Entrevista de Pedro da Câmara, depois fuzilado pela Frelimo, concedida em 1972 ao Daily News

UDI – UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 

É acompanhada de duas fotos, cuja qualidade, não permite a sua reprodução. Este é o mesmo Pedro da Câmara referido em FRELIMO - Mais revelações do Inferno (4)

 

GENERAL Kaulza de Arriaga, commander in chief of the Portuguese forces in Mozambique and the man who once said that the black race is the least intelligent in the world, is laying with the idea of a black president for the territory.

Black soldiers who fight in the Portu­guese armed forces in Mozambique under Kaulza's command are being told at poli­tical lectures that the country is being exploited by the Portuguese and that it is right to fight for independence.

This does not, however, indicate a Change of mind on the part of the Gene­ral on the question of racial characte­ristics. Nor does it have anything to do with genuine independence for the people of Mozambique.

It is part of a dangerous scheme by a desperate man who has seen victory on the battlefield elude him and political power in Portugal slip from his grasp. When he took up his post in Mozam­bique two and a half years ago he was convinced he could crush Frelimo. In 1970 he launched Operation Gordian Knot in a bid to stamp out the guerrillas in Cabo Delgado, their northern stronghold. More recently he was a much-fancied contender for the Portuguese Presidency  itself.

   Gordian Knot was an abysmal failure and Admiral Tomas, the incumbent Presi­dent,   was chosen to continue in the job a few months ago.

    The war is still going badly for Kaulza. In spite of his efforts, Frelimo spread the war   south   of   the   Zambezi   to   southern Tete Province and, a  few weeks ago, to Manica e Sofala Province. On September 18   the   guerrillas blasted  19 aircraft at Mueda, his main base in Cabo Delgado. Cheated   of   military   victory   in   Mozambique and  political power in Portugal he is now maneuvering for political power in Mozambique, with a puppet African Head  of State after a  unilateral declaration of independence.

    Frelimo. has known  for some time that Kaulza was involved with people in Mozambique who are considering a UDI solu­tion to the white settlers problems. Last August the magazine "Africa Report" revealed the plan for a black figurehead president in the territory. The magazine said that Malawi’s consul in Mozambique Jorge Jardim had been pushing the scheme since 1971 and Kaulza was said to be seriously interested.

Just how Interested has now been revea­led by a deserter from the Portuguese military in Mozambique, Sergeant Pedro da Camara. He defected from the fas­cists in southern Tete last July and is now a member of Frelimo. He is a “mestiço”. that is half Portuguese, half African, and belonged to one of Kaulza’s "Special Groups", which consist of African and  mestiço soldiers and white officers.

In a long interview with a Frelimo official, he described, among other things, the political indoctrination classes he attend­ed while serving with the Special Group. He said the commanders of these groups are white Mozambicans, and soldiers from metropolitan Portugal have to serve at least 18 months in Mozambique before they can join.

"The political classes were given by a white Mozambican”, said Da Camara. "His idea was that it is necessary to be liberated from Portugal. He stressed that we must not accept being subjected by Portugal, because this was part of colonialism."

Da Carnara said he was taught that government and exploitation by Portu­gal must be brought to an end. He was even told that Frelimo was fighting for a just cause but that the trouble was they had taken the wrong path, by opting for the socialist system.

The Sergeant continued "I think the white Mozambicans want emancipation from the Portuguese. This seems to be a very big game, in which Kaulza is in­volved, because these troops are directly under him,    the   general   headquarters.

"There were contradictions between this white Mozambicans and the white Portu­guese. Our Special Group of paratroopers was playing a part in this manoeuvre for autonomy.

Da Camara added that he was in a spe­cial political class for sergeants and he did not know what the lower ranks were taught. But, he said, he was" told in his class that  we must not massacre the people or harm them”. His teacher said this would increase support for Frelimo.

Judging by the Sergeant’s evidence, Kaulza is in earnest and a confrontation with Portugal's Prime Minister, Marcelo Caetano, may not be far away.

The General seems even to have picked his puppet President for Mozmbique. The magazine "Africa" recently cleared that Dr. Miguel Murrupa, former Deputy, Se­cretary for External Affairs in Frelimo, is the man Jardim has in mind for the job.

Murrupa, whose job in Frelimo mean he was assistant to Uria Simango, asked to be allowed to leave the organization after the latter was expelled in May 1970. Frelimo turned down Murrupa's request but removed him from office and sent him into Mozambique as an ordinary militant. Shortly afterwards he run away and joined the Portuguese.

Now Murrupa is working as a journa­list on the newspaper "Notícias da Beira*' which is owned by Jorge Jardim. Jardim is one of the biggest businessman in Beira, a director of the Bank  Lisbon and South Africa.

If Kaulza is going to seize power, using Murrupa and with the aim of Jardim, he will have to do so in the near few months.  His Command in  Mozambique is due come to an end   early   in  1973 and it seems unlikely that Caetano will keep him there any longer.

Daily News – 22.10.1972