With the presence for the first time of one of his daughters, the residents of this Angolan community paid tribute to late Cuban commander Raul Diaz Arguelles in the place where he fell, 400 km south of Luanda, on December 11, 1975.
A fateful accident with an anti-tank mine destroyed my fathers' legs, and he died at 39 years of age here in African soil, recalled Natasha Diaz Arguelles, a daughter of the internationalist figter Diaz Arguelles during the ceremony.
After laying a wreath at the monument in memory of the Cuban commander, Natasha said she has never forgotten that night of Dec.12, 1975, when she was given the news of his demise.
The ceremony was attended by political authorities, Cuban collaborators, representatives of the diplomatic corps and some of her father's comrades.
The Governor of the province of Cuanza Sur, Gen. Eusebio de Brito Texeira, recalled that on Nov.11 Angola also marked the 40th anniversary of its independence, and on December 10, 1956, the People's Movement for the liberation of Angola (MPLA) was founded.
"The population in Hengue ( a village belonging to Ebo) cries for the death of Commander Arguelles. We will never forget him," said De Brito.
He noted that thanmks to Cuba's internationalist support, the Angolan people was able to check the military offensives of the invadors in the country's north and south who wanted to prevent the proclamation of emancipation.
During the ceremony, Cuban Ambassador to Angola, Gisela Garcia, gave diplomas of recognition to Angolan fighters for their longstanding combative brotherhood.