case of Amirouche. I think that documents linked to this case are available at the defence ministry and I’m ready to reveal the truth but before an official source.
- Echourok: You were a member of the MALG organization which was blamed for the killing of Abane Ramdhane , do you have anything to say about classified war documents ?
- Hassani: Abane Ramdhane and Boussof two are two different personalities and had different views on politics and strategy of war; Abane was a theoretical man who succeeded to assert his print after “ Soummam” conference that endorsed the principle of the priority of politics on military and domestic issues over foreign ones. His assumption was that whenever we agree upon a strategy we had to follow it till the end, whereas Boussof was a first class military man. When Abane favored diplomacy over military action, he didn’t mean the exclusion of the military action but he was convinced that this institution had to abide by the laws of the republic and not the other way around following the example of the third world countries. Secondly, by asserting that priority should be given to the interior instead of the exterior Abane meant that the people are the only decision makers and not the politicians.