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Mozambique Revolution, No. 55 Mozambique Revolution, No. 55 http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.numr197304 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Mozambique Revolution, No. 55 Alternative title Mozambique RevolutionMozambican Revolution Author/Creator Mozambique Liberation Front - FRELIMO Contributor Department of Information [FRELIMO] Publisher Mozambique Liberation Front - FRELIMO Date 1973-06 Resource type Magazines (Periodicals) Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Mozambique Coverage (temporal) 1973 Source Northwestern University Library, L967.905 M939 Rights By kind permission of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). Description Editorial: International solidarity. Italy, Britain, Soviet Union, Romania, OAU. Visitors from Japan, Soviet Union, West Germany, Norway. Military offensive. Study meetings on education and health. Orphanage. Statement on Portuguese massacres. Format extent 28 page(s) (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.numr197304 http://www.aluka.org F %11 F %11 MOZAMBIQUE REVOLUTION OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE MOZAMBIQUE LIBERATION FRONT FRELIMO APRIL-JUNE,1973 No.55 DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION P.O. BOX 15274 DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA CONTENTS The liberation struggle in Mozambique is supported by a strong international solidarity movement. Our editorial analyses various aspects of this movement. page 1 In the International section we present some recent manifestations of world support: the mobilisation at a national level of the progressive forces in Italy; popular opposition to the "oldest alliance" in Britain; the visit of a FRELIMO delegation to Soviet Union and Romania; and FRELIMO at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the O.A.U. pages 3 - 7 Nine visitors have been in Mozambique in the past two months, as guests of FRELIMO: one Japanese, five Soviets, two West Germans and one Norwegian. pages 8 - 11 FRELIMO's military offensive continues page 12 Study meetings and conferences have taken place this year, to assess the implementation of the political orientation and to raise the technical and scientific level of our work in education and health. pages 15 - 17 The situation of children whose parents have fallen in the liberation war is one of FRELIMO's great concerns. A report on one of the orphanages is published on page 20 FRELIMO's Statement on Portuguese massacres. page 23 EDITORIAL IN TERNA TIONA L SOL IDA RI T Y During the past few years international solidarity with FRELIMO and with the cause of liberation in Southern Africa in general has increased dramatically. Africa is leading the solidarity movement. Last year, at the OAU Summit in Rabat the independent African states decided to increase their contribution to the African Liberation struggle by 50 per cent. The OAU has been sending missions headed by the OAU Chairman to countries allied with Portugal, to convince these countries to stop their political, military and diplomatic support for Portuguese colonialism. A growing number of African states have established bilateral relations with FRELIMO, in line with their recognition of our movement as the sole representative of the Mozambican people. At the 10th anniversary OAU Summit, African leaders adopted a Charter which pledged that independent Africa would support the armed struggle in Southern Africa more vigorously than ever before. Earlier in the year, OAU representatives met in Oslo with United Nations personnel, experts on Southern Africa and delegates from various states for a Conference on the situation in the white ruled areas of our Continent. Strong resolutions were adopted there calling for more effective measures by the UN, and particularly by the Security Council, to wipe out racial, economic and colonial domination in Southern Africa. The Security Council met twice in 1972, once on African soil, to discuss colonialism and apartheid. The resolutions unanimously adopted by this body, condemning Portuguese colonialism and calling on Portugal to enter into negotiations with the true representatives of the peoples (i.e. the liberation movements), revealed Portugal's growing isolation in the international arena. The Socialist countries have also increased their support. Although far from meeting our needs, this support has played a very important role in our successes. In fact, the Socialist countries, together with the African countries, are one of the firmest supporters of our liberation struggle. The visits of FRELIMO delegations to socialist countries in Europe and Asia in the past 3 years have resulted in the strengthening of our relations and in increased material support. In Portugal a very important phenomenon is taking place. For the first time in the history of the colonial wars, organisations composed exclusively of nationals 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
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