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CAUÉ Association - Friends of São Tomé and Príncipe |
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Historic Recognizement Campaign |
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SÃO TOMÉ x BIAFRA |
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40th anniversary of Biafra conflict and of the humanitary air-bridge from São Tomé |
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The rests of two CANAIRELIEF's Loockhead Constellation aircrafts in the São Tomé international airport, which could be a magnificient monument to the humanitary aid |
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(photo: Jakob Ringler, in Connie Survivors) |
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40 years ago, in the 30th May 1967, the Republic of Biafra was declared, by separation from Nigeria after political convulsions and indiscrimined killings which followed the first times of that postcolonial federation. That proclamation was the starter of one of the most bloody war never sawn before in the modern world -the War of Biafra- and one of the biggest genocides, that included the most terrible hungry: more than 1.500.000 civilians, mostly children, didn't survive to that drama. |
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From July 1968 till January 1970, the Joint Churches Aid was organising an humanitary air-corridor based in São Tomé island. Thanks to the skilfulness of pilots of different nacionalities in very risky night-flights, outwitting the Nigerian artillery, besieged Biafrans were provided with the most basic goods. The JCA's planes made plenty of flights (they did them different times every night) and took part in the evaquation of defenceless population where the genocide was sure. |
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The JCA's managers, the authorities of the Island and the civilian population were completely involved into a humanitary aid operations, with heroic facts (or simplely human facts) which were place forever into the minds of people who lived that moment; even in the memories, legends and popular imaginary. The São Tomé port and airport registered an activity such intense as never before; São Tomé market filled up with cooperants, religious people, medical doctors, logists and military men…, but also adventurers, mercenaries, mavericks, smuglers and speculators coming from the most remote places of the planet. São Tomé became during that time a "hub" devoted to international relief and its name was placed on the world map again, as the capital of the most felt humanity that was fight against the most brutal violence and irrationality. |
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Nowadays, the rest of those planes used in that air-bridge, two "Lockheed Constellation" ("Connies"), abandoned to the climatic inclemencies since the end of the war, are the silent testiomonies of this episode, almost forgotten, of the contemporary history of São Tomé and of the Western Africa. |
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An international popular iniciative |
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The members of Caué Association, Friends of São Tomé e Príncipe, believe, after these years of playing a function in local memory, of last evidence, a recognizement is needed for these aircrafts. We propose to recognize these aircrafts as São Tomé History and Universal History inheritance, as a monument for the humanitary aid and as homage to all those persons who professionally or as volunteers took part in reducing the sofering of Biafran people. |
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We apel to Santomeans and to friends of São Tomé and Príncipe, to the institutions, entities, NGO, companies, etc, to the world citizens, to remember that history by writting or speaking aloud through our foum in STP Yahoo! Group or through the conventional medias and to express their living, experiences, memories and opinions about this subject |
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and also to joint their support to our demands to the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe on the consideration of the rests of both aircrafts restos as national monument and, consequently, the recognizement of their preservation for the historic memory. |
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Our proposal (international popular initiative): |
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TO CONVERT / DECLARE THE REST OF THE TWO LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION AIRCRAFTS AS AN INTERNATIONAL MONUMENT OF THE HUMANITARY AID, TAKING PART OF THE SANTOMEAN NATIONAL INHERITANCE. |
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