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At the prison of Caen
I took the train for Caen with Raouf
Oufkir, the son of General Oufkir who tried to depose the king
of Morocco, Hassan II by a coup d'Etat.
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His book relates his long years of confinement
and his extraordinary escape. It did not take more to flare up
some prisoners. Hence they expressed the wish to meet Raouf with
the complicity of the chaplain. |
In the past I visited this prison
reserved for prisoners with long time sentences and I always
wondered: how can someone live 10 years, 20 years deprived of
his freedom?
In the hall of worship, about 20 prisoners gather. Two of them
read with great emotion the text they had prepared with all heart
to welcome us.
Very rapidly, the question of pardon was raised. What is forgiveness?
It is not enough to say that it is not to forget and that it
does not erase the injustice that was committed. Raouf had the
good fortune of bringing everyone to himself: " you, who
recognize that you are guilty, are you able to make part of the
way towards the victim? "
Mourad, a young Moroccan interrupts: "Forgiveness does not
exist ". " Sure it does " answered Raouf. "
I am the living proof it does exist. I have forgiven my torturers.
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" Me, said another, I took time
to recognize my guilt. I carry a wound. However why bother to
make part of the road if the victim does nothing? ". "
The important thing said Raouf, is the effort you make towards
the victim. "
An older prisoner spoke: " for myself, I have no more bitterness,
nor do I feel revenge. I have freed myself from it. Mourad is
impressed by this exchange. |
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Fighting families
In the outskirts of Paris, African families live crammed
together with their young children in studios and hotel rooms
or in slums. The Mayor refuses to meet them. For years, their
demands are on the waiting list at city hall.
With the support of the Committee for the unemployed and wage
earners, they decided to occupy an old residence for the elderly,
closed and empty for the last three months.
During 15 days, these new tenants valued this large residence.
But, one morning the police came to evacuate everybody: 21 families
with their 45 children were thrown into the streets. The doors
of the residence were immediately blocked. People joined forces.
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Asked to bring my support, I went to meet the families at
the end of an afternoon in front of the town hall where they
are camping with their mattresses. The children are playing.
Men are coming back from work. The women with their enchanting
and colourful dresses invite me for tea. I am greeted as one
of the family. One of them said to me: " I have been waiting
for you for two days! " I admire their determination. They
are aware of their dignity and their force. |
The delegation that met with the officials of city hall
came towards us. They seem relaxed. The Prefect resolved the
situation. It is a victory.
" In half an hour we have obtained what we have been asking
for since the last three months". |
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Missionary celebration
A Spiritan missionary came back from Benin to his native
Vendée for the summer.
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I have a great esteem for him. He is a man dedicated to others,
like Jesus. |
Forty years ago, he was ordained in the church of his village.
To commemorate this event, all the family gathered in a joyful
reunion around him. Is he not the priest of the family who has
baptised and married so many nephews and nieces? The mass of
thanksgiving is full of life and emotion. I am the stranger that
is present to give the sermon.
The feast is followed by a large picnic next to a pond.
I am next to a young father who felt the urge to tell me:
" The Church does not interest me anymore. I have become
indifferent. I do not go to Church anymore. The important, are
the people. "
Thus, in this family so unanimously Christian, a rebel was hidden.
A friendly rebel.
His presence in the middle of his kin can be beneficial to their
faith and his questioning a path for improvement.
Before I left, I whispered in his ear: " stay a rebel ".
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Parents of children
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In Nantes, young school children were risking being expulsed.
They were of foreign origin. Their families had not yet received
their official papers.
Children are usually arrested at the end of the classes and sometime
police even go into the schools! When it comes to children, we
feel concerned. |
Parents of the children took action immediately. "
As parents, we refuse to see the friends of our children being
expulsed. " " In the past we were not activists but
now we changed our minds".
The parents' Committee invited me to Nantes with Professor
Jacquard. |
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Both of us took the train without even knowing what role
we were expected to fill. We had no knowledge of the question.
But the important thing was to be there and to show solidarity.
We started off by holding a press conference in the middle of
the street surrounded by the families and the medias.
With the committee, we had a quick lunch at the restaurant. The
woman owning the restaurant was so happy to welcome me that she
embraced me and offered a free meal!
The delegation was received by the chairman of the regional council,
then at the City Hall by the deputy Mayor. The humanitarian concern
of the elected members was manifest. Negotiations met positive
reactions. The committee was satisfied. We were free to take
the train home. |