The three representatives of the victims of Betharram who sat in the independent commission of inquiry born following the scandal announced their departure, Thursday, July 3, due to dissensions as for the composition of the body. Wednesday, the commission herself asked one of them, as well as to another member of the body, “To no longer sit”said Magalie Besse, her secretary general.
Alain Esquerre, spokesperson for the main collective of the victims of the establishment referred to by more than 200 complaints for physical and sexual violence, Olivier Bunel and Alexandre Perez claim however to have taken “Unilaterally” The decision to leave this commission funded by the Congregation at the head of the establishment and set up by the Louis-Pourné (IFJD) Institute.
In a press release, they denounce the conditions of access to the archives of the private Catholic college and the presence in this body, as a referent commissioner of the congregation, of the priest Laurent Bacho, former close to Father Benat Ségur at the time he officiated in Côte d’Ivoire, in the 1990s. The latter, died in 2010, is accused of sexual violence in Abidjan and in France.
Mme Besse told the France-Presse agency that the commission had asked Father Bacho to “Do not sit anymore” Due to the role he “Could have played” in Côte d’Ivoire, but also to Mr. Perez due to « d’accusations » aiming in the press, “Without that presumes their effective responsibility”.
Alexandre Perez, elected by the municipal majority of François Bayrou in Pau, is notably accused by Mediapart To have attacked other victims of Betharram, under pseudo, on social networks, which he denies.
MM. Esquerre, Bunnel and Perez accuse an association of dissident victims, created in mid-June, of being at the origin of“Permanent attacks” and of“Haine incitement” on social networks towards them and regret “Desire” IFJD to bring it into the commission of inquiry. Bernard Collenot, president of this association of Betharram victims in disagreement with “The way of doing things” of left Alain, “Do not exclude” to participate in the work of the commission, despite the “Doubts about his independence”.
