By Shweta Desai
PARIS (AA) – A far-right French magazine Valeurs Actuelles has published a letter, allegedly drafted by new military recruits warning about a civil war brewing in the country and sought steps from the military to reinforce confidence in the institution.
This new letter has surfaced three weeks after 20 retired generals, as well as other officials of different ranks in police and paramilitary gendarmerie in an open letter, warned about growing chaos in the country.
Addressed to President Emmanuel Macron, the letter titled “denouncing the disintegration” was widely interpreted by the defense authorities and political class as a case of sedition.
The fresh letter, where members have kept names anonymous, has asked the authorities to recognize that a civil war is brewing in France and urged the military to reinforce the confidence in the institution.
“As whenever the civil war breaks out, the army will maintain order on its own soil, because it will be asked to,” the letter said.
Earlier it was indicated that French Defense Ministry has initiated disciplinary sanctions against the retired generals and at least 18 active soldiers for signing the open letter. Defense Minister Florence Parly commanded the army to follow the “immutable principles of neutrality and loyalty”.
The text of the fresh letter drafted allegedly by serving soldiers has been kept open for signatures from outsiders. It had so far gathered 1.8 million signatures.
According to the French BFM TV news channel due to the anonymity of the signatories of the letter the army is doubting the real number of soldiers involved in this campaign.
Defending retired generals, the authors of the new letter said the military cannot be a “passive spectator,” and disapproves of the treatment meted to the “seniors” as “factious”.
“Our elders are right about the substance of their text, in its entirety,” said the letter, adding, there is violence in the towns and villages, communitarianism in public space, in public debate, and hatred for France and its history.
Claiming that France is facing a threat from "growing Islamism” at home, the letter accused the government of making concessions to religious or extremist groups at home, while several active soldiers have died in Afghanistan, Mali, Central African Republic or elsewhere, while fighting against such groups.
Without naming any authority, the authors described the sanctions and the reactions of the government as “cowardly, deceitful and perverse."
