Return to the Source: Selected Speeches of Amilcar Cabral

56 Pages·2010·9.57 MB·English

Returtno t heS ource: Africa II Return
CD
-
SelectSepde echeosf A milcaCra bral C
...
EditebdyA fricIan formatSieornv ice :::s tot heS ource:
0-
-
=r
AmilcaCra bralw,h o was theS ecretary-Genoefrt ahle A frican <D Selected
Partfyo rt heI ndependenocfeG uineaan dt heC apeV erde Islands en
o
(PAIGC)w,a s assassinabtye Pdo rtugueasgee ntosn Januar2y0 ,
c
... Speechoefs
1973U.n derh isl eadersh,it pheP AIGCl iberattherde e-quarotfe rs (")
thec ountrysoifdG eu ineai nl esst hant eny earosf r evolutionary <D
struggClaeb.r adli stinguihsihmesde lafm ongm odernr evolution­ en AmilcCaarb ral
ariebsy thel onga nd carefuplr eparatiboont,ht heoretiacnadl 9!..
<D
practicwahli,c hh eu ndertoboekf orlea unchitnhge r evolutionary (")
-
struggalned,, i nt hec oursoef t hipsr epariaot,nb ecameo neo ft he <D EdibtyeA df rIincfao rmSaetrivoinc e
C.
worldo'ust standtihnego reticoifaa nnst i-impersitarluigsgtl e.
en
Thisv olumec ontaisnosm eo ft hep rincipsaple echeCsa bral "'C
<D
deliveriendh isl asyte ardsu rinvgi sittost heU niteSdi ateTsh.e <D
(")
firissth iss peecht ot hef ourtCho mmissioonft heU niteNda tions =r
GeneraAls sembloyn Octobe1r6 ,1 97,2o n "QuestioonfsT erri­ <D
en
toriuensd erP ortugueAsdem inistratHiiosnb .r"i llisapnete cheosn o
-
"NationLailb eratainodnC ultu"r (e1970a)n d" IdentaintdyD ignity
l>
int heC ontexotf t heN ationLailb eratSitornu gg"l (e1972f)o llow. 3
Durinhgi sl asvti sitot theU niteSdt at,e Csabraals kedt he
(")
AfricIan formatSieornv icteo o rganizaen informgaalt herionfg m
...
representatfirvoemas varietyb loafc okr ganitzoians,a ndi tt ook o
placoen Octobe2r0 ,1 972T.h ev ital,iw tarymt,ha ndh umorw ith Q)
CT
whichC abraslp oket ot higsa therianrge e videnitnt het ranscript ...
Q)
whicha ppearhse rea,n dw hichi ncludheissr epliteosq uestioanss
welals h iso peninrge marks.
Finaltlhye,N ew Year'Mse ssageo fJ anuar1y9 73i si ncluded.
Ash isl aswtr ittsetna temetnott hep eoploef G uineaan dt heC ape
VerdeIs landst,h icso nstituttheesp olititceaslt ameonftA milcar
Cabral.
Includaesdw ella rem aps,p hotogra,pa hnsds uggestiofnosr
further rebaedairnign ogn thes truggloefst heP AIGCa ndo ft he
liberatmioovne mentisn A ngolaan d Mozambique.
MonthRleyv iPerwe ss
PrintiendU ,S.A/Covedre sigbny MartiSnt epheMno skal
PhotoM:e mberso ft he1 97S2p eciaMli ssioonft heU niteNda tionasc,c ompaniebdy PAIGe
members, crossian gr iveirn t heB alana-Kitasfeicnteoo rf lbieartedG uine(aUN, P hoto/
YutakNaa gata)
RETURN
TO THE
SOURCE
SelectSepde echbeys
AmilcCaarb ral
editbeydA friIcnaf ormatSjeornv ice
(@
MonthRleyv iePwr ess
NewY orka ndL ondon
witAhf riIcnaf ormaSteirovni ce
"lam a simplAef ricamna n)d oinmgy duty
inm y ownc ountryin t hec onteoxfto urt ime."
�-\
AMILCARC ABRAL
1924-1973
inm emoriam.
Dedicatteotd hset ruggle
Copyrig©h 1t9 7b3y A frica InforSmeartviioacnne d t he
AfricPaanr tfyo rt he IndependoefGn ucien eaan dt he
CapeV erdIes lands
AllR ightRse serdv e
LibroafCry o ngCraetsasl ionPg uibnlgi cDaattiao n
CabraAlm,i lcar
Returtno t hes ource.
1.G uineaP,o rtuguese-Poalnidtg iocvse rnment-Collected
works2..N ationalism-GuPionretau,g uese-Collweocrtkesd.
3.G uerrillas-GuPionretau,g uese-CollweocrtkesId..T itle.
DT613.75.C31927 4 320.9'66'577042- 7788
ISBN0 -85345-345-4
ThirdP rinting
MonthlRye viePwr ess
62W est1 4tSht reeNte,w YorkN,. Y.1 0011
21T heobalRdosa dL,o ndonW CIX 8SL
Manufactuirnet dh eU niteSdt atoefsA merica
Contents
TheA friIcnaf ormatSieornve i( cAISi)sa no rganizaotfAi forni cans,
African-bCbaerainasn dA frican-Amerwihcosa hnasr ae c ommit­ Introduct. .i.o.n. .... . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... . 9
mentt oT hirWdo rlda nti-impesrtiraulgigsWltee sp.r pear,ec at­
aloga,n dd istriibnuftoer matoinAo fnr ican libmeorvaetmieonnt s Map of Guin(eBai ssa.u..). . . . ... . . . ... . ._ . . . . . .1 3. . . . .
ando nt hes truggtloae csh ieevceo nomiincd peendenbcyet hepe o­
plei nt hoes aprtosf A fricrae cogniazsei dn dependpeonlti tical
statWees .a lsporo vidteh ep eoploefA fricwai thi nformatoino n Map ofC ape VerdIes lan.d.s. . . . . . . ... . . .... ... .... " .1 4
variosutsr gulgebse ing wabgyTe hdi rWdo rldpe opleisn t heW est­
ern HemipshereA.f riicsoau rf ocaplo inbtu,tw er ecogntihzaett h e
Seco�d AddresBse forteh eU nited NatFiouornhst ,C om.
Africsatnr ulgegdso n ote xisti sionl atTihoenya. r et hemsesl vapert
mItte1e9,7 .2. . . .. . . . . . . .... . . . .. . . . . ... . . . ......... 15
ofa l argemro vemenbtyT hirWdo rldp eoples.
Ourt hanktso t hec omradaensd o rganizatwihoo mnasd et he National LibaenrdaC tuilotnu r. .e. .. . . . . ... . .... . . ... . 39
printionfgt hibso okp ossibilne�c,l uditnhgeA fircanSat udies
andR esaerch Centeorf C ornell Univaenrdst ihteyW omen's
Divisioofnt heU niteMde thodiCshtu rch. Identaintyd D igniitnyth e Conteoxftt heN ationLailb era-
And abovael lo ursp ecila appreciatot hem ilitaonftt sh e tioSnt rugg.l.e. . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 57
AfricPaanr tyf or theI ndepende0n cGeu ineaa·n dt heC ape
VerdeI slan(dPsA IGC)fo r theiars sainse e. Conneicntgt heS trugglaens i:n formtaall wki thB lack
Proceefdrso mt hes aloef t hibso okw ilble s entto t heP AIGC. America.n. s... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . ..... . 75
New YearM'ess sag. .e. . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . .... 93
spelUn• Throughgousaret us edthi insbterchan ogothakeb Ey ln.gli s(Ghu ineanad )p ortuguese (Guine) FurtheRre adin.g. s. . .. . .... . . .. .. . . ........ . . . . . . ... . 107
Introduction
.
...
..
,
,
II·
CAPEV ERDE
ISLANDS
The longa ndd ifficulstt rugglteo f reAef ricfar omf oreign
dominatihoans p roducemda nyh eroificg ureasn d willc on­
tinuteo produec many more.I n some instanciensd ividuals
who seemetdo b e unlikeclayn didaetmeesr geads s pkoesmen
fort hem asseosf theipre opleO.f tent hees werei ndividuals
whor ejectaevde nuoefse scapfer omt her ealiotfit ehse ipre ople
andw ho electiends tetaodr eturtno t hes ourcoef t heiorw n
beingI.n t akintgh isst etph esien dividuraelasffirm ed ther ight
oft heipre oplteo t aket heiorw n placien h istory.
AmilcaCra brailso nes uch figure.A nd int heh eartosft he
Portuguese peoploef t hes malWle stA friccaonu ntroyfG uinea( Bissau),
Coloniine_ s
hew ilrle maian l eadewrh o helpde themr egaitnh eiird entity
Africa �
andw ho was otherwiisnes trumenitnat lh ei nitisatla geosf
Othewrh imtien ority thel onga ndd ifficulptr oceosfsn ationlailb eration.
dominactoeudn tries Cabrails r ecogniazseh da vinbge eno neo ft hew orldo'ust ­
,
standipnogl ititchaelo reticAita tnhset. i meo fh isa ssassinn atio
by Portugueasgee ntosn, J an.2 0,1 973-CabraaslS ,e cretary­
Generaolf t hAef ricaPna rtfyo rt heI ndependenocfeG uinea
andt heC apeV erdIes lan(dPsA IGC)w,a sa lsaon outstanding
practitoift ohneespreo lititchaelo riHees .h ad thea bilittoy
translaabtset ratchte oriienst ot hec oncrerteea litoife hsi s
peoplaen,d v eryo ftetnh er ealitoifeh si sp eoplree sultiend
thef ormulatoifon ne w theories.
The specicfiocn ditioofnc so lonialiinsG mu inea( Bissau)
9
RETURNT O THE SOURCE In h"oduction
ando nt heC apeV erdIes lanwdeser inrsutmenlt iant hep olit­ Allo ft hems aw thatth eipre opleesne'm y wasn ots imply
icadle veloepnmto fC abraTlo. h isp eoplPeo,r tuguceosleo nial­ poverdtiys,e aosr.el ,a cokf e duactionno;r w asi tt heP ortuguese
ismm eanat stagnaenxti stence cwoiutphtl heeda bsence of people ors implwyh iets; rather,w asic to lonialainsdm i ts
persondailgn itayn dl iberMtoyr.e t han99 % oft he population parenitm perialCiasbmr.aa lr ticultahtievsdi ewi ns tating:
coulndot r eaodr w ritSei.x tpye rceonftt heb abideise bde fore "We aren otfi ghtinagg ainstth eP ortuguepseeo ple,
reachitnhgea ge ofo ney earF.o rtpye rceonftt hep opulation againsitn diviPdouratlu goureP soer tugfuaemsiel Wiietsh.­
sufferferdo ms leepisnigc knaensd�a lmosetv eryone shoamde outev erc onfusnig thepe oploef P ortugaanld P ortuguese
formo fm alariaT.her e weren ever rmeto han1 1 doctoforr s colonialwies hma,v eb eenf orcetdot akue pa rms ino rder
thee ntirreu raplo puloant,io ro ned octofro re very4 5,000 toe xtirpfaortme thes oiolf o urA fricafna therltanhde,
Africans. shamefuPlor utguese colondiomailna tion:' Declaration
Ina ne ffort toc ontrtohle A fricpaonp utliaonP,o rtulg aat­ madeo nt her eleaosfte h rePeo rtugusee solditeakresn p ris­
temptetdoc retaea minim ally educatcelda stsh,em emberso f onerb yt heP AIGC,M arch1,9 68.
whichw ereg rantetdh e" priviloefgs ee"r viPnogr tugailn'­s Thisd efinitoifot nh ee nemyp roveadn i mportaindte ological
teresTthse.y w eret oltdo d isdaeivne rything Aafnrdti oc an sttairnpgo itn.F romh erer evolutiotnhaeryo rwieerse f ormula­
revereev erythiEnugr opeaHno.w evere,v eni ft heya dopted teda nd put into whpirhca certsiuclet iend tlhiebr eaitono f
thesea tittudtehse wye ren everre alalcyc eptbeytd h eimra sters. almost 75p erceonftt he ucnotrysiodfeG uinea( Bissaiunl) e ss
Them ytho f Portugamlu'lst i-rsaocciieayt lc amet ob ee xposed thatne yn earosfr evolutiaornmaerysd t ruggle.
forw hati tw as-at ooflo rl ittPloer tugaclo'nst inudeodm ina­ Att heti me of Cabralm'usr derG,u inea (Bihsasda uiv)­r
tioonf v ast stroefAt fchirecas. tualyl becomaen independsetneat t with omfoi sttps r incailp
Cabraslt udiiendP ortugwailt hA fricans from otherP ortu­ townosc cupibeyd a foreiagrnm yI.n h isSe cond AddresAst
guees coloniTehsi.sw asa restipveer ioidn t hed eveolpment theU niteNda tionCsa,b raplr esenatneo dve rviwe oft he struggle
ofA fricann ationamloivsetm enTthse.c olonpioawle rhsa db een from its earliaensdth edd easycsr di lbfieei nt heli breateadr eas
weakened by theSe condW orldW ar.A nd Africahnasd heard ofh isc ountryH.e descritbheedp roceosfsn aitonalr econstruc­
thesep owerssp eaokf d emocralciy,b ye ratndh umand ignity­ tioinn t he facoef c ontinuobuosm bardmeanntdsa tatckbsy
alolf w hicwhe red enietdot hec olonsiuablj ecMtansy. A fricans Portugsuese oldieArnsd.,h e announctehdes uccescsofmupll e­
hade venf oughatnd diedf ort he" liebrty" oft heicro lonial tioonf f reely helde lectifoonras n ewN ationAasls emb.l y
mastersH.o weevr;i nt hep rocetshosse who survivleeda rned Withe achp assidnagy P ortugafiln dsi stelmfo rea ndm ore
mucha boutth ew orladn dt hemselves. isotleda fromt hei nternatciomomnaulnit y.N ote vent hed eath
Cabraclo'nst emporarai stesue dnatis n cludAegdos tinhoN eto ofC abracla nr everes thet idweh icihs r unnniga gainosnteo f
and Mariod e Andrad(ef oundimnegm berosf t heP opular thew orldl'asts remainicnogl oniraull erIsn. h isN ew Year's
Movemenftor theLi beratioofnA ngol-MaPLA),a ndE duardo MessaCgaeb,r acla lloendt heP AIGCt op ress foawnadrc do n·
Mondlanea""n dM arceol idnos Santo(sf oundimnegm berosf tinuteh ew orkn ecesstaori ys suae f ormald eclaraotfit ohne
theM ozambiuqeL iberan!tFiroont-FRELIMTOh)e.s me ena ll newa ndi ndpeendenstt ate-Gui(nBeias saTuh)i.sd e claration
rejectPeodr tugaright-l-'sfu define hte liveosf A fricpaeno ple wilble i ssedu durin1g9 73a ndw ilrla isteh es rtugglaeg ainst
andc omm ittde themseltvoes stu rgglfeo rc hangeA.s stundtes Portuguseec oloniatloia snmot helre vel.
thesyt rivteoad s esrtt heir natidieonntailat nides su bsequye ntl The selecticoonnst aiinentd h iwso rki llustar vaittea pla rt
therye turnetdo t heirre spectiuvnet ricteoosp a rtictieip nat he oft hes tudyan,a ylssi anda ppliicoanwt hicmha dei tp ossible
proceosfns a itonlal iberation. fort hep eoploefG uine(aB issaaun)d,t heicro mradiensM o­
zambique andA ngol,a toa chievweh att heyh avea chieved in
..M ondlanwea shi mselfth e victimo fa na ssassinactiaroriedn outb. v thefa ce ofn umeroudsi ffictuileFso.r e xamplien,I dentiatnyd
Portuguesea genotnsF ebruary 31,9 69. Dignitiynt heC ontexotf t heN ationLailb eatrionS truggle,
10 11
RETURNT O THE SOURCE
---
�
rCaatbhreatdhrlia snac ucsuthsleet" sur reeavtleu ntrton.t hes ourcaes"a politipcraolc ess S' o,l�§8, i f-2 -:1!11i!
He sawt hep roceosfsr eturnitnotg h es ourcaesb einmgo re V>V>-< -�c.D O5 � i 03t "!
fadrsiaoffi mcrt uehlsfe"tou n rlotah fttt o ihsmvee"aei nas rams tbeiasienv"gulde osdi u etrveoweslhl"eoTod s hh p.faue edsel ,hli eiv voneiigfdfens rwi uesmsdoot lvraneat ­tiioon � e5ZUJ-< ."J di6 _ 22 Ji� 22g,iil:. .:. 1:!.,. 1 tS E
mentsw hichp ropounded scturlitcutrloayrl tr aditniaolv iews (D
.x
to_ be manifesotnasto ift hef rustratrieosnusl tfirnmog being !! 'it
isolaftroemd t heA fricraena lity. �
Amongt hem anyt ruthlse fbty Cabrails,t hef actth att he
proceosfsr eturnitnogt hes ourcieso fn oh istorical importance
(andw ouldi nf acbte p olitiopcpoarlt unisumn)l esitsi nvolves
noto nlay conteasgta intshtef oreicgunl tubruet a lscoo mplete
participaitnti hoenm asss rtugglaeg ainfsotre ignp oliatli ncda
economdiocm ination.
AfricIan formatiSoenr vice-"
Jul1y9,73
12
Guinea (Bissau)-(tChoueUrt neisytN eaatdt ions) MA'1 389 REV.U3N ITNEADT IONS
APRI1L9 13
I I e
i
SeconAdd dress
B foe
e r
o
The UniteNda tions
o
o
o
Thiss peeeh ",,"g ivend urinAgm ilcarC abraPlass, 'Visi'
tot he UnitedS tatePsr.e sentebde /lRet heT 'Wenty-S6'Ven,h
... 7. 0 Session 01 theF ourthC ommittee0 1 theU nited Nations
'"
... .. GeneraAls sembliyn N e-w York,O ctobe1r6 ,19 72,i tcso n­
<t
7 �.. . tentwse reiile nlified:� �Questions0 1 Territories underP ortu­
.. '" guesAed rmnistration."
..
Fort hes econtdi meI,h avet heh onort oa ddretshse F ourth
o Committoene behaloff t heA fricpaen oploef G uine and the
CapeV erdIes lanwdhso,s seo lel,e gitiem,aa ntdt ruree presenta­
tivies t heP AIGC.I d os ow ithg ratificabteiionnfg,u llayw are
thatth em emberosf t heC ommittaeree o urc omradienst he
'" difficublutt i nspirsitrunggg lef orthe liberatoifpo eno plaensd
U
a: mankinadn dag ainsotp pressofi oanl kli ndisn t hei nteroefsa t
u.
" bettleirf ien a worlodf p eacsee,c uriatnyd p rogrse.s .
Whilen otf orgientgtt heo ftenr emarkabrloel thea tU topai
coulpdl ayi nf urtherhiunmga npr ogresst,h eP AIGe isv ery
realisWtei ck.n ow thata mongm emberosf t heF ourtCho m­
mitteteh,e raer es omew ho,p erhaipsns pitoeft hemselavrees ,
dutyb oundt oa dopatn o bstructioinfin sottn. e gatiavtet itude
whend ealiwnigt phr oblermesl attiont gh es truggfloern atioln a
liberaitinGo uni naen dC apeV erdeI.v entutroes ay "isnp itoef
I I
themselvbeesc"a uslee,a vinags idceo mplelgi nreasoonfsS tate
policyi.ti sd ifficultto beliethvaet r esponsmieblne ex iswth o
CapeV erdeI slands-(Coouftr htUeen siyNt aetdi ons)
15
RETURNT O THE SOURCE UnitNeadt ioAndsd srse
fundamentalloyp posteh el egitimaatsep iratioonfst heA fircan Facedw itht hasti tuattihone,p atortsico nsidertehda t oannl y
peoplteo l ivien d igni,f tryeed,omn ationianld enpdeencaen d appropatriea nde ffcetivien tervenn btyit oheU niteNda tioinsn
progrebsesc,a uisnet hem oderwno rldt,os uppothrots ew hoa re suppoortft hei nalienraibglheot fst hep eopel ofG uinaen dth e
sufferianngd fi gh�nfgo rt hierl iberoant,ii tis notn ecesstaryo CapeV erdIes ldasnc oulidn ducthee PortugueGsoev ernmentt o
bec ourageoiutis s;e nougtho b eh onest. respeicntt ernatilmo onraaliatnydl egalIintl yi.g hotfs ubsequent
I addresstehed F ourtCho mmittfeeo rt he, firtsitm eo n 12 even,t wse mightw ellb e consideretdo h aveb eenn aivWee.
Decembe1r9 62T.e n yearsi sa longa nde vend ecisipveer iod believiettd o b eo urd utya ndr ightto h aver ecuorset oth e
int hel ifoefa humanb einbgu,t a shoritn terivnat lh eh istory internationOarJg anizatIinot nh.ec ircumsetsaw nec considered
ofa peoplDeu.ri ng thadte cadsew eepinrga,d icaanld i rre:svic­ ita bsoleultyn ecesstaora yp peatlot heF ourthC ommitteOeu.r
blec hangheasve occurriendth e lifoef t he peoploef G ume messagwea st hea ppeaolf a peoplceo nfronwtietdh a particu­
andC ape VerdeU.n fortunatietli ysi, m possifbolrme e tor e­ larldyi ffictus lituatbiuotrn e solvteopd a yt hep ricer equirteod
fresht hem einoryo ft hem embreso f. teh Committieneo rdetro regaionu rd igniatnyd f reedoamsa, lspor oooff o ur triunts hte
comparet hes ituatoifot nh osdea ysw ith thep resentb,e cause strengotfthh e priinpcleasn di nt hec apaciftoyra ctioonft he
mosti,fn ota llo,ft her epresentiantt ihveeCs o mmitteaer en ot United Nations.
thes ameI. w iltlh erefobrrei eflrye capitutlhaeet vee ntusp to What wast heF ourtCho mmitteet olda tth at timeF?i rst
thep resent. of alIP,AIGC clearly destcrhiebr eeda sonfso ra nd pur­
On 3A ugus1t9 59a,ta cruciajlu nctuirnet heh istoorfyth e poseosf i st presenicne t heU nietd Nationasn d explained
struggtlheeP, o rtuguceosloeni alistcso mmitttehde m assacroef thaitt h adc omea st her epreseivneto aftt he Africapne oploef
Pidgiguiitniw ,h icht hed ockw orkerosfB issaaun dth e river "Portusgeu"eG uinea ndt heC apeV erdeI slanTdhs.e pepole
transposrttr ikweerrse t hev ictiamnsd w him,a ta costo f5 0 hadp lacetdh eiern titrreu ts inP AIGC,an organizawthiiochn
killde nad over1 00s trikweorusn dedw,a sa painfluels sfoonr hadm obilizaenddo rganiztehde mf ort hes truggfloern ational
ourp eoplweh,o l earntehda tth erwea sn oq uestioofnch oosing liberoant.Ti he peoplhea db eeng aggebdy thet otalla ckof
betweean p eacefsutlr ugglaen da rmedc ombatt;h eP ortuguese fundamentaflr eedoamnsd b yt heP ortugeu ceoslonrieaplr ession.
hadw eaponasnd werep reparteodk illA.t a secremte eting They conseirdetdh osweh oh add efendtehedi ri nteriense tv ery
oft heP AIGCl eadehresl,d a tB issaoun 19S eptember1 959, pOSSIbwlaey throughotuhte p recedi1n5g y earosf Africa's
thed ecisiwoanst aketno s uspenadl lp eacfeulr epresentations histotryo b et heilra wfurle presentatives.
tot hea uthoreisit nit hev illaagnedst op repafroer t hea rmed PA IGC hadc omet ot heF ourtCho mmitteneo tt o make
strugglFeo.r t hat puriptow sas e necesstaryo h avea solid propaganodrat oe xtrarcets oluntsi coondemninPgo rtuguese
politibcaasle tihnec ountrysAifdtee.r threeo fa ycetairavsne d colonialbiusttm o,w orkw itht heC ommittieneo rdetro a rrive
intensmiovbei lizatainodon r ganizaotfit ohne r uraplo pula­ ata ocnstrucstoilveu tioofna problewmh ichw asb otht hat
tionPsA ,I GC managetdo c reatthea bta siisn s pitoef th e in­ of thep eoploef G uinea nd CapeV erdea nd thato f the
creasviinggi lancteh\(>ecf ol oniaalu thoreist.i UniteNda tionist setlhfe:i mmeidatel iebratioofnt hapte ople
Feelintgh ew in� changeth,e Portuguecsoel onialists from: thceo loniyaolk e.
launchaende xtensciamvpea igonf p oliacned m ilitary repression Norh adi tc omet oi nveigh agPaoirntsutg uecsoel onialism,
againtshten ationafloirscteI snJ. u ne1,9 62o,v e2r, 00p0a triots ash ada lreabdeye nd onem anyt imes-jaussa tt tachkasd a l­
werea·rr estetdh roughotuhtec ountrSye.v ervaill leaswg eres et readbye enm adea ndc ondemnatiuotntse raegda itnP sortuguese
onfi rea ndt heiirn habitants masDsoazcernoesfdA .fr icanwse re coloniisaml,w hosec haracistteircssu,b terfugmeest,h odasn d
burnatl ivoer d rowneidn t her ivearnsd o thertsor tdure.T he activiwteireesa lreamdoyr et hanw ellk nownt ot heU nited
poliocfyr epresssitoinff entehdep eopled'etse rminattioocon­ n Nationasn dw orlodp inion.
tinuteh efi ghtS.o mes kirmishberso koeu tb etweetnh ep atriots PAIGCh adc omet ot heF ourtCho mmittebee causoeft he
andt hef orcoefsc oloniarleipsrte ssion. situatiaocnt ualplrye vailiinnO UgT countarnyd w ith theb ack-
16 17
RETURN TO THE SOURCE UnitedN ations Address
ingo fi nteartnionlaalw ,in o rdetro s ee,k togethweirt hth e toc ommiatn i nternaticorniamalen dt hatth eU nited Nations
memberosf t heC ommitteien,d udinthge Portuguedseel ega­ hada llt hen ecessamreya nsa ti ts disposfaolro rderinagn d
tiont,h e shoratnedms ots te ffectiwvaey o fr apidellyi minating applyipnrga ctiacnadle ffectimveea suredse signetdo e nsuer
Portuguceosleo nialfriosmm G uinea ndt heC apeV erdIes lands. respectf ort hep rincipolfet sh eC harteirm,po sei ntrneational
The timeh adc omef oro urp eoplaen dp arttyo d ispense legaliinto yu rc ountrya ndd efentdh ei ntereosftp se acae nd
withi ndecisainodnp romisaensd t oa dopdte finitidveec isions civiliza.t ion
andt aksep eciaficct ioWne. hada lreaadgyr eetdo m akeg reat The representaotfit vheeps e oploef G uinea ndt heC ape
sacrifiacnedsw ered eterminteodd o m uchm oret or ecovoeurr VerdIes landdisd n otc omet oa skt heU niteNda tiontsos end
liberatnydh umand igniwthya,t evtehre p atht ob ef ollowed. troopst of reoeu rc ountrfyr omt he Portuguceosleo niyaolk e,
Itw asn otb y chancteh ato urp resenicnet heC ommitet e becausevee,n t hougiht m ighhta vebe ena blteo d os o,we did
hadn otb eenc onsideirneddi spensuanbtlietl h enT.h e legal, nott hinikt n ecessaasrw ye were soufro eu ra bilittoyl iberate
humana ndm ateriraelq uisiftoeras c tiohna dn ote xisteIdn. ouro wn countrWye. invodk ether ightto t hec ollabonr atio
thec ourseo f the precediynegar s throesqeu isihtaeds b een andp ractiacsasli staonftc hee U niteNda tionwsi tha view to
graduallayc cumulatbionhtg ,f ort heU nited Natainodnf so r expedittihnegl iberatoifoo unr c ounyt frrmo the coloniyaolk e
thep eopleen gageidn t hes truggalned,P AlGC wasc onvinced andt hurse ducitnhge h umana ndm aterilaols swehsi cha pro­
thatt het imeh adc omet oa cta ndt hatth eU nietdN ationasn d tractsetdru gglmei ghetn tail.
thep eoploef Guinea nd CapeV erdec ouldr ealldyo so. PAIGCw asa waren oto nlyo ft he legaloifto yu r struggle
PAIGCt houghtth ati,no rdetro a cti,t w asn ecesstaore ys tab­ buta lsoof t hef actth atfi,g htinags w e hadb een by allt he
lischl osaen de ffecticvoe- operaatnidot nh ati th adt heri ght meansa to urd isposfaolrt hel iberatoifoo nu rc ountryw,e
andd utyt oh elpt heU.n iteNda tionsso t hati ti,n i tst urn, hada lsboe end efendiinngt ernatiolneagla lipteya,c aen dt he
coulhde lpi tt ow inb ackn ationfarle edoamn di ndependence. progreosfsm ankind_
Theh elpwh ichPA IGCc oulpdr ovihdaed b eenm ainlsyp ecific The strugglhea d ceasetdo be stricntaltyi onaanld had
informatoino tnh es ituatiinoo nu rc ountray c,l eadre finition become internatiIonn aGlu.i nea nd CapeV erdet hefi ght
oft hep ositiaodno pteadn dt hes ubmissoifos np ecipfirco posals forp rogreasnsd f reedofmr omp overtsyu,ff ergi anndo ppres­
fora solution. sionh adb eenw agedi nv ariofuosrm s.W hilei tw ast ruet hat
Aftedre scribtihnegs ituatpiroenv ailiinn tgh ec ountry, es­ thev ictiomfst hefi ghth adb eent hes onso ft hep eoploef
pecialwliyt hr egartdo thei ntensipfioeldi caen d military Guinea ndC apeV erdei,t w asa lsotr uet hate achc omrade
represstihoenfi ,c tioonf t hes o-cal"lreedf ormisn"t rodubcyed who hads uccumbteodt ortuorreh adf alluennd ert heb ullets
theP ortuguGeosvee rnmenitn S eptemrb 1e961a ndt hef uture oft heP ortuguceosleo nialwiassit dse ntified-thtrhoeuh gohpe
prospecftosro urs truggPlA eI,G C analystehde p roblemrse ­ andc onvictwihoinc ht hep eoploef o urc ountrcyh erished in
!\
latintgo t hel egatyo ri llegaolfit thye s truggle. theihre artasn d minds-witahl lp eace-lovainndg f reedom­
I wilpla sso ver� partos� t hats tatemea?ndt confine lovinmge n whow ishetdo l iev a ilfeo fp rogreisnts h ep ursuit
myseltfo r ecalltihnagtI t w ass aItdh att her esolutoino dne ­ ofh appiness.
colonizantiootno nlyi mposeodn Portugaanld t hep eoploef Ino urc ountrtyh efi ghth adb eenw agedn oto nlyt of ulfill
Guine and VCearpdeet heo bligattiooe nn dc olonidaolm ina­ aspiratfioornfr se edoma ndn ationianld ependebnuctea ls­o
tioni nt hatc ountryb uta lscoo mmitttehde U niteNda tions andi tw ouldb e continuuendt ivli ctowrasy won-toe nsure
itsetlof t akea ctioinn ordert o end colonidaolm inaotni respefcotrt her esolutainodnC sh arteorft heU niteNda tions.
whereveitre xistewdi,t ha viewt of acilitatthienn agt ional In thep risontso,w sn andfi eldosf o urc ountray b,a ttlhea d
independeonfca el lc olonipaelo pleTsh.e peoploef Guine beenf ought bettwheeUe nni teNda tions, whhaiddc ehm anded
and CapeV erdew erec onvinctehda tt heP ortugueGsoev ­ thee liminatoifot nh es ysteomf c olonidaolm inatioofnp eo­
ernmencto uldIi otcontinoubes tinataenldy w ithi mpunity plesa,n d thea rmed forocfe tsh eP ortugueGsoev ernment
18
19