Luanda - The remains of Alves Bernardo Baptista “Nito Alves”, Jacob João Caetano “Monstro Imortal”, Arsénio José Lourenço 'Siyanouk' and Ilídio Ramalhete, victims of the events of May 27, 1977, were laid to rest on Monday (13), at Luanda’s Alto das Cruzes Cemetery.
As general officers and captain of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), the four victims of the political conflicts were buried with military honors.
Prior to the ceremony, held at Army Headquarters (Ex-RI20) in Luanda, the Minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Office to the President of the Republic, Francisco Furtado paid tribute to the deceased.
During the ceremony, attended by the victims' relatives, members of the of Reconciliation in Memory of Victims of Political Conflict (CIVICOP), of the 27 May Foundation, churches and civil society, Francisco Furtado conveyed feelings of condolence to the victims' families.
Also paid tribute to the victims CIVICOP Coordinator and Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, holders of sovereign bodies, high-ranking FAA and National Police officers, MPs, representatives of political parties with parliamentary seats.
The Head of the Main Directorate of Patriotic Education of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), Lt Gen. António de Jesus Fernandes, who read the funeral eulogy, highlighted the military qualities of the four victims of political conflicts.
He spoke of the role of national reconciliation, forgiveness and pacification of spirits, highlighted in the public apology made on behalf of the Angolan State by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the FAA , João Lourenço, to the victims of political conflicts and to Angolans in general, on 26 May 2021”.
The president of the 27 May Foundation, Silva Mateus, stressed the commitment of President João Lourenço in this process, which had a reconciling outcome, noting that the construction of a memorial for the victims of the events of 27 May is being studied.
Alves Bernardo Baptista “Nito Alves”, born on 23 July, 1945 in the village of Piri, in northern Bengo province, was Minister of Internal Administration of the People's Republic of Angola. He was also worker of the Popular Power Law and belonged to the first political-military region of the MPLA (Dembos).
On the other hand, Jacob João Caetano “Monstro Imortal”, born in 1941, also in the village of Piri, in northern Bengo province, was one of the first MPLA militants sent to an eastern country (former Czechoslovakia), where he attended military training.
Ilídio Ramalhete, born on April 14, 1954, in Rangel (Luanda), was an operative officer. He died in the events of May 27 at the age of 23.
Created by Presidential Decree, in April 2019, the Commission for Reconciliation in Memory of Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP), has the mission of drawing up a general plan to honour the victims of political conflicts that occurred in Angola, in the period from 11 November, 1975 to April 4, 2002.
CIVICOP is chaired by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, and includes representatives from various ministerial departments, such as Defence, Interior, Health, Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication.
