“It is the recognition of a tragedy”: a stele inaugurated at the cemetery of the children of the harkis camp of Saint-Maurice-L'Ardoise

La stèle a été dévoilée en présence du préfet du Gard, Jérôme Bonet et de familles de harkis. MIDI LIBRE – C. U.

Après la mise au jour des tombes et du cimetière, une stèle sur laquelle figure les 31 enfants harkis morts au camp de Saint-Maurice-L'Ardoise (Gard) a été inaugurée mardi 24 septembre. 

“We are gathered today to keep their memories alive”. It was with these words that the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet, inaugurated yesterday the stele of the cemetery of the children of the harkis camp of Saint-Maurice-L’Ardoise in Gard before the names of the 31 children appearing on this memorial wall were read out. A moving ceremony attended by harkis who lived in this camp of shame between 1962 and 1976, and who lost, some a brother, some a sister, some a child.

Raoul, died of malnutrition at 20 days old

This is the case of Aida, whose son Raoul died of malnutrition when he was only 20 days old. At 84, she remembers this tragedy that has left her forever inconsolable: “The soldiers had taken my baby's body and buried it. But I never knew where. Today, it's good that this is happening, but it's painful for me to come back here.”

It's the recognition of a tragedy

For Nadia Ghouafria, who managed to exhume the records of these forgotten children and has been heavily involved in all the research since 2019: “It's been a long journey. Today, I have made these children mine. They are part of my life. They are being given back their freedom that was taken away from them. It is the recognition of a tragedy,” she said, not without great emotion.

This recognition is not over. The unearthed graves have allowed bones to be found that will be analyzed. Other excavations could take place at the Rivesaltes camp. In any case, this is what the former Secretary of State to the Minister of the Armed Forces, Patricia Miralles, announced a few months ago.

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