freedom Fighters of P.A.1.G.C.

Bick by block, stone by stone, groups
of men, women and children build the cob-
blestone road. The level of unemployment
in the Cape Verde Islands is such that the
inhabitants have been forced to accept the
low wages and exhausting work of the
“road brigades.’ Herein also lies a note of
optimism as these tireless workers are
now laboring in an independent Cape Verde.
Little by little these people have started
to construct a new society in this harsh
setting. ;

This former Portuguese colony, situa-
ted about 300 miles off the African coast
to the west of Senegal, has been colonized
since the 1460s. Initially, a slave and plan-
tation economy spawned economic growth,
but heavy demands for slaves in the New
World sent the economy into a state of
perpetual depression. This misery has been
aggravated by proionged periods of drought
which curtailed even the modest agricultur-
al development.

eet Verde provided a supply of cheap
labor, for export under a contract system,
and a source of middlemen in the politi-
cal and economic infrastructure of Portu-
guese colonialism. There was never any
large-scale program of agricultural expan-
sion beyond a few basic cash crops. Water
conservation, mineral exploitation and
fishing were irregular or simply neglected.,
With independence, these resources are in
the hands of the people to be utilized to
everyone’s benefit. The effort will be diffi-
cult, however. Centuries of neglect of so-

Struggle |

Continues

By Richard Lobban

cial welfare, economic stagnation and chal-
lenging climatological circumstances will

provide hardships on this rocky road to the

new era.

There are two themes in the activities
of political mobilization. First and fore-
most is independence from Portugal. This
position is endorsed by all, apparently even
those who do not support the PAIGC (the
African Party for Independence of Guinea-
Bissau and Cape Verde).

; second is one of unity with the Re-
public of Guinea-Bissau which fought an
armed and political struggle for its free-
dom, reaching complete political sovereign-
ty in 1974. Cape Verdeans, 95% of African
origin; preserve. social and cultural pat-
terns derived from predominantly African
traditions. Socially, politically, and eco-
nomically Cape Verdeans have long been
involved in African affairs. Thus, it is in
this context that unity with Africa is a log-
ical consequence of the Islands’ history.

Silvino da Luz,-a PAIGC leader on the
Islands, noted that the question of unity and
independence needs clarification. Both na-
tions will be independent pillars support-
ing one political structure, much as Zanzi-
bar and Tanganyika united to form Tanzan-
ia. It is conceived that Cape Verde will be
autonomous in the governing of its affairs,
but that unity with the Republic of Guinea-
Bissau brings certain advantages to both.

In Cape Verde the only party with any
impact is the PAIGC. A number of its lead-
ers during its decade of guerrilla war-
fare against Portuguese colonialism have

-

been of Cape Verdean origin. These in-
clude the founder of the Party, Amilcar
Cabral, his brother, Luis Cabral, the cur-
rent President of the Republic of Guinea-
Bissau, and the Party’s Secretary General,
Aristides Pereira. The Party mobilized all
its strength for the election on June 30, 1975,
from which a constituent assembly was
formed. Of 120,000 eligible Cape Verdean
voters, 92.17% turned out to vote. Signs,
symbols, buttons, badges, posters, and all
sorts of other political indications made it
clear that this Party has an immense mass
base and great respect and credibility.
Praia, the administrative center of the
Islands, is located on Sao Tiago, the largest

island with a population of more than 128,- -

000. Praia is busy with activity; the PAIGC
presence is seen and felt everywhere. The
news bulletin, Nos Luta (Our Struggle), is
widely circulated and carefully read. It is
filled with news from the various islands,
historical notes, information about the
Party’s goals and principles, as well as
political and economic analyses of the ef-
fects of colonialism and African and for-
eignnews.

A giimpse into the political affairs here
may also be had in reading the political slo-
gans pasted or painted on the walls. Some
state “Down With NATO,’ the western
military alliance which supplied Portugal
with arms and economic support during its
war years in Africa. A brief demonstration
sprouted signs calling for ‘‘Unity of the
Working Class.’’ There are signs calling for

United Nations

P.A.1.G.C. supporters celebrate release of political prisoners in the Islands following a dramatic change in Portygal’s government, April 25, 1974.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 25, 1975—Page 6

Cape Verde Islands.

the removal of the “bourgeois” classi’
slogan points out the need for “Vigilant
for the Revolution.’”’ Yet the most ©

mon poster is one which calls for everyott
to vote as ‘a right and a duty.”” The popul#!

spirit is intense but friendly and enthusiast
ic. Never before has there been such a re
istic basis for such optimism. While ©
landscape is moon-like and barren there
great fertility and growth in the minds
the people as they now see the future cottt
ing into the control of their own hands.

Amilcar Cabral, assassinated leader
of P.A.1.G.C.

Another potential industry is rst
around the archipelago which stré fi
hundreds of square miles. Currently; 4
ing represents less than one-qua f
the export earnings. Proper develoP’ 4
can help relieve the chronic protell ig
ciency and the taxing demand for f07
ports. The fishing industry was neve! i
veloped by the Portuguese as its gr
would have only undercut Portug2 s
market for fish products. at
The investigations into water cons’ of
tion and desalinazation as well as Pn
development of the natural resources
that a viable’ economy could soon 7
more substantive meaning to the 0%
struggle for genuine political indepe™ —
Until today the tiny proportion of 4
land was held by an even smaller g!°
people. Reorganization of the syste
land ownership will also help spur
lands’ potential in irrigated agriculture:
‘These are some of the difficulties ahi
but the strong and united leadership °
PAIGC has built a firm foundation in
sense of optimism that could never
been in the minds of many before
of national liberation was launch
before the tumultuous events in Po! ;
on April 25, 1974. On July 5, 1975, aS ag
by the Portuguese government am
PAIGC, these Atlantic islanders best
new course which will concretize the!
dependence and national development.

WORLD macath)

3 oes!

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