Larbi Ben M'hidi
| Mohammed Larbi Ben M'hidi | |
|---|---|
 Ben M'hidi under arrest, February 1957. |
|
| Born | 1923 Aïn M'lila, French Algeria (now Algeria) |
| Died | March 10, 1957 (aged 34) Algiers, French Algeria (now Algeria) |
| Cause of death | Executed |
| Resting place | Aïn M'lila, Algeria |
| Other names | El Hakim (seigneur) |
| Organization | Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN) |
| Political movement | Front de Libération Nationale (FLN), Comité Révolutionaire d'Unité et d'Action (CRUA), Organisation spéciale (OS), Mouvement pour le triomphe des libertés démocratiques (MTLD) |
| Religion | Islam |
Mohammed Larbi Ben M'hidi (1923–1957) (Arabic: محمد العربي بن مهيدي) ), commonly known as Larbi Ben M'hidi or simply as Ben M'hidi, was a prominent Algerian leader during the war of independence. Ben M'hidi was the last member of the FLN's Coordinating and Executing Committee (C.C.E) during the Battle of Algiers. He was captured by French paratroopers in 1957 and was later killed in custody. He is considered to be a national hero in Algeria.
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[edit] Early Life
Larbi Ben M'hidi was born sometime in 1923 in the village of El Kouahi near Ain M'lila, which was part of the Constantine department at the time. He was the youngest of six children. He attended a French primary school for his first school year, and then transferred to a school in Batna, so that he could continue his studies - this is where he received his primary school certificate (Certificat d'études primaires élémentaires). The Ben M'hidi family later moved to Biskra, here, Larbi Ben M'hidi began secondary school. In 1939, he joined the Algerian Muslim scouts, where he became a group leader in a very short period of time.
[edit] Rebellion
On 30 March 1954, Larbi Ben M'hidi was among nine men that formed the Comité Révolutionnaire d’Unité et d’Action (CRUA). The creation of this organisation followed the breakup of Messali Hadj’s Mouvement Nationaliste Algérienne (MNA).[1] On 10 October 1954, Larbi Ben M'hidi and five other members of the CRUA approved the transformation, thus giving birth to the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) and the establishment of the Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN). A decision was made to launch an insurrection on November 1st during a meeting at the Climat de France, a house overlooking Bab el Oued.[2]
On 1 November 1954, an unknown organisation to the French had claimed responsibility for all of the attacks that were made on French targets. These attacks were referred to as military operations by the then unknown organisation, the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN). Larbi Ben M'hidi was one of the six men that were conducting the rebellion internally. The other five being Didouche Mourad, Rabah Bitat, Krim Belkacem, Mohammed Boudiaf, and Mostefa Ben Boulaïd. The members of the organisation that were operating externally in Cairo were Hocine Ait Ahmed, Ahmed Ben Bella, and Mohammed Khider. They later became known as The Men of November. Larbi Ben M'hidi and his comrades united under a new organisation from the Parti du Peuple Algerien/Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertes Democratiques (pPA-MTLD).[3]
[edit] Capture
The details regarding Larbi Ben M'hidi's arrest are quite controversial, as there are several versions which contradict those of the French.[4] According to French sources, parachutists burst into an apartment on Rue Claude Debussy, in the European quarter, and arrested Larbi Ben M'hidi in his pajamas. Apparently they thought they were on the trail of Ben Khedda, who was another leader of the Coordinating and Executing Committee (C.C.E). Larbi Ben M'hidi was captured by Bigeard and his men on the 23 February 1957. The other members of the committee had fled to the mountains or abroad (primarily Tunis).
The photograph of his arrest was published the following day in all the newspapers in Algiers. The photograph had shown Larbi Ben M'hidi with his hands chained, but a man with a smile on his face, which was extraordinary considering his predicament, but one of inner certitude. He was interrogated by Bigeard for ten days. During the interrogation, Larbi Ben M'hidi constantly stood up to his interrogators, due to the extensive pressure of the interrogation, insisting that Algeria would be victorious in the battle and that the Algerian people would be liberated. Bigeard was impressed with Larbi Ben M'hidi's defiance and dignity, even though defeated, he proved that he was in no way of form broken, mentally, physically or spiritually.
[edit] Execution
During his capture, Marcel Bigeard refused the use of torture under his custody and instead, questioned Ben M'hidi's tactics over a two week period. General Jacques Massu, was annoyed with the ongoing dialogue, and decided to send Major Paul Aussaresses, a more ruthless officer. Bigeard's paratroopers presented their arms in a send-off with full military honors during the transfer of custody. Ben M'hidi was tortured and then executed by the French Special Services while in Aussaresses's custody. Ben M’hidi was driven to an outlying farm where he was hanged “to make it look like suicide".[5]
His death was announced on March 6, 1957.
General Aussaresses admitted in 2000 the use of torture during the war and sought to justify it. He also recognized the assassination of lawyer Ali Boumendjel and of Ben M'Hidi [6]. General Bigeard said he had respect for Ben M'Hidi and that he regretted his death.[7][8]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.marxists.org/history/algeria/1945-1957.htm
- ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/comit-r-volutionnaire-d-unit-et-d-action
- ^ http://www.usfca.edu/fac_staff/webberm/algeria.htm
- ^ http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/interviews/10830-former-revolutionary-figure-abdelkrim-hassani-to-echourok%3A-i%E2%80%99m-ready-to-testify-over-the-case-of-amirouche.html
- ^ http://www.jeff-goodall.com/?p=873
- ^ L'accablante confession du général Aussaresses sur la torture en Algérie, Le Monde, May 3, 2001 (French)
- ^ http://www.jeff-goodall.com/?p=873
- ^ http://www.e-dz.com/articles/personality/48-leaders/67-larbi-ben-mhidi.html
[edit] Further reading
- Aussaresses, General Paul, The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955-1957. (New York: Enigma Books, 2010) ISBN 978-1-929631-30-8.
- Djebar, Assia, Algerian White. (Seven Stories Press,U.S., 2001) ISBN 978-1583220504.
- Singer, Barnett,. Langdon, John, Cultured Force: Makers and Defenders of the French Colonial Empire.University of Wisconsin Press; 1 edition, 2008) ISBN 978-0299199043.
