ANGOLA'S
NATIONAL DAY
STATEMENT
On the occasion of 4th February, day
of the beginning of the armed struggle
in Angola.
The people of Angola, Mozambique and
Guine and Cape Verde today celebrate the
11th anniversary of the beginning of the
armed struggle for national liberation in
Angola, against Portuguese colonialism.
This memorable date marks a new phase
in the history of the struggle of the
peoples of the Portuguese colonies for
their independence. The example of the
MPLA militants, who in the dawn of the
4th of February, 1961, attacked the prisons of Luanda, galvanised the nationalists of Mozambique and Guine to reinforce their political mobilisation, to develop political and military organisations
and to launch the armed struggle for
national liberation.
The 4th of February thus represents for
all the peoples of the Portuguese colonies
and for their fighting organisations —
MPLA, FRELIMO and PAIGC, a fundamental moment in their national ren-
naissance.
Today the armed struggle for national
liberation extends to 10 out of the 16
provinces of Angola. Large regions are
liberated, where the Angolan people live
free from Portuguese colonial domination. Action Committees, democratically
elected organs of the people's power,
undertake the ruling of the population.
In the Eastern Front in particular, the
MPLA has achieved considerable progress,
expanding the struggle towards the centre
of the country.
In the course of the 11 years of struggle,
the Angolan people have had to face
many obstacles and difficulties, to unmask and break plots organised by imperialist reactionary forces, which were
aimed at stopping the armed struggle for
liberation or at depriving the Angolan
people of the fruits of victory.
The correct leadership of the MPLA and
the perserverance and determination of
the militants and the people of Angola
today force Portuguese colonialism to
put itself on the defensive, confronted
with the continuous development of the
armed struggle for national liberation.
*. W
m
On the occasion of the commemoration
of this historical day, we pay homage to
the efforts and sacrifices of the Angolan
people, which made possible the great
victories achieved against Portuguese colonialism.
We encourage the Angolan people, under
the leadership of the MPLA, to pursue
their glorious combat for liberation of
Angola and of the whole of Africa.
We appeal to the African peoples and to
all peoples and forces who support the
cause of freedom and national independence, to render more and more active
support, in the political, national and
moral plan to the heroic combat of the
Angolan people   and of the peoples of
the Portuguese colonies.
Long live the 4th of February!
Long live the liberation struggle of the
Angolan people!
Long live the C.O.N.C.P.!
Long live the revolutionary unity of the
peoples of Angola,    Mozambique, and
Guine and Cape Verde!
UNITED WE SHALL WIN!
4th of February, 1972.
Samora Moises Machel
President of FRELIMO
President of CONCP.
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