The O.A.S., the secret army organization of the French underground opposing independence for Algeria, considers every Jew leaving for France– or planning to do so–as a “deserter” subject to the death penalty This was made clear here today in posters distributed by the O.A.S.
The posters announced boldly that a Jew, M. Chekroun, had been executed by the O.A.S. for “desertion. ” The victim, a Jeweler in Algiers, was dragged out of his home late one night, two weeks ago, by two men who said they represented the O.A.S He has not been seen since. Today, O.A.S. posted the following “notice to the population”:
“In spite of the order for general mobilization, M. Chekroun, a jeweler in Mai son Carree, has tried to leave Algerian territory to settle in Metropolitan France, Arrested by the police of the Secret Army during the morning of December 30, 1961, Chekroun was immediately taken before the military tribunal of the O.A.S. Condemned to death for desertion, Chekroun was executed at 11 a.m.”
The O. A. S. pester provoked consternation among many of the Jews here who have been planning to move to France, where Algerians are admitted as French citizens, enjoying all rights given to citizens in Metropolitan France.
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