more brutal in Tete; this is because colonialist and imperialist interests are greater
and more extensive in this province, which
also acts as a support base for the expansion of the war to other provinces.
This repressive activity of the colonialists
has been constantly denounced by us.
Recently, however, another voice has
spoken out, the Church has denounced
and condemned the Portuguese regime's
atrocities in Mozambique. In 1971, the
White Fathers congregation decided to
leave Mozambique in protest against the
repressive policies of Portuguese colonialism. This turned out to be the first
of a series of denunciations and protests
by priests, including bishops. Consequently, priests began to be the targets
of persecution, and a number were arrested, accused of subversion and of supporting the liberation struggle.
TETE
50 posts attacked including:
Mwangzi
Mukaunda
Chicoa
Ucanha
Manje
Carinde
Oliveira
Mpewa
Canverere
Nhangoma
Taibo
Mponda
Chicoco
Nyakamba
Mocumbura
Furancungc
Fingoe
Malewera
Chipera
Kaphiridzanje
Tembue
Massamba
Dique
Vila Gamito
Chibuvu
Nyamadende
Enemy soldiers killed :1403
Vehicles destroyed : 127
Aircraft destroyed :26
Trains destroyed :6
Bridges destroyed :3
Warboats sunk : 11
D
P.
P
a
Mozambique
expels priests
By BRUCE LOUDON in Lisbon
THREE Spanish priests of the Burgos order have
been expelled from Mozambique by the Portuguese authorities.   They are alleged to have been intimately involved in compiling
the recent " massacre " reports in the territory.
Following their expulsion,
it is thought that all the other
members of the order in
Mozambique may also be
ordered to leave.
I understand that the three
priests were rigorously searched
after being detained by Portuguese security officials. The
officials were concerned that
they should not take any
material with them for later
distribution to British newspapers
During a big round-up in mid-1972, when
about 2000 people were arrested in
Southern Mozambique, among them were
the head of the Presbyterian Church and
one of his colleagues. A few months
later, the Portuguese announced that both
had died in prison, the head of the Church
having allegedly committed suicide. Two
Spanish priests, Alfonso Valverde and
Hernando Martin have been held in the
Portuguese political prison of Machava in
Mozambique since December 1971, accused of having denounced massacres by
the Portuguese troops.
The infiltration of agents into our zones
has been intensified over the past few
months. Their specific tasks are to foment subversion in our ranks, to assassinate FRELIMO leaders, and to discredit
our organisation in the eyes of the people.
For example, they send groups of Africans dressed and armed like our fighters,
who pretend to be FRELIMO soldiers,
and massacre the people, violate the
women and steal crops. All this in the
name of FRELIMO. However, the sharp
vigilance of our people and their knowledge of FRELIMO's correct political line
thwarts such objectives. Many enemy
agents have been arrested by the people
themselves and taken to the FRELIMO
bases.
the concentration camps
The tactic of «aldeamentos» (the so-called
«protected villages))) is aimed at isolating
our fighters. The most recent information
is that 56,000 villagers have been driven
into concentration camps in Manica e
Sofala, in the zones of Maringue, Canxixe,
Chemba,  Chiramba, Tambara and Mun
gari. These are zones where we have
recently increased our military operations.
The tactic of aldeamentos has proved
useless, as the people invariably escape
from them at the first opportunity, or
are liberated by FRELIMO forces.
Another manoeuvre used by the enemy
is to promise and sometimes grant economic and social privileges to a few Africans, so that they have bonds of personal
interest with the colonial regime. This
tactic is part of a wider strategy which
includes the promise of autonomy to the
Portuguese colonies, and the so-called
elections in Mozambique, Angola and
Guine. In order to gain credibility, the
Portuguese included several Africans
among their candidates. But these were
men who had already been won over to
the colonial cause by financial inducements. Moreover, the voting figures
themselves - less than one per cent of
the population, and this mainly settlers -
show that the whole process was a farce.
FRELIMO's position with regard to the
elections was clearly expressed at the
time: the Mozambican people do not
want     «autonomy))   from   Lisbon, they
NIASSA
6 posts attacked including:
Maua
Nova Coimbra
Manhice
Quinas
Enemy soldiers killed :200
Vehicles destroyed :22
Trains destroyed :1
Bridges destroyed : 3