Statement by the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party
The Portuguese Communist Party expresses its deep regret at the death of Nelson Mandela and conveys to the South African people and the South African progressive and revolutionary forces its deep felt condolences and the solidarity of the Portuguese communists on the painful loss of the historical leader of the struggle of the South African people against apartheid and gain freedom, democracy and social progress.
Nelson Mandela very early identified himself with his people’s aspirations for freedom and justice, devoting his whole life to the struggle against the exploitative and oppressive regime of apartheid in South Africa. In 1942, he joined the African National Congress and, in 1944, was a founder, together with Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, of its Youth League. Following the Sharpeville massacre, perpetrated by the South African police, and the banning of ANC, in 1960, Nelson Mandela led ANC’s armed struggle against apartheid.
In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested, and sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1985 he was denied parole for refusing to renounce the armed struggle of his people against apartheid. After 28 years in prison, in 1990, culminating a heroic struggle of the South African people and a solidarity campaign and demands for his release carried out all over the world by the progressive forces, Nelson Mandela was released, taking his place in the leadership of the process that would put an end to the heinous apartheid regime.
In 1992, he was elected President of the ANC, replacing Oliver Tambo, and in May 1994, was elected President of the South African Republic, holding this office until 1999. Nelson Mandela remained until 2008 in the list of persons considered terrorists by the United States Department of State.
The death of Nelson Mandela is a great sorrow for all those who in the world consider his life a great example of courage, dignity and total dedication to the cause of freedom, justice and social progress.
The PCP recalls that the Portuguese Revolution – the April Revolution – during its two years of existence, having put an end to the Portuguese fascist and colonialist regime and solidary with the national liberation struggle of the African peoples, contributed to the isolation of apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa and supported, together with the Front Line countries, the struggle of the South African people for freedom.
The Portuguese Communist Party reaffirms its continuing solidarity to the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) – forces of the Tripartite Alliance -, with confidence that through their unity and determination they will build the paths for the materialization of the programme of deep changes which, solving the complex problems faced by South Africa, will answer the aspirations of its people.
The Secretariat of the Central Committee
Portuguese Communist Party
Lisbon, 5th December 2013
