UNITA spokesman Marcial Dachala, speaking to Novo Jornal, said that January 4 "should be a national holiday, because January 4 was a historic event that started the armed struggle against Portuguese colonialism".
According to the UNITA spokesperson, the National Assembly "must review this situation", indicating that it is "a date of great sacrifice for the Angolan people who were oppressed by the Portuguese administration".
In turn, Manuel Fernandes, president of CASA-CE, also in statements to Novo Jornal, indicated that at the time of the approval of the National Holidays Law, the ruling party did not give great importance to the 4th of January, assuring that they will continue to fight to turn this day into a holiday.
"We will continue to fight for the 4th of January to become a holiday and not just a date of national celebration", he said, adding that "thousands of Angolans lost their lives in this event" and that this "date cannot be minimized".
January 4, 1961 – which this Tuesday celebrates 61 years – was marked by the beginning of the struggle against the colonial regime. The rebellion of workers at a company that exploited cotton fields in Baixa de Cassanje is considered to be the first confrontation against Portuguese colonism, in which several people are believed to have died.
