Luanda — The Baixa de Kassange uprising in the 1960's set the beginning of the Angolan people's struggle for the dignity of its own country, by stimulating the people to revolt in the defence of its rights.

This was said Friday in Luanda by historian, Felipe Vidal, on the occasion of the 4 January, the Colonial Repression Martyrs Day.

"This date has a great importance, as it is a crucial moment of the history of Angola, in which the peasants that worked for the Portuguese-Belgian multinational called Cotonang, revolted against the appalling living conditions they were subject to," he said.

As the specialist said, the revolt of the peasants against ill-treatment showed the courage of Angolans and the possibility of, for the first time in the 1960's, fighting for dignity and freedom.

Felipe Vidal stressed that the revolt of the peasants had as its great cause the defence of the high standards of human dignity.

He thus appealed to the youth to follow the example of the great leaders and nationalists that all along defended social justice.

To him, the youth must be prepared to take up their responsibilities before the history of Angola, through an engagement in the accomplishment of their objectives, rights and duties.

"It is necessary for us to continue abiding by social justice, love for the neighbor, share of wealth of the country and above all, having a consciousness of national sharing," stated the historian.

On 4 January 1961, thousands of Angolan peasants of Baixa de Cassanje cotton plantations, in northern Malanje province, were murdered, as they opposed the low price paid for their crop by the farmers and Cotonang.

The revolt of the peasants was repelled with Portuguese air force bombardments.