« I grew up watching the state bunkier in silence » – Liberation

At the corner of rue de Varenne, a few steps from the hotel in Matignon, in Paris, six people hold a banner. « Yves, Georges, Pascal, Patrick, Eric, we don’t forget you! » We read in capital letters. On January 15, 2004, these five sailors died in the sinking of their trawler, the Bugaled Breizh, in the sleeve. The 24 -meter -long boat from Finistère had flowed into 37 secondsleaving the sailors no chance on board to save their skin.

In twenty years of legal proceedings, started in France and in the United Kingdom (the sinking that took place in British territorial waters), several theses were explored: the approach by a merchant ship, the fishing accident and then the collision with a submarine. France had concluded that a disgust In 2016, before London retained The questionable thesis of the fishing accident In 2021. Scenario in which the families of the victims never believed.

« We know very well that the Bugaled Breizh Sun not because of a soft hook (hanging the trawl in a sandbank, editor’s note)but because ofa submarine« , Claims Dominique Launay, president of the association SOS BUGALED BREIZH, facing the few journalists who came this Wednesday, May 28 in front of Matignon. Today, all judicial appeals are sold; All that remains is political action. « Now it is up to the government to take responsibility to give families the truth », declares the retiree, responsible for representing the families of the victims.

The Breton Democratic Union (UDB), left political party which denounces a « Omerta » In this case, sent a letter to all successive primary ministers from Jean-Pierre Raffarin. « We ask you to do everything to convince the current Prime Minister to act where you did not wish or been able to do it », We read in the letter.

During the trials, the civil parties never reached the declassification of military documents, on the grounds of the Secret-Defense. « I am 37 years old, and I was 16 years old at the time of Bugaled Breizh,, Remember the spokesperson for the UDB, TIFENN SIRET. I grew up watching the state organize its incompetence, bunkier in silence and sacrifice the peace of families. ” In April on X, the UDB asked the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the declassification of the military archives for « Know whether or not an American attack nuclear was in the English Channel on January 15, 2004, at the time of the sinking of Bugaled Breizh». Without obtaining an answer.

Damien Girard, green deputy for Morbihan, joins the UDB movement. « I will make a written question to the government about the lifting of the Secret-Defensehe promises. We owe a response and recognition to families.  » The elected representative also has to take advantage of a next defense commission to question the Atlantic’s maritime prefect, Jean-François Quérat, responsible for representing France at sea. In turn, the Spanish MEP Ana Miranda Paz wishes to challenge the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the hope that it pushes France to act, twenty-one after the drama.