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• 9.
July, the height of the rainy season in Angola, Mopambique and
Portuguese Guinea, gave the rebels a chance to step up their ambushes
and agitation. In the East African territory of Mozambique alone,
21 soldiers v/ere killed last month, the highest toll of losses in
the history of the Mozambique disorders.
The two anti-Portuguese rebel movements based in the Congo,
even though embroiled in internacine strife, still inflicted 17
losses in July to about 40,000 men stationed principally in the
northern part cf the territory.
In many cases, official announcements merely say: "Private
Santos v/as killed in a road accident. His parents have been
notified." After questioning, defense officials admit that the
"road accident" could include anything from traffic fatalities to
mine explosions. Hence the difficulty for outsiders to evaluate
the bush v/ar
$150 MILLION COST
In other cases, communiques do not point out rebel losses,
merely that "the bandits suffered numerous losses and several
hundred natives presented themselves to the authorities."
All this military activity is costing Portugal about 5150
million a ypQT\ and ia eating up more than 40 percent of its
national budget.
But whatever the cost, Portugal is determined to carry on.
This is partly because the Portuguese sincerely regard the territories as "overseas provinces" of Portugal and consider their inhabitants as Portuguese.
Another reason is because the territories, especially Angola,
are rich in iron minerals, diamonds, coffee and sugar, and provide
a valuable export market for metropolitan Portugal.
This, and Portugal's conviction that a "pluricontinental and
multiracial" society is the correct answer to the territories'
future, symbolize its will to remain in Africa - v/hatever the
cost. . •
It is true that the Portuguese losses in the colonies are
rising. In fact, the number of Portuguese soldiers who were-killed
by PRELIMO militants in July in Mozambique is much higher than the
21 announced by the Portuguese.
Regarding the v/ill..of ,.the._ Portuguese .to remain in Africa -
whatever the cost - we must say that on our side there is also a
v/ill, of much greater intensity and of opposite intent, the Will
to expell the Portuguese colonialists from our country and to regain our freedom - v/hatever the cost. The struggle in v/hich we
are engaged and the victories we have won prove this point absolutely.
Object Description
Description
| Title | CENPA-126~11 |
| Filename | CENPA-126~11.tiff |
| Full text | • 9. July, the height of the rainy season in Angola, Mopambique and Portuguese Guinea, gave the rebels a chance to step up their ambushes and agitation. In the East African territory of Mozambique alone, 21 soldiers v/ere killed last month, the highest toll of losses in the history of the Mozambique disorders. The two anti-Portuguese rebel movements based in the Congo, even though embroiled in internacine strife, still inflicted 17 losses in July to about 40,000 men stationed principally in the northern part cf the territory. In many cases, official announcements merely say: "Private Santos v/as killed in a road accident. His parents have been notified." After questioning, defense officials admit that the "road accident" could include anything from traffic fatalities to mine explosions. Hence the difficulty for outsiders to evaluate the bush v/ar $150 MILLION COST In other cases, communiques do not point out rebel losses, merely that "the bandits suffered numerous losses and several hundred natives presented themselves to the authorities." All this military activity is costing Portugal about 5150 million a ypQT\ and ia eating up more than 40 percent of its national budget. But whatever the cost, Portugal is determined to carry on. This is partly because the Portuguese sincerely regard the territories as "overseas provinces" of Portugal and consider their inhabitants as Portuguese. Another reason is because the territories, especially Angola, are rich in iron minerals, diamonds, coffee and sugar, and provide a valuable export market for metropolitan Portugal. This, and Portugal's conviction that a "pluricontinental and multiracial" society is the correct answer to the territories' future, symbolize its will to remain in Africa - v/hatever the cost. . • It is true that the Portuguese losses in the colonies are rising. In fact, the number of Portuguese soldiers who were-killed by PRELIMO militants in July in Mozambique is much higher than the 21 announced by the Portuguese. Regarding the v/ill..of ,.the._ Portuguese .to remain in Africa - whatever the cost - we must say that on our side there is also a v/ill, of much greater intensity and of opposite intent, the Will to expell the Portuguese colonialists from our country and to regain our freedom - v/hatever the cost. The struggle in v/hich we are engaged and the victories we have won prove this point absolutely. |
| Archival file | Volume9/CENPA-126~11.tiff |
