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CAUÉ Association - Friends of São Tomé and Príncipe |
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Historic Recognition Campaign |
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SÃO TOMÉ x BIAFRA |
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40th anniversary of Biafra conflict and of the
humanitarian airlift from São Tomé |
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The rests of two CANAIRELIEF's Lockheed
Constellation aircrafts in the São Tomé international airport, which
could be a magnificient monument to the
humanitarian 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 indiscriminate killings which followed the first times of
that postcolonial federation. That proclamation was the starter of one of the
bloodiest war never sawn before in the modern world
-the War of Biafra- and one of the biggest genocides, which 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 organizing a humanitarian
air-corridor based in São Tomé island. Thanks to the skillfulness of pilots of
different nationalities 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 evacuation of defenseless
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
humanitarian aid operations, with heroic facts (or simply 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 co-operants, religious people, medical
doctors, logisticians and military men…, but also adventurers, mercenaries,
mavericks, smugglers 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 airlift, two "Lockheed Constellation"
("Connies"), abandoned
to the climatic inclemency since the end of the war, are the silent witnesses
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, recognition is needed for these
aircrafts. We propose to recognize these aircrafts as São Tomé History and
Universal History inheritance, as a monument for the humanitarian aid and as
homage to all those persons who professionally or as volunteers took part in
reducing the suffering of Biafran people. |
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We appeal to Santomeans
and to the friends of São Tomé and Príncipe, to the institutions, entities,
NGO, companies, etc, to the world citizens, to remember that history by
writing or speaking aloud through our forum 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 rests as national monument and, consequently, the
recognition 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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