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| Haile Selassie I |
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| Selected Speeches |
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| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Chapter III |
| Nation-wide Broadcast - African Liberation Day May 26, 1965 |
| Inter-Africa |
| Selected Speeches |
The first conference of the independent African states was held in Accra,
Ghana, on April 15, 1958. It was decided then to celebrate this historic
day as African Freedom Day. Until recently, April 15 was celebrated
throughout our continent as African Freedom Day.
However, two years ago today in May the Summit Conference of the
Independent African States, whch was convened in Our Capital City of
Addis Ababa, decreed that May 25, the day on which the historic Charter
of the Organization of African Unity was signed, be celebrated every year
as African Liberation Day. Accordingly today is celebrated as African
Liberation Day.
The African Unity Charter was signed two years ago today. Within
this brief period much has been accomplished that augurs well for
African Unity. In accordance with the resolution of the first Assembly
of African Heads of State and Government held in Cairo last year, the
headquarters of the Organization of African Unity has been established
here in Addis Ababa. Under its Secretary-General, His Excellency
Mr. Diallo Telli, of Guinea, the Organizaion is successfully discharging
its responsibilities and commitments.
The Ethiopian people, who have struggled and made untold sacrifices
for their independence and freedom for thousands of years -- and
independence and freedom for thousands of years -- an independence
that has been a beacon for all of Africa -- today celebrate this day
together with all Africans by consolidating their freedom and
independence with the freedom and independence of their African
brothers in the spirit of Modern Ethiopianism.
This year, two sister African states -- Zambia and Gambia -- have
won independence and they have joined the family of independent
African states. We share their joy and We extend again, as We did
on the occasion when they won their independence, Our sincere
felicitations. We are anxiously awaiting the day when those Africans in
the dependent territories break the shackles of foreign tutelage and
become masters of their own fate.
On this solemn day, all of us must pause and remember the plight of
Our African brothers who are under foreign rule and who are
desparately struggling to win their freedom, their basic fundamental
human rights.
Instead of granting their rightful freedom and independence to the
indigenous Africans in Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea,
the Portuguese Government has intensified even more its campaign of
ruthless suppression of African freedom fighters in these territories,
under the outmoded, illogical pretext that these territories are part of
Portugal. In concert with the other African members of the United
Nations Organization, Ethiopia has never ceased advocating at United
Nations and other international conferences that the Portuguese
Government should grant independence to each and every territory
under its rule.
Ghana, on April 15, 1958. It was decided then to celebrate this historic
day as African Freedom Day. Until recently, April 15 was celebrated
throughout our continent as African Freedom Day.
However, two years ago today in May the Summit Conference of the
Independent African States, whch was convened in Our Capital City of
Addis Ababa, decreed that May 25, the day on which the historic Charter
of the Organization of African Unity was signed, be celebrated every year
as African Liberation Day. Accordingly today is celebrated as African
Liberation Day.
The African Unity Charter was signed two years ago today. Within
this brief period much has been accomplished that augurs well for
African Unity. In accordance with the resolution of the first Assembly
of African Heads of State and Government held in Cairo last year, the
headquarters of the Organization of African Unity has been established
here in Addis Ababa. Under its Secretary-General, His Excellency
Mr. Diallo Telli, of Guinea, the Organizaion is successfully discharging
its responsibilities and commitments.
The Ethiopian people, who have struggled and made untold sacrifices
for their independence and freedom for thousands of years -- and
independence and freedom for thousands of years -- an independence
that has been a beacon for all of Africa -- today celebrate this day
together with all Africans by consolidating their freedom and
independence with the freedom and independence of their African
brothers in the spirit of Modern Ethiopianism.
This year, two sister African states -- Zambia and Gambia -- have
won independence and they have joined the family of independent
African states. We share their joy and We extend again, as We did
on the occasion when they won their independence, Our sincere
felicitations. We are anxiously awaiting the day when those Africans in
the dependent territories break the shackles of foreign tutelage and
become masters of their own fate.
On this solemn day, all of us must pause and remember the plight of
Our African brothers who are under foreign rule and who are
desparately struggling to win their freedom, their basic fundamental
human rights.
Instead of granting their rightful freedom and independence to the
indigenous Africans in Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea,
the Portuguese Government has intensified even more its campaign of
ruthless suppression of African freedom fighters in these territories,
under the outmoded, illogical pretext that these territories are part of
Portugal. In concert with the other African members of the United
Nations Organization, Ethiopia has never ceased advocating at United
Nations and other international conferences that the Portuguese
Government should grant independence to each and every territory
under its rule.
| Haile Selassie the First - May 26, 1965 |
| Rhodesia |
| To the U.N. |
The recent events in Southern Rhodesia are cause for alarm -- not only is
the fate of the people in the territory in jeopardy but international peace is
also threatened. A white minority Government in the territory is daily
arresting and arbitrarily persecuting African freedom fighters, particularly
their leaders, to suppress the national freedom movements. This minority
government has even taken drastic steps to declare a colonial government.
Each and every government and the peoples of the world who value
fundamental human rights, and particularly We Africans, must oppose,
with one voice, this dangerous and unprecedented scheme of the white
minority government in the territory. The United Nations Anti-Colonial
Committee of which Ethiopia is a member, is presently visiting Africa to
follow closely the dangerous situation in Southern Rhodesia.
In South Africa and in South-West Africa, the policies of apartheid and
oppression are becoming increasingly unbearable. The South African
Government is accelerating its ruthless campaign: a methodological
campaign of arresting daily, detaining without trial and torturing the
Africans and their leaders who are struggling for their fundamental human
rights and freedom. All the peace-loving countries of the world must act
together to force the colonial governments of South Africa and Portugal to
desist from these policies -- policies which are inhuman, policies which
deny basic human rights, policies which are detrimental to the peace and
security of the entire world -- and grant independence and freedom to
these oppressed people.
the fate of the people in the territory in jeopardy but international peace is
also threatened. A white minority Government in the territory is daily
arresting and arbitrarily persecuting African freedom fighters, particularly
their leaders, to suppress the national freedom movements. This minority
government has even taken drastic steps to declare a colonial government.
Each and every government and the peoples of the world who value
fundamental human rights, and particularly We Africans, must oppose,
with one voice, this dangerous and unprecedented scheme of the white
minority government in the territory. The United Nations Anti-Colonial
Committee of which Ethiopia is a member, is presently visiting Africa to
follow closely the dangerous situation in Southern Rhodesia.
In South Africa and in South-West Africa, the policies of apartheid and
oppression are becoming increasingly unbearable. The South African
Government is accelerating its ruthless campaign: a methodological
campaign of arresting daily, detaining without trial and torturing the
Africans and their leaders who are struggling for their fundamental human
rights and freedom. All the peace-loving countries of the world must act
together to force the colonial governments of South Africa and Portugal to
desist from these policies -- policies which are inhuman, policies which
deny basic human rights, policies which are detrimental to the peace and
security of the entire world -- and grant independence and freedom to
these oppressed people.
The Assembly of the African Heads of State and Government has
authorized the Foreign Ministers of Senegal and Algeria to bring the cases
of racial discrimination and oppression in South Africa, the inhuman
colonial rule of the Portuguese Government and the dangerous situation in
Southern Rhodesia, before the Security Council of the United Nations to
find permanent solutions to the unrelenting struggles of the African
governments and people. As a result the entire world is today more
conscious of these pressing problems.
From discussions in the United Nations in recent years, We have cause to
believe that some friendly nations fully support the efforts to impose an
economic boycott on South Africa and Portugal; it is unfortunate that
some great powers who have been entrusted with the maintenance of
international peace and security have not co-operated in these worthy
efforts. These powers are the main obstacles to an effective economic
boycott of South Africa and Portugal.
The establishment of the Organization of African Unity, the concerted
action of the member-states and the pooling of the aid to Our brethren
African freedom fighters, have helped to revive and strengthen as well as
intensify the liberation movements throughout Africa. For this We are
grateful to the Liberation Committee of the nine African States, of which
Ethiopia is a member. On this day, we should all recollect with gratitude
the support of all those friendly nations in Our endeavour in the United
Nations and other international conferences to free Africa of all the
colonial vestiges.
authorized the Foreign Ministers of Senegal and Algeria to bring the cases
of racial discrimination and oppression in South Africa, the inhuman
colonial rule of the Portuguese Government and the dangerous situation in
Southern Rhodesia, before the Security Council of the United Nations to
find permanent solutions to the unrelenting struggles of the African
governments and people. As a result the entire world is today more
conscious of these pressing problems.
From discussions in the United Nations in recent years, We have cause to
believe that some friendly nations fully support the efforts to impose an
economic boycott on South Africa and Portugal; it is unfortunate that
some great powers who have been entrusted with the maintenance of
international peace and security have not co-operated in these worthy
efforts. These powers are the main obstacles to an effective economic
boycott of South Africa and Portugal.
The establishment of the Organization of African Unity, the concerted
action of the member-states and the pooling of the aid to Our brethren
African freedom fighters, have helped to revive and strengthen as well as
intensify the liberation movements throughout Africa. For this We are
grateful to the Liberation Committee of the nine African States, of which
Ethiopia is a member. On this day, we should all recollect with gratitude
the support of all those friendly nations in Our endeavour in the United
Nations and other international conferences to free Africa of all the
colonial vestiges.
| Next Assembly |
It will be recalled that the Cairo Assembly of the Heads of State and
Government decided to convene the Second Assembly of the Heads of
State and Government in Accra, Ghana, in September this year.
Becasue of misunderstandings among certain member states of the
Organization of African Unity, voices have been occasionally raised
recently against the convocation of the Assembly in Accra. Nonetheless,
the regular Assembly of the Heads of State and Government was, in the
first place, designed to find peaceful solutions, through deliberations and
frank exchange of views to such misunderstandings among
member-states. We believe, therefore, that any change in the venue of the
next Assembly will make no major difference. Consequently We have
despatched Our Minister of State of Foreign Affairs to West Africa, with
personal messages form Us, to mediate with the leaders of the West
African states concerned.
We earnestly hope that the member-states of the Organization of African
Unity will meet in Accra in September in accordance with the decision of
the first Assembly of the Heads of State and Government.
On this day, We extend Our fraternal greetings to all Our brethren
Africans who are still suffering under foreign colonial rule. We reiterate
that Ethiopia, in co-operation with the member-states of the Organization
of African Unity, will always continue to give her full support for their just
struggles to win their alienable rights to freedom and independence and to
be masters of their own destiny.
May Almighty God assist us in endeavours.
Government decided to convene the Second Assembly of the Heads of
State and Government in Accra, Ghana, in September this year.
Becasue of misunderstandings among certain member states of the
Organization of African Unity, voices have been occasionally raised
recently against the convocation of the Assembly in Accra. Nonetheless,
the regular Assembly of the Heads of State and Government was, in the
first place, designed to find peaceful solutions, through deliberations and
frank exchange of views to such misunderstandings among
member-states. We believe, therefore, that any change in the venue of the
next Assembly will make no major difference. Consequently We have
despatched Our Minister of State of Foreign Affairs to West Africa, with
personal messages form Us, to mediate with the leaders of the West
African states concerned.
We earnestly hope that the member-states of the Organization of African
Unity will meet in Accra in September in accordance with the decision of
the first Assembly of the Heads of State and Government.
On this day, We extend Our fraternal greetings to all Our brethren
Africans who are still suffering under foreign colonial rule. We reiterate
that Ethiopia, in co-operation with the member-states of the Organization
of African Unity, will always continue to give her full support for their just
struggles to win their alienable rights to freedom and independence and to
be masters of their own destiny.
May Almighty God assist us in endeavours.