Luanda — The Angolan people is celebrating on Friday, January 04, the Colonial Repression Martyrs' Day, with political, cultural and sports activities.

The date is of extreme importance in the context of the struggle for national liberation against colonialism, since it marked the start of an uprising against the Portuguese colonial occupation of about 500 years (1482-1975), with devastating human and material consequences.

In the history of the peoples, there are dates which for their cultural value and historical significance become indestructible and guiding landmarks for the lives of men.

January 04, 1961, is effectively to the Angolan people one of those dates whose content continues to inspire different generations of Angolan children in their actions in defence of liberty and well-being.

In fact, 52 years after the tragic events of the Baixa de Kassanje region (east of Angola), in which over 15.000 men and women were barbarically killed by the Portuguese colonial aviation, dropping Napalm bombs.

In face of the broad and strong movement of just claims and demands to respect their rights and liberties, the revolting peasants of agricultural fields in the Baixa de Kassanje region, the colonial authorities discharged their violence on the population of that region, a tragic act that brought about general distress and lit up the flame of the feeling of freedom from the colonial regime.

Since those tragic events, other historical moments followed which had similar impact on the lives of Angolans.

The courageous attitude of those men was the trailblazer of the liberation movement that culminated with the declaration of independence on 11 November 1975.