Cuba's role in Cassinga remembered
At the commemoration of Cassinga Day yesterday in Windhoek, Laura McLeod-Katjirua, governor of the Khomas Region, acknowledged the role the Cuban people had played during Namibia's liberation struggle.
She said Namibia was consoled by friendly help and assistance rendered during the difficult years of the liberation struggle and would never forget the efforts made by Cuban revolutionaries towards Namibia's national independence.
McLeod-Katjirua spoke to a crowd of about 300 who had gathered at the UN Plaza. She told them that Cassinga was an iron mine that Namibian refugees used as a reception centre for new arrivals who were preparing to leave Namibia to join the liberation struggle.
According to her the refugee settlement had a total number of 3 068 people, including 500 children under the age of 14 years, women and elderly people, when South African troops attacked it.
The South African regime claimed at the time that the refugee settlement was Swapo's military headquarters.
“They attacked innocent people early in the morning. The first bombs they dropped were filled with poisoned gas, biological weapons that destroyed oxygen in the air and made our people to collapse.
“They then sent jetfighters to set the camp ablaze. On that day they killed more than 900 and injured more,” McLeod-Katjirua said.
She added that the blood shed at Cassinga remained a stain on the hands and conscience of the perpetrators of that heinous crime as well as those who supplied them with arms, protected and condoned their aggression.
The governor stressed that the experience of Cassinga should serve as a lesson for the young generation to study, learn, work hard and ensure the economic freedom and prosperity of the country.
Rachel Jacob, chairperson of the Khomas regional council, said the Namibian people fought until the end to free the country from the yoke of colonialism and oppression.
“Our forefathers and -mothers took up arms to liberate the country so that we can have peace and freedom that we are all enjoying today.
“I request the people of this country to respect and preserve our history and the hard-won freedom. Many brave sons and daughters of this soil sacrificed their lives so that we can live in peace. Let us protect that peace and never take it for granted,” she said.
One of the Cassinga survivors, Ignatius Mwanyekange, said the survivors vividly recalled what had happened that morning. He said they were gathered at the morning assembly to receive information about their daily assignments when the South African troops attacked.
“They attacked us with Buccaneer jet fighters and helicopters, cold bloodedly killed and maimed our defenceless people, mostly children, women and elderly whose crime was to want freedom.”
He said after the bombing South African paratroopers stormed the camp to complete the massacre. “The wounded were finished off with bayonets and those who survived aircraft bombings and artillery fire were shot dead.”
Mwanyekange added that the act of barbarism committed by the apartheid troops against the Namibian people were one of the darkest days in the history of the country. “The survivors of the Cassinga massacre will not forget the atrocities committed by the South African regime against our people.”
She said Namibia was consoled by friendly help and assistance rendered during the difficult years of the liberation struggle and would never forget the efforts made by Cuban revolutionaries towards Namibia's national independence.
McLeod-Katjirua spoke to a crowd of about 300 who had gathered at the UN Plaza. She told them that Cassinga was an iron mine that Namibian refugees used as a reception centre for new arrivals who were preparing to leave Namibia to join the liberation struggle.
According to her the refugee settlement had a total number of 3 068 people, including 500 children under the age of 14 years, women and elderly people, when South African troops attacked it.
The South African regime claimed at the time that the refugee settlement was Swapo's military headquarters.
“They attacked innocent people early in the morning. The first bombs they dropped were filled with poisoned gas, biological weapons that destroyed oxygen in the air and made our people to collapse.
“They then sent jetfighters to set the camp ablaze. On that day they killed more than 900 and injured more,” McLeod-Katjirua said.
She added that the blood shed at Cassinga remained a stain on the hands and conscience of the perpetrators of that heinous crime as well as those who supplied them with arms, protected and condoned their aggression.
The governor stressed that the experience of Cassinga should serve as a lesson for the young generation to study, learn, work hard and ensure the economic freedom and prosperity of the country.
Rachel Jacob, chairperson of the Khomas regional council, said the Namibian people fought until the end to free the country from the yoke of colonialism and oppression.
“Our forefathers and -mothers took up arms to liberate the country so that we can have peace and freedom that we are all enjoying today.
“I request the people of this country to respect and preserve our history and the hard-won freedom. Many brave sons and daughters of this soil sacrificed their lives so that we can live in peace. Let us protect that peace and never take it for granted,” she said.
One of the Cassinga survivors, Ignatius Mwanyekange, said the survivors vividly recalled what had happened that morning. He said they were gathered at the morning assembly to receive information about their daily assignments when the South African troops attacked.
“They attacked us with Buccaneer jet fighters and helicopters, cold bloodedly killed and maimed our defenceless people, mostly children, women and elderly whose crime was to want freedom.”
He said after the bombing South African paratroopers stormed the camp to complete the massacre. “The wounded were finished off with bayonets and those who survived aircraft bombings and artillery fire were shot dead.”
Mwanyekange added that the act of barbarism committed by the apartheid troops against the Namibian people were one of the darkest days in the history of the country. “The survivors of the Cassinga massacre will not forget the atrocities committed by the South African regime against our people.”
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