War testimony : Democracy, revolutionary discipline and the 8-day strike

Abstract

A few days before the opening of the UN debate on the Algerian question, the CCE decided to launch an 8-day strike in Algeria.  This action came at a time when the Revolution was going through "a phase of great exaltation". Meeting for the occasion, the council of Wilaya IV agreed to send a letter to the CCE proposing a 48-hour strike instead of 8 days in the interests of the Revolution. The FLN leadership did not change its position. The strike went ahead as planned, with all its positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, the media aspect was in favour of the Algerian cause. As the event was well covered by the media, the whole world learned of the people's attachment to the FLN and saw at first hand the abuses of colonialism (abusive internment, torture, assassinations, etc.). On another level, the strike enabled France to dismantle the FLN organisation in the towns, which was not in the interest of the maquis.

Keywords : 8-days strike, CCE, wilaya IV, FLN, ALN, Ouamrane.