Africa-Press – Angola. The heroic action of the martyrs of Baixa de Cassanje constitutes one of the most relevant events in the process of the liberation struggle of the Angolan people, declared this Thursday the deputy provincial governor for the political and social area of Luanda, Manuel Gonçalves.
The governor was speaking after laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, in the Santana Cemetery, in honor of the Day of the Martyrs of colonial repression, under the motto “In the spirit of January 4th, former combatants united for development in Angola”.
For Manuel Gonçalves, the bravery shown by the martyred awakened patriotic awareness and national unity.
He said it was necessary to make the new generation aware of what was done for the country’s liberation and defended greater unity among Angolans, so that social conditions respond to the people’s desires.
In turn, the secretary for communication of the 4th of January Association, Alberto Quiari, praised the importance of the anniversary, having argued that it could continue to appear on the list of national holidays, contrary to a date of national celebration, as it is called currently.
He said he did not welcome the change of the 4th of January from a national holiday to a date of national celebration, as “that date kicked off the Angolans’ denial of what was the action of the Portuguese in the country”.
In another part of his intervention, the official called for the inclusion of survivors from Baixa de Cassanje in the Social Security of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).
The Baixa de Cassanje massacre occurred 63 years ago, when, in 1961, Portuguese colonial troops indiscriminately killed thousands of Angolan peasants, and their families, who were dedicated to cotton production, for protesting against the low prices charged by Companhia Geral de “Cotonang” cotton and the mistreatment imposed by the colonial regime.
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