of the colonialist country are launching armed operations against the colonial
regime in their own country. This action, although aimed at changing the internal situation in Portugal, is nevertheless direct support for the liberation
movements in the colonies.
Several religious organisations have also taken a stand in support of our struggle.
For example, the World Council of Churches has been giving FRELIMO material
aid since 1970. The decision of the White Fathers Missionary Congregation and of
individual priests and nuns to leave Mozambique in protest against colonial atrocities is also a form of support for our struggle.
Great progress has been made in many countries in the West. The most active
supporters in these countries are organised in Support Committees, whose tasks
are mainly to mobilise public opinion, organise information campaigns on the
nature of Portuguese colonialism, denounce the assistance given by their governments and capitalist companies to Portuguese colonialism, and organise the collection of funds and material aid, particularly for our reconstruction programmes.
Over the past two years these Committees have substantially increased both their
numbers and their activity.
What explains this great increase in support? Is it spontaneous? Is it determined
by some specific factors? Our experience shows that one factor which causes an
increase in international solidarity is the unity and the consequent strength of
the liberation movement. Throughout the history of FRELIMO, since its founding more than 11 years ago, there have been fluctuations in world support for
our cause. And it has been precisely during periods of crisis in our Organisation
that support has decreased, while increased support has corresponded to periods
of unity and victories. This became absolutely clear when our first President,
Comrade Eduardo Mondlane, was assassinated in February, 1969. At that time
the reactionary elements within our movement, headed by Uria Simango, tried to
take over the leadership. There followed an internal struggle within the movement,
which ended in the victory of the popular and revolutionary line. Our victory was
inevitable — as we had the support of the people in arms — and Simango was
isolated, repudiated by the people. But during the period before the popular line
finally emerged clearly victorious, world support drastically reduced.
This leads us to believe that the other factor affecting genuine support is the political orientation of the movement, the positions the movement subscribes to and
that its militants live by. Our experience shows effectively that the progressive
world which supports us wishes to be sure that this support will be used in a correct
way — for the construction of a truly new society. Many of our supporters wish
to see the actual achievement of an ideal which cannot be immediately realised
in their own countries, but can, in the context of our revolution. The basic features of this ideal society are the absence of oppression and exploitation, end of
racism and all other forms of discrimination, the people's interest placed above
all else.
Given the above factors, the nature of FRELIMO's policy and activities may explain the present upsurge in international solidarity. In fact, today there is complete unity within FRELIMO - unity not around a person but around an orientation, an ideology. This ideology is truly popular and revolutionary. We are
achieving great successes in armed struggle and in national reconstruction, which
is, of course, the direct result of our unity. We are completely independent in our
international  relations, are not subject to any form  of external  interference.
The struggle is reaching new heights and we know that our political and military
successes combined with international solidarity will inevitably bring about the
end of Portuguese colonialism, and independence and freedom for Mozambique.