In Portugal, debaters lack interest in decolonization, author of the book “No Centro do Volcão”
“There was no debate. After nearly 50 years, most of our society is no longer interested in this temporal square”, says to Lusa António Barreiros, co-author, with Rodrigo Carlos Guedes, of the book (239 pages).
António Barreiros also questions how the decolonization process was conducted. “The independences could have been carved out in another and better way. But the interests were already outlined. Men, all the time, fail, because they are human”, he maintains.
“The passage of testimonies, mainly in Angola and Mozambique, was messy and uncoordinated, as is previously mentioned in the book. From a certain extent, in a hectic period, it is true, the pre-independence period in these new countries, which should have been prepared. mutual, conscientious and orderly / disciplined, we are witnessing the lowering of arms by our armed cadres”, he adds.
The two countries ended up “suffering with this unclear way of designing a decolonization process. They are not without sins, but it could have been much more auspicious for both sides”, he believes.
For António Barreiros “another decolonizing methodology would have been possible”.
“The continuity of the majority of the Portuguese who lived, in one or another overseas province – Angola, some 600 thousand; and in Mozambique, about 300 thousand; in addition to those who had – whites, blacks, Indians and – Portuguese nationality – was not prepared. this time “, accuses.
The regime overthrown on April 25, 1974 “Should have promoted a period of conversations” and another of transition, with a pacifying and conciliatory balustrade, guarding the future, to change the path of the path”.
For António Barreiros, the result is that Angola and Mozambique “are living in difficult times, of human misery, of transversal corruption and the lack, among the working people, of everything”.
“Angola and Mozambique have everything for powers, but they lack everything to be. Both countries have driven away bread. And there is no freedom without bread. As far as I am concerned, it is modern slavery, that of the time of democracies … Pope Francis affirms that “There is no hungry Democracy…”, he emphasizes.
António Barreiros, who was born in Coimbra, lived before decolonization in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).
Former journalist, investigated in the newspapers Correio de Coimbra, Diário de Coimbra, O Primeiro de Janeiro and also in Rádio Renascença and RDP / Centro – Antena1 (1989 to 1998) and TVI.
The book, which is prefaced by lawyer Cristina Ferreira, in which “he describes the adversities and anxieties of the Portuguese who suffered as a consequence of the hasty decolonization”, is released this Saturday in Lisbon, at the Military Museum, and will be presented by the former deputy and former leader of the CDS-PP, José Ribeiro e Castro.