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214THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTHCOLONIAL WAR AND MENTAL DISORDERS215elements that constitute the national consciousness. Not onlymust he collaborate, but he is given orders to discuss "freely" withopponents and holdouts in order to win them over. This is anefficient way of getting him to give leads on patriots and usinghim, therefore, as an informer. Ifby chance he claims he didn'tfind any opponents, they are designated for him or else he is askedto behave as if they were.b. Give talks on the value of French accomplishments andthe merits of colonization.In order to achieve his job effectively, the intellectual is counseledby a broad spectrum of "political advisors" such as officersfor Native Affairs or better still psychologists, therapists and sociologists,etc.c. Take the arguments for the Algerian Revolution and eliminatethem one by one.Algeria is not a nation, has never been a nation, and neverwill be.There is no such thing as the "Algerian people."Algerian patriotism is devoid of meaning.The fellagas are schemers, criminals, and have had the woolpulled over their eyes.The intellectuals have to take turns giving a presentation onthese topics and each has to be convincing. Grades (the infamous"awards") are allocated and totalled at the end of the month. Theyare used to evaluate whether the intellectual will be released.d. Lead an absolutely pathological communal life.To remain alone is an act of rebellion. The individual mustalways be in the presence of somebody. Silence is also prohibited.The individual must think out loud.TestimonyThis is the case of an academic who was interned and subjectedto months of brainwashing. One day the camp officialscongratulated him on his progress and announced he would soonbe set free.Familiar with the enemy's tactics, he was wary of taking thenews too seriously. The stratagem, in fact, was to announce tothe prisoners they were going to be freed and a few days beforethe set date organize a group session of self-criticism. At the endof the session it was often decided to postpone release since theprisoner showed no signs of being definitely cured. The session,according to the psychologists present, highlighted a singlemindednationalist virus.This time, however, there was no subterfuge. The prisoner waswell and truly freed. Once outside, in town and with his family,the former prisoner congratulated himself on having played hisrole so welL He was overjoyed at the idea of taking part again inthe national struggle and endeavored to get back in touch withthe leaders. It was then that a terrible, nagging idea crossed hismind. Perhaps nobody had been duped-neither his captors, norhis co-inmates, nor even himself.Where was the game supposed to end?Once again we had to reassure the patient and free him fromthe burden of guilt.Psychiatric Symptoms Encountereda. Phobia ofany collective discussion. As soon as three or fourpeople got together, the inhibition reappeared, and mistrust andreticence reasserted themselves.b. The subject finds it impossible to explain and defend agiven viewpoint. An antithetical thought process. Anything whichis affirmed can be simultaneously denied with the same force.This is certainly the most painful legacy we have encounteredin this war. The obsessive personality is the fruit of the "psychologicalwarfare" used in the service of colonialism in Algeria.II. - For NonintellectualsIn centers like Berrouaghia, subjectivity is no longer taken asthe starting point for modifying the individual's attitude. On thecontrary, emphasis is on the body, which is broken in the hope