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FRELIMO IN PARIS
The Head of the Information Department of FRELIMO, Mr. Pascoal
\ MOCUMBI, was representing FRELIMO at a conference organized by the
French-African Association of Cooperation held in Paris on the 10th
February 196^. This conference was organized in order to inform the
French Public about the Portuguese colonialism.
At that meeting the FRELIMO representative gave a speech describing some aspects of Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique, and the
struggle for Freedom led by FRELIMO. Here we wish to publish this
speech:
"THE FIGHT OF THE MOZAMBICAN PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE"
"In response to the invitation issued by the Association for
French-African Cooperation, the Mozambique Liberation Front has
asked me to come here and speag: to you about our struggle.
"Before I proceed, however, I beg that you allow me to present,
on behalf of the seven million Mozambicans, our cordial salutations
to the glorious people of France. I would like to present our homage
to all those who in France have fallen in the battle for the defence
of the noble ideals of liberty and democracy. I could not forget the
heroes of the Resistance.
"When you invited us to speak about our fight, we of Mozambique
think that you wanted to manifest in a concrete form your solidarity
with our people and present your homage to our compatriots who have
fallen yesterday and to those who are dying today in the struggle
against colonialism and imperialism.
"The Portuguese fascist colonialism is  inhuman and barbaric in
our country. But nothing can stop our great march towards liberty.
IN JUNE i960, in the area of MUEDA in Mozambique, hundreds of
peasants were killed by the Portuguese colonialists for having
demanded simply their right to live on their own lands.
IN  JULY 1962, the forced labourers of the sugar plantation
of XINAVANE have been massacred and imprisoned.
IN AUGUST I963, the dockworkers of LOURENCO MARQUES went on
strike to defend their economic and political rights. That
strike resulted in 60 imprisonments and unestimated deaths.
IN SEPTEMBER 1963 three hundred workers from NACALA also went
on strike, against the Mozambique Railways Company, claiming
their salaries and pay for supplementary hours of work. In
order to halt the strike, the company promised to satisfy the
worker's demands. But in the following days several workers
were imprisoned.
"These ar<§ only a few of the aspects of colonialism in our
country.
"After examining' our large experience received at the hands of
Portuguese in our own country, considering the right of our People
to sel-determination and independence, we have decided the only course
open* to us is to throw out the Portuguese with armed strength. It  is
to coordinate and channel our action that we have constituted one
"FRONT, the Mozambique Liberation Front.
"FRELIMO is a result of the fusion of three most important movements of our country? MANU (Mozambique African National Union),
UDENAMO (Mozambique National Democratic Union), and UNAMI (Mozambi-