Africa-Press – Angola. The remains of Alves Bernardo Baptista (Nito Alves), Jacob João Caetano (Immortal Monster), Arsénio José Lourenço Mesquita (Sianouk) and Ilídio Ramalhete Gonçalves were buried this Monday at the Alto das Cruzes Cemetery in Luanda.
In an atmosphere of anguish for the widows, children, brothers, uncles, nephews, friends and acquaintances, Lieutenant General António de Jesus Fernandes read the eulogy of the four nationalists who died in the events of May 27, 1977.
António Fernandes said that Nito Alves, Monstro Immortal, Sianouk and Ilídio Ramalhete were fearless patriots in the fight for Angola’s freedom.
“The four heroes we buried today, in addition to being courageous nationalists, were also parents who, in a short time, managed to transmit to their families, companions and friends the values of Angolanness and patriotism”, he highlighted.
On this June 13, 2022, António Fernandes said, fate wanted after 45 years at the Army Headquarters that everyone paid their last tribute to the four children of Angola, who fell on the occasion of the events of May 27, 1977.
Nito Alves, recalled the lieutenant general, was born on July 23, 1945, in the village of Piri, in Bengo province. He was Minister of Internal Administration of the People’s Republic of Angola and belonged to the MPLA’s first political-military region in the Dembos.
In turn, Jacob João Caetano “Monstro Immortal” was born in 1941, also in the village of Piri, Bengo, having been one of the first MPLA militants sent to the former Czechoslovak Republic, where he received military training.
The name Monstro Immortal, he explained, results from the decisive character manifested in several battles between 1963 and 1970. Jacob João Caetano became head of the General Staff of the former FAPLA.
Ilídio Ramalhete Gonçalves, born on April 14, 1954, in the then municipality of Rangel, in Luanda, was an operative officer. He died in the May 27 events at just 23 years of age.
May 27 Foundation
The president of the 27 de Maio Foundation, Silva Mateus, recognized the commitment of the President of the Republic in carrying out a process that for more than 40 years seemed to have been completely erased, which is now summarized as a symbol of courage and national reconciliation.
Silva Mateus said that now is the time for loved ones to look to the future with a view to building a nation, where all children are reunited in the spirit of peace, reconciliation and progress in the fields of political, social and cultural life.
The victims’ relatives extolled the qualities of the loved ones, considering them “great” heads of families, fearless commanders and diplomats of good offices.
The ceremony of tribute to the four nationalists was attended by the Minister of State and head of the Casa Militar, Francisco Furtado, of the Interior (Eugénio Laborinho), of Justice and Human Rights (Francisco Queiroz), of Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technologies. (Manuel Homem) and distinguished officials of the Defense and National Security Organs.
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