By: Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD
Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD has been in Angola fir many years. Now at a time when the country has been torn apart by civil war, he sees his work as bringing reconciliation. An impossible task you would say that true - impossible without faith that Jesus has Risen and that we walk with him in the darkness but towards the light.
God’s love and peace be with you and all your beloved ones! Sometimes words are not enough to express what I have experienced here for the last months. I seem to forget the last time I wrote you.
Wartime Schedule
As usual, my normal work is to organize our team work during the week: MON-TUES: Food assistance and visit the orphans and children of the refugees; WED: Bring Food, check water in the leper colony, Funda and other villages; THURS-FRI: Bring food, medicines to the villages of the refugee, prisons, hospitals, check the literacy project; SAT: Formation of the catechist , Apostolate for foreign “contacts workers”; SUN: Mass, Pastoral work, sharing of the ups and downs of our co-workers, projects for the future.
Unforgettable Experience
Let me just share with you an unforgettable but very sad experience. It was on a Friday evening the military blocked my way to Kifangondo and u saw lying on the road three or more dead bodies wearing the “opposition” T-shirt. The next day, one of our Filipino friends told me that as he passed by the TV network stations, he saw soldiers shooting at the cars of the opposition and this started the spread of fighting between the government and the opposition party if Luanda. We thought it would begin a third civil war. However, through the mediation of the United Nations, the Church and the international community, this catastrophic event, was somehow evaded for the meantime. But as of the moment clandestine killing is still going on.
Tribal Origins to War
We learned from the Bishops of Malanje, Bishop Salessu that our confreres and Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) sisters are alright and also busy with their mission work. He also informed us that his residence was riddled with bullets. Luckily, the Bishops was unhurt and the people in his house. Later, he was brought fir questioning to the Municipio. And then, he was made to walk back again ti his house which is more or less three kilometers from the municipal building. All this happened because he is from the south. A different tribal area. Tribalism between the tribes (MPLA) Kimbund and (UNITA) Umbundi has reached the point where, seemingly, to be born in a particular place is enough to bring you torture and death.
People and Pastors are Killed
Because if this Tribalism we have lost a lot of our catechists and pastors especially from the south who are working with us in our mission stations here in Kifangondo, Cacuaco and Caxito. Last week, two of our active parishioners were killed near our house; they two are from the south. Now this is also happening to the people from north who are living in the south. Some of those who are lucky were able to leave the place, by just walking through the bush. Many of those who tried to escape this way. Died on the road of dehydration, hunger and disease especially the old and the children.
Bishops Ask for Peace Dialogue
The Bishop’s of Angola had a conference and the main topic discussed was the killing of thousands of Angolans due to tribal warfare. As a result of the conference. They sent out a string pronouncement, denouncing those are responsible for these deaths. They also called attention to the use of the mass-media which are always in favor of the ruling party. Hopefully, this strong pronouncement of the Angolan Bishops will bring dialogue and reconciliation between the opposing parties: the MPLA and the UNITA.
Many Deaths
Internationally, the news stated that there were one thousand deaths in Luanda, but in the reality there were around twelve to fifteen thousand soldiers and many civilians who died because they happened to be of the other tribe.
This is a very sad happening for a country which has experienced only a year of democracy. There is still a lot to learn.
Prayer Needed
Along this line I ask more for these suffering people and also for us missionaries here. And I ask too for your prayers fir some of our friends who died in this conflict. and we, too, missionaries are hoping for a truly reconciled Angola so that the true spirit of Christ’s coming will be experienced by everyone.