People's Party CDS-PP

Parliamentary Group

Assembly of the Republic-Palace of S. Bento-1249-068 Lisbon-Phone: 21391 9233-Fax: 21391 7456 Email: gp_pp@pp. parliamento.pt

DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. 527 /X

On the transladation to Portugal of the remains of the military killed in the War

of the Ultramar

Thousands of Portuguese fought for Portugal in the Ultramar. A war that still today

keeps open wounds open between Portuguese, and between political power and numerous ex-

combatants. We do not want to contribute to that crispation and by that same mantivées,

over the years, a promoter role of dialogue and non-confrontational, aiding

bridges between the Ministry of Defense and those whose living conditions have more deteriorated

since the war in Africa.

According to the League of Fighters, who have been doing an exhausting job, searching for never

abandon the relatives of those who died in Africa, Portugal suffered during the

war, between 1961 and 1975, about 9500 casualties. Close to half are buried in the

combat zones. It is 3715 the military that has been under the target of actions of

location and identification, having the League of Fighters calculated that, in Angola and

Mozambique, are about 3000 burial fighters, in Guinea-Bissau close to

800 and that 40% are of metropolitan recruitment and 60% of local recruitment.

From this map, it matters to clarify that there are cases in which the locations of the

burial bodies, and others whose whereabouts are unknown. In the known locations,

there are servicemen identified and unidentified, being that in both cases there are graves

of military from metropolitan recruitment and local recruitment.

Of the roughly four thousand servicemen whose remains are in territories of

combat, most find themselves in indignial cemeteries and a state of abandonment. Some

are currently sites for dumping waste, in other cases there is construction of houses by

top of the campas and even the opening of roads, in addition to the problems of trafficking in

gravestones and boned ones.

The scenario does not dignify into anything the memory of those who have served Portugal. Only

contributes to the crispation of the environment between their families and the Portuguese state that in

times served. Portugal has an obligation to make every effort to dignify the

your military who, in the fulfillment of your duty, has died away from your country and your

families.

Whether the League of Fighters wants the Civic Movement of Ancient Combatants, these

last promoters of a petition to the Assembly of the Republic which brought together more than 12 thousand

signatures, they have done a highly meritorious work in what touches on this very sensitive topic.

Thus, and taking into account their special importance for the dignifying of Portugal and the

National Defence and on behalf of all those who died for the country, the Assembly of the

Republic recommends to the Government:

1. Supporting-with human, financial and technical means-the work of the League of

Fighters and the movements of civil society to pursue their

work on the ground in the recovery of cemeteries and tallions until the objectives

are complete;

2. Placing as a national Defence National objective the monitoring of this

work, as well as facilitate, when possible, the return of the remains of the

military to Portugal and to their families, dignifying the state and memory

collective of the Portuguese.

Palace of Saint Benedict, July 3, 2009

The Deputies