On 3 August 1959, in Bissau the Portuguese colonialists massacred fifty African workers on strike. In an epoch of decolonisation, it was the first brutal repression practised by the Portuguese colonialists against the patriots of our countries.

On 3 August 1960, a day of solidarity towards the patriots of the Portuguese colonies was celebrated by all peace and freedom-loving peoples. It was unanimous condemnation of Portuguese colonialism and evidence of solidarity towards our struggling peoples.

On 3 August 1961, in the face of the fiercely negative attitude of the Portuguese government which refuses to adopt a peaceful solution for the elimination of colonial domination from our countries:

in consideration of the firm will of our peoples to free themselves from the colonial yoke, whatever the means needed;

in consideration that this liberation must be achieved urgently, and that our peoples are ready to achieve it;

in consideration of the peculiarly difficult circumstances that our peoples face in the struggle against Portuguese colonialism;

in consideration of the necessity to prevent new colonial wars in Africa and to maintain world peace;

THE AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY

proclaims 3 August 1961, as the date of the passage of our national revolution from the phase of political struggle to that of national insurrection, to direct action against the colonial forces;

declares that all its militants and cadres are mobilised for direct action in the national liberation struggle;

invites all the nationalist organisations of our countries to improve their organisation, to strengthen their preparation for the struggle of liberation of Guinea and Cape Verde and to co-ordinate their action in the United Front for the Liberation of ‘Portuguese’ Guinea and Cape Verde (FUL);

reaffirms the active solidarity of our peoples towards the struggling people of Angola;

reaffirms the will of our peoples at any moment, by way of negotiation, to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict which sets them against the Portuguese government, in accordance with their inalienable right to self-determination and national independence;

appeals to all peaceand freedom-loving peoples, particularly African and Asian peoples, to give practical and immediate aid to our peoples struggling against foreign domination.