FRANCAISGuilde européenne du raid - History
1980-1989
-From 1980, Afghanistan: through its Department for action and development, the Guild charters several caravans towards regions controlled by the resistance against the Soviet occupation. Freight from Pakistan is so expensive that the organization decides to directly deliver cash money to the hungry population. In the villages, Elders Committees select the beneficiaries and occasionally ask for weapons rather than food, like in the Kunar area in 1984. Sharing this fighting spirit, some Guild members contemplate to join the armed struggle. In his book published in 2003, journalist Olivier Weber quotes one of them, Alain Boinet: “I must admit, I wandered if I should fight on their side. I supply them with humanitarian aid, but their final aim is freedom. Consequently, if they are defeated they will lose their freedom. And if this happens, will we still be able to help them? If their country falls under the control of the Soviet Union, we shall never be able to come back again. We had to restrict ourselves, since this plan to join them in their fight carried some awkward aspects: we’d fight on their side but what would we bring them? Did they need us? They could get all the fighters they wanted”. At one stage, Laurent Maréchaux, another volunteer from the Guild, joined Armin Wardak forces during an attack against the city of Ghazni in 1981. A documentary movie directed by Christophe de Ponfilly, produced by “Interscoop” and broadcast by “France 2” TV channel features Laurent Maréchaux who comments: “Each of us was a political militant and we were all dreaming to go to war. Humanitarian aid was our cover”. In Afghanistan, a country with little resources, relief has a political value anyway, because of its economic input. In 1986, for instance, Thierry Niquet, a volunteer for the Guild and AFRANE, is killed as he was leaving Kundunz, a Hezb Islami’s fundamentalist stronghold, to reach Mazar-i-Sharif, which was controlled by a rival party, Jamiat Islami. Thierry Niquet has been most likely the victim of a murder committed by Zabet Toufân, a commander of the Hezb Islami. Indeed, the Guild had negotiated its assistance with the Hezb Islami, which accused the organization of favouring other areas. The distribution of food often generates conflicts. In the following years, the Guild is also suspected to supply weapons to Ahmed Shah Massoud’s guerrillas in the Panchir valley.
-From 1983, France: while its public utility status is recognised by a decree in December 1981, the Guild organizes a forum in Agen and delivers an award to Handicap International. This forum will gather on a yearly basis.
-1988-1998, Lebanon: the Guild helps the Christian side, and once peace is concluded, expands all around the country, where it develops agricultural programs.
