MASSACRE REPORTS Storm of protest; fresh allegations

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33277, 14 July 1973, Page 15

MASSACRE REPORTS Storm of protest; fresh allegations

(N.Z. P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, July 13.

Fresh allegations of atrocities by Portuguese troops in Mozambique have been published in London today, and the demands continue for an international inquiry and the cancellation of the visit to Britain next week by the Portuguese Prime Minister (Dr Gaetano).

The latest reports were received by the Rev. Adrian Hastings, the Roman Catholic priest whose original story, on Tuesday, alleging that Portuguese soldiers had wiped out a village of 400 people in Mozambique, gave rise to widespread protest.

In a front-page story, “The Tinies” says that Father Hastings received the latest allegations from the Spanish Institute for Foreign Missions, generally known as the Burgos Fathers.

“The Times” says that the authors of the report are two of the Burgos Fathers who were attached to the Muokumbura mission in 1971 and 1972, when the alleged atrocities took place. The two priests are not identified “for fear of reprisals.”

“The Times” says: “The reports begin with the murder of an African chief by members of Frelimo, the Mozambique National Liberation Front, and the immediate reprisals by Portuguese security forces. “When the killings continued, the fathers protested to an officer of the DirectorateGeneral of Security that the villagers could not be blamed for providing Frelimo with food because they were not protected. The officer said terrorism must be fought with terrorism. In a guerrilla war there is no justice,” he said.

“A company commander; said: ‘Don’t just defend the! Africans—think as well, of the men of my company who | were burnt to death by the terrorists’ mines.’ ‘Reprisal raid’ “Later, the priests report, villages along the River Dack were terrorised. Another 19 Africans w’ere killed. One man was tortured in front of his wife and children. The wife had a miscarriage. “According to the priests, a big Rhodesian force launched a reprisal raid across the border into Mozambique. One of their parishioners was shot, and his hands and feet were cut off. In a raid on a second village., only two children escaped. “The killings continued, and

the priests continued to send their reports to their superior, who ignored them: hence , their despatch to Madrid and,' eventually to Father Hastings.” “The Times” quotes the ; priests as saying: “We are; grown men, and can remove the gag and run all the risks; involved in this.” Father Hastings arrived in Madrid yesterday for consul-; tations with Spanish missionaries. Denial issued According to a communique issued in Lourenco Marques I by the Governor-General of; Mozambique (Mr Pimental; dos Santos), the village in which Portuguese troops are alleged to have massacred 400 people does not exist. A report from Johannes-i burg quotes Mr dos Santos as saying that his province has very detailed maps show'ing village settlements, and even hamlets. What the maps could not show wa„ nonexistent, Mr dos Santos said.

In London, Government and Opposition members of Parliament are preparing for the House of Commons debate next Tuesday on Dr Caetano’s proposed visit and the massacre reports. Opponents of Portugal’s colonial policies are planning a series of protest demonstrations throughout Dr Caetano’s stay in London. One of the largest demonstrations yet seen in London is expected on Sunday. It was arranged several weeks ago- to protest against Britain’s 600-year-old alliance with Portugal, but is now expected to be heavily intensified because of the Mozambique atrocity reports. Britain’s largest trade union, the Transport and General Workers’ Union, decided. unanimously at a policy-making conference yesterday to urge Mr Heath to call off Dr Caetano’s visit.

The union’s general secretary, Mr Jack Jones, urged as many members as possible to attend the rally on Sunday, which will take the form of a procession culminating in speeches at Hyde Park Corner.

Hundreds of extra police-

men are being drafted into Central London in case the demonstration gets out of control.

[ The Foreign Office says that British diplomatic officials have discussed the alleged atrocities with Portuguese authorities both in Lisbon and Lourenco Marques, and the position remains as stated in the House of Lords by Lady Tweedsmuir, a Minister of State at the Foreign Office.

Lady Tweedsmuir said that no facts had been received to substantiate the allegations of atrocities.

A Socialist peer. Lord I George-Brown, a former I Foreign Secretary, questioned the authenticity of the mass[acre reports. He said that . some Labour peers were falling into the old trap of I choosing which tyrants and [which colonialists they regarded as acceptable. Inquiry call Renewed calls for an international inquiry into the alleged massacres have included one from the British section of Amnesty International, an organisation which campaigns on behalf of political prisoners. It has sent cables to the United Nations Secretary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim), to President Kaunda of Zambia, and to ■the Organisation of African Unity, seeking support for an j international inquiry. Am- ■ nesty is also asking Mr Heath ;to include the alleged suppression of civil and human I rights in Portugal and its African territories as a subject of his talks with Dr [ Caetano. Denial at U.N. At the United Nations, Portugal’s acting chief delegate [in a telephone conversation ;with Dr Waldheim denied the 'reports of the massacre and ' refused to discuss the matter I further.

The Portuguese delegation has issued a statement which i denounces the massacre [reports. The statement savs lin part: “The author of the article (Father Hastings) has been long known for his (gratuitous hostility to Portugal.”