Declaração ao Governo português feita pelo MPLA

DECLARATION ADRESSED TO THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT BY THE
POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR THE LIBERATION OF ANGOLA

The POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR THE LIBERATION OF ANGOLA (MPLA) declares solemnly, before world opinion, that the Portuguese Government is pursuing in Angola, a policy which amounts to a feverish preparation for a colonial war.

For the past twenty years, the Portuguese Government has denied and suppressed, with increasing violence, the expression of the political, economical, social and cultural aspirations of the Angolan people.

Responsible personalities in the Portuguese Government have clearly indicated, through frequent statements, that the refusal of fundamental Human Rights to the Angolan people, as well as the intensive and systematic military preparations and the repressive measures taken against the Angolan patriots, are all meant to foster the creation of favourable conditions which will serve as a pretext to the Portuguese Government to launch, in a short time, a “preventive war” against the people of Angola.

The colonial domination imposed on the Angolan people is the cause of a series of conditions and oppressive measures which could briefly create such a situation that there would be an effusion of the innocent blood of our people.

The MPLA denounces henceforth all stratagems of the colonialist forces for exterminating the Angolan people, and declares that, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, it will vigorously oppose the execution of such a crime.

The MPLA, the incarnation of the Angolan people’s will, urgently seeks the liquidation of Portuguese domination in Angola, by peaceful and democratic means.

It is however evident that a peaceful solution of the colonial problem in Angola, the constant aggravation of which is the sole responsibility of the Portuguese Government, depends on concrete actions by that Government.

The MPLA, speaking on behalf of the Angolan people, declares that it would consider as a first sign of rejection of an armed solution by the Portuguese Government, the urgent and effective application by that Government on the following proposals:

-Solemn and immediate recognition of the right of the Angolan people for self-determination;

-Total and unconditional amnesty and immediate liberation of all political prisoners;

-Establishment of the public liberties, namely the legislation of political parties and concrete guarantees for the effective exercise of those liberties;

-Immediate retreat of the Portuguese Armed Forces and immediate liquidation of the military bases existing on Angolan territory;

-Convocation until the end 1960 of a Round Table Conference constituted by representatives of all political parties and representatives of the Portuguese Government to seek a peaceful solution of the colonial problem in Angola, in the right interest of the present parts.

In the interest of the Angolan people and, we believe, of the Portuguese people too, we reaffirm our desire to liquidate the Portuguese colonial domination by peaceful and democratic means, through the negotiation.

By virtue of the preceding declaration, the Angolan people and the MPLA will hold the Portuguese Government responsible for all body events which may occur in Angola.

It is our duty to advise world opinion on these things.

Conakry, 13th June 1960.

On behalf of Steering Committee of the POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR THE LIBERATION OF ANGOLA

VIRIATO CRUZ
MARIO DE ANDRADE
LUCIO LARA