Front de libération du Québec

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The Front de libération du Québec (Québec Liberation Front), commonly known as the FLQ, was a left-wing terrorist group in Canada responsible for more than 200 bombings and the deaths of at least five people, which culminated in 1970 with what is known as the October Crisis. Founded in the early 1960s, they supported the Quebec sovereignty movement. The period of its founding coincided with the period of a "quiet revolution" when the government of Quebec began to play a more active role in solving economic and social issues.

FLQ members practiced propaganda of the deed and issued declarations that called for a Marxist insurrection in the view of which the oppressors were identified with anglophones (English-speaking Quebeckers), the overthrow of the Québec government, the independence of Québec from Canada and the establishment of a French-Canadian workers' society. The organization was also influenced by other past movements abroad such as those for the independence of former colonies such as Algeria, Vietnam and Cuba. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Pierre Vallières joined the FLQ in 1965, three years after he read Marx’s analysis of Quebec’s history in which the position of the working class of Quebec is compared to that of the African Americans in USA; ideas he later incorporated in his book White Niggers of America.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The 1st Wave 1.2 The 2nd Wave 1.3 The 3rd Wave 1.3.1 The Statue of Liberty 1.4 The 4th Wave 1.5 A 5th Wave 1.6 Various attacks and the 6th Wave 2 October crisis 3 Decline 4 FLQ subsequent activities 5 Recent Events 6 Liberation cell members 7 Chénier cell 8 Other known FLQ members 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

Members and sympathizers of the group were called Felquistes ([fɛlˈkists] in IPA), a word coined from the French pronunciation of the letters FLQ. Some of the members were organized and trained by Georges Schoeters, a Belgian revolutionary and alleged KGB agent, whose hero was Che Guevara. FLQ members Normand Roy and Michel Lambert had also received guerrilla training in selective assassination from Palestinian commandos in Jordan. Various cells emerged over time: The Viger Cell founded by Robert Comeau, history professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, the Dieppe Cell, the Louis Riel Cell, the Nelson Cell, The Saint-Denis Cell, the Liberation Cell and the Chénier Cell. The latter two of these cells were involved in what became known as the "October Crisis," the first terrorist crisis in modern Canadian history.

From 1963 to 1970, the FLQ committed over 200 violent actions, including bombings, bank hold-ups, kidnappings, at least three killings by FLQ bombs and two killings by gunfire. In 1966 Revolutionary Strategy and the Role of the Avant-Garde was prepared by the FLQ outlining in their manifesto their long term strategy of successive waves of robberies, violence, bombings and kidnappings, culminating in insurrection revolution.

The history of the FLQ is occasionally separated into waves.

[edit] The 1st Wave

The 1st formation of the FLQ was composed of RIN members, some of whom wished for faster action. This group formed the "Réseau de Resistance", or Resistance Network. This group eventually broke up, forming the FLQ. The group was recruited among various sources, eventually recruiting one Mario Bachand. The FLQ commenced their attacks the 7th of March, 1963. Some of their more notable crimes include bombing a railway (which the then current Prime Minister of Canada, John Diefenbaker, was prepared to use within the week) and at least 2 deaths, one of whom was Walter Leja, who was killed in mail bombings of the homes of prominent English speakers in the wealthy Westmount area of the city.

By June 1st, 1963, this original group had been arrested. In 1963, Gabriel Hudon and Raymond Villeneuve were sentenced to 12 years in prison for crimes against the state after their bomb killed Wilfred O'Neill, a watchman at Montreal's Canadian Army Recruitment Centre. Their targets also included English-owned businesses, banks, McGill University, Loyola College. However, these two and the rest of those arrested, including George Schoeters in connection with the FLQ were all freed by 1967.

[edit] The 2nd Wave

A group of 6 criminals, two of whom were brothers of FLQ members arrested in 1963 (Robert Hudon and Jean Gagnon), commenced a series of crimes in Quebec over a period between September 26, 1963, and the 9th of April 1964. They called themselves the "Quebec Liberation Army" (L’Armée de Libération de Québec), and stole approximately 534 thousand (Canadian, adjusting for inflation) dollars in goods and moneys. Again, most of these criminals were also released by 1967.

[edit] The 3rd Wave

A larger group of revolutionaries became known as the "Revolutionary Army of Quebec" (L’Armée Révolutionnaire de Québec). This wave lasted exactly one day, the 29th of August, 1964. Rather than the crimes of the 2nd wave, this group attempted to focus on training, particularly in St. Bonifice. However, a botched gun robbery resulted in two deaths. Cyr Delisle, Gilles Brunet, Marcel Tardif, François Schirm, et Edmond Guenette, the five members arrested in connection with the deaths of Leslie MacWilliams and Alfred Pinisch, workers at the store, were sentenced to life in prison. François Schirm, a Hungarian, and the other members escaped death sentences after Canada repealed the death penalty. A number of other members of the FLQ were arrested as well.

[edit] The Statue of Liberty

Between the 3rd and the 4th waves of the FLQ, a group that was known as the Black Liberation Front entered into an alliance with the FLQ. A group of French Canadians and African Americans were arrested in 1965, for planning an attack on the Statue of Liberty.

[edit] The 4th Wave

Charles Gagnon and Pierre Vallières combined their "Popular Liberation Movement" with the FLQ in July 1965. This also combined several other pro-sovereignty groups. This may have led to a more socialist FLQ attitude. This new group robbed an NDP office and a radio station for supplies, many of which were used to write "La Cognée". La Cognée was the revolutionary paper published by the FLQ during the many years of activity. It translates to "The Axe".

The 4th Wave saw the increasing use of explosives, the productions styles of which were sometimes detailed in La Cognée. A FLQ member, Jean Corbo, was killed by his own explosive, and three people had their lives shattered during the FLQ Bombing of the La Grenade (A Quebec company, not the explosive) Factory, May 5th 1966.

By August 1966, the RCMP had arrested many FLQ members. Gagnon and Vallières had fled to the States, where they protested in front of the United Nations and were later arrested. During this arrest is when Vallières wrote his novel, White Niggers of America. In September of 1967, the pair were extradited to Canada.

[edit] A 5th Wave

In 1968, after various riots within Quebec and in Europe, a new group of FLQ is formed. Within a year, this group of Felquistes had exploded 52 bombs. Rather than La Cognée, they wrote "La Victoire", or Victory. The various members of the group were arrested by the 2nd of May 1969.

[edit] Various attacks and the 6th Wave

On February 13, 1969 the Front de libération du Québec set off a powerful bomb that ripped through the Montreal Stock Exchange causing massive destruction and seriously injuring twenty-seven people. After a series of more bombings, on September 28, 1969, they bombed the home of Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau. After the bombing police had figured that the bomb was placed in the toilet so inspectors couldn't find it. ^[1]

1969 also saw many riots, including riots against a McGill university. The RCMP had intercepted intelligence relating to the planned riots, and prevented excessive damage. This failed riot led to Mario Bachand leaving Canada, and another group of FLQ forming, which would become responsible for the October Crisis. This group, formed of Paul Rose, Jacques Rose, Francis Simard, and Nigel Hamer became known as the "South Shore Gang".

During the police strike of 1969, the "Taxi Liberation Front", a creation of the "Popular Liberation Front", which was itself the creation of Jacques Lanctôt and Marc Carbonneau, killed a police officer. Jacques Lanctôt is credited by Micheal McLoughlin, author of "Last stop, Paris : The assassination of Mario Bachand and the death of the FLQ.", with writing the FLQ Manifesto during the prelude to the October Crisis.

The South Shore Gang bought a house, which they named "The Little Free Quebec", and it quickly become a den of the FLQ. Jacques Lanctôt was charged in connection with a failed FLQ kidnapping attempt, of an Israeli diplomat, in 1970, while a member of the FLQ, and likely took refuge at "The Little Free Quebec".

These new FLQ members buy two other houses, prepare their plans, and stock sufficient equipment for their coming plans. The group split into two over what plans should be taken, but both were reunited during the crisis itself. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

[edit] October crisis

Main article: October crisis

On October 5, 1970, members of the FLQ's Liberation cell kidnapped James Richard Cross, the British Trade Commissioner as he was leaving his home for work. Shortly afterwards, on October 10, the Chénier Cell kidnapped the Minister of Labour and Vice-Premier of Québec, Pierre Laporte. Laporte was coming from a meeting with others, discussing the demands of the FLQ. After denying the demands, Pierre Laporte was immediately kidnapped by the FLQ (although it is still not known how the FLQ knew of the decision so quickly).

In the following days, FLQ leaders held meetings to increase public support for the cause. Consequently, a general strike involving students, teachers and professors resulted in the closure of most French-language secondary and post-secondary academic institutions. On October 15, 1970, over 3000 students attended a protest rally in favour of the FLQ. Demonstrations of public support contributed to subsequent government actions.

On October 17, callers to a radio station announced that Laporte had been murdered and divulged the location of the map which led to the discovery of his body.

The FLQ released a list of demands for Cross's release.

1. the release of 23 "political prisoners" (including: Cyriaque Delisle, Edmond Guenette and François Schirm, Serge Demers, Marcel Faulkner, Gérard Laquerre, Robert Levesque, Réal Mathieu, and Claude Simard; Pierre-Paul Geoffroy, Michel Loriot, Pierre Demers, Gabriel Hudon, Robert Hudon, Marc-André Gagné, François Lanctot, Claude Morency, and André Roy; Pierre Boucher and André Ouellette).
2. the following FLQ members, André Lessard, Pierre Marcil, and Réjean Tremblay, who were out on bail at the time of the kidnappings, would be allowed to leave Quebec if they wanted.
3. all family members of the "political prisoners" and those out on bail would be able to join them outside of Quebec.
4. $500,000 in gold
5. the broadcast and publication of the FLQ Manifesto
6. the publication of the names of the police informants for terrorist activities
7. an aircraft to take the kidnappers to Cuba or Algeria and while doing so they would be accompanied by their lawyers.
8. the rehiring of about 450 Lapalme postal workers who had been laid off because of their support of the FLQ
9. the cessation of all police search activities

The FLQ was also requested how the above demands would be carried out:

1. the prisoner are to be taken to the Montreal airport and supplied a copy of the FLQ Manifesto. They are to be allowed to communicate with each other and become familiar with the Manifesto.
2. they were not to be dealt with in a harsh or brutal manner.
3. they must be able to communicate with their lawyers to discuss the best course of action, whether to leave Quebec or not. As well, these lawyer must receive passage back to Quebec.

As part of its Manifesto, the FLQ stated: "In the coming year Bourassa (Quebec Premier) will have to face reality; 100,000 revolutionary workers, armed and organized."

Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in his statement to the press during the October Crisis admits that the radicalism occurring in Quebec at this time bred out of social unease due to imperfect legislation: “The government has pledged that it will introduce legislation which deals not only with the symptoms but with the social causes which often underlie or serve as an excuse for crime and disorder” (Pierre Trudeau, CBC interview). However, despite this admission he declares in his statement to the press that in order to deal with the unruly radicals or "revolutionaries," the government of Quebec will adopt The War Measures Act, the first and only time a province has used this legislation in peace-time. Enacting The War Measures Act is a risky move for Trudeau because it overrides fundamental rights and privileges operating in Humphrey’s adopted Canadian bill of Rights; therefore, there is a strong possibility of Trudeau losing popular support among Quebec voters. However luckily for Trudeau this did not occur. In a famous impromptu radio interview with Tim Ralfe and Peter Reilly, Pierre Trudeau uttered the phrase regarding the enactment of the war measures act, which is now has a place in current Canadian history books regarding Trudeau and his reign. In response to a question inferring that, using the aforementioned act may be extremist, Prime Minister Trudeau answers, “well just watch me” (Pierre Trudeau, CBC interview). This line has been picked up and gone down in Trudeau’s legacy, probably for all time.

Early in December 1970, police discovered the location of the kidnappers holding James Cross. His release was negotiated and on December 3, 1970, five of the terrorists were granted their request for safe passage to Cuba by the Government of Canada after approval by Fidel Castro.

As a result of the invocation of the War Measures Act, civil liberties were suspended. By December 29, 1970, police had arrested 453 persons with suspected ties to the FLQ. Some detainees were released within hours, while others were held for up to 21 days. Several persons who were detained were initially denied access to legal counsel. Of the 453 people who were arrested, 435 were eventually released without ever being charged.

On December 13, 1970, Pierre Vallières announced in Le Journal that he had terminated his association with the FLQ. As well, Vallières renounced the use of terrorism as a means of political reform and instead advocated the use of standard political action.

In July 1980, police arrested and charged a sixth person in connection with the Cross kidnapping. Nigel Barry Hamer, a British radical socialist and FLQ sympathizer, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in jail.

In late December, four weeks after, the kidnappers of James Cross were found. Paul Rose and the kidnappers and murderers of Pierre Laporte were located in the corner of a country farmhouse basement. They were tried and convicted for kidnapping and murder.

The events of October 1970 contributed to the loss of support for violent means to attain Québec independence, and increased support for the political party, the Parti Québécois, which took power in 1976.

[edit] Decline

The decline of the FLQ can be attributed to both the effects police deterrence had on the organization and also failing public support. By 1971, the Montréal Police antiterrorist unit had highly placed informants within the FLQ organisation and on October 4, and 5, 1971, the first anniversary of the October Crisis, the Montréal Police arrested four FLQ members. The antiterrorism unit was able to arrest nearly two dozen FLQ operatives in thirteen months. The waves of arrests undoubtedly had a deterring effect on any FLQ would be supporters.

The support and political capacity of the FLQ changed drastically during 1970. The FLQ immediately lost public support after the October crisis and the murder of Laporte. The general public overwhelmingly supported the emergency powers and the presence of the military in Quebec. The Parti Quebecois warned young activists against joining, “childish cells in a fruitless revolutionary adventurism which might cost them their future and even their lives.” Laporte’s murder marked a crossroad in the political history of the FLQ. It helped sway public opinion towards more conventional forms of political participation and drove up popular support for the Parti Quebecois.

The rise of the PQ attracted both active and would be participants away from the dangerous activities of the FLQ. In December 1971, Pierre Vallieres emerged after three years in hiding to announce that he was joining the PQ. In justifying his decisions he said that the FLQ was a “shock group” whose continued activities would only play into the into the hands of the forces of repression of which they were no match. Those members of the FLQ who had fled began returning to Canada in late 1971 continuing to 1982 and most were given light sentences for their terrorist offences. Most former FLQ members joined the PQ. ^[7]

[edit] FLQ subsequent activities

Nevertheless, terrorist activities continue to occur at the hands of isolated members of the organization. In 2001, Rhéal Mathieu, a member who in 1967 was sentenced to 9 years in prison for terrorist activities including murder, was convicted of the attempted firebombing of three Second Cup coffee shops in Montreal. Mathieu targeted Canada's largest specialty coffee retailer because of the company's use of its incorporated English name Second Cup. For this offence, a judge sentenced Rhéal Mathieu to one month in jail in addition to the nine months he had already been held. He was also given a six-month sentence to be served concurrently for illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun and a .38-calibre revolver. Shortly thereafter, seven McDonald's restaurants were firebombed. According to a spokesman for the company, the bombings resulted in customers being afraid to go to Second Cup coffee shops, resulting in a substantial loss of business. The company changed their signs to Les cafés Second Cup.

[edit] Recent Events

On January 19, 2007 the RCMP released to the public information about a letter threatening attacks on Montreal's traditionally English-speaking Western half. CBC Link

[edit] Liberation cell members

Main article: Liberation cell

The known Liberation cell members:

• Jacques Cossette-Trudel
• Louise Lanctôt (aka Louise Cossette-Trudel)
• Jacques Lanctôt
• Marc Carbonneau
• Yves Langlois (aka Pierre Seguin)
• Nathan Cole

[edit] Chénier cell

Main article: Chénier Cell

The Chénier Cell was a Montreal based terrorist group belonging to the Front de Libération du Quebec (FLQ) whose members were responsible for a decade of bombings and armed robberies in the 1960s that led to what became known as the October Crisis. They were named after a rebel hero of the Lower Canada Rebellion, Jean-Olivier Chénier.

The known Chénier Cell members:

• Paul Rose
• Jacques Rose
• Francis Simard
• Bernard Lortie

[edit] Other known FLQ members

Other known members of the FLQ, almost all of whom were charged and convicted for terrorist activities: Front de libération du Québec

[edit] See also

• List of conflicts in Canada
• October Crisis
• List of terrorist attacks in Canada
• October 1970 (film)

[edit] References

1. ^ Fournier, Louis F.L.Q: The Anatomy of an Underground Movement. p. 165 (1984) NC Press Ltd. ISBN 091960191X (translation by Edward Baxter of F.L.Q. : histoire d'un mouvement clandestin)
2. ^ McLoughlin, Micheal. « Last stop, Paris : The assassination of Mario Bachand and the death of the FLQ. » Penguin Group, 1998. ISBN 067088196-1.
3. ^ Loomis, Dan G. « Not much glory: Quelling the FLQ. » 1984. Deneau Publishing. ISBN 0-88879-118-6.
4. ^ Fournier, Louis, edited by Edward Baxter. « FLQ : Histoire d’un mouvement clandestin ». Lanctôt Éditeur. 1998. ISBN 2-89485-073-5.
5. ^ Morf, Gustave « Terror in Quebec » Clark, Irwin, et Co. 1970. ISBN 0-7720-04919
6. ^ http://www.mcgill.ca/maritimelaw/crisis/ William Tetley: The October Crisis, 1970: An Insider's View. McGill University
7. ^ Gurr, Ted Robert., Ross, Jeffrey Ian. “Why Terrorism Subsides: A Comparative Study of Canada and the United States.” Comparative Politics. Vol. 21, No. 4. (Jul., 1989), pp. 405-426

• "The Events Preliminary to the Crisis" in chronological order - 1960 to 5 October 1970
• “The October Crisis per se" in chronological order - 5 October to 29 December 1970
• (2000) Pierre Elliot Trudeau, CBC Radio Interview
• Tetley, William. The October Crisis, 1970 : An Insiders View (2006) McGill-Queen's University Press ISBN 0773531181
• Skelton, Oscar D. The Canadian Dominion. Toronto, Glasgow: Yale University Press

[edit] External links

• English translation of the FLQ Manifesto