Bissau Guinean Veterans Sue Portugal Over War Allowances

Guinean veterans have sued the Portuguese government in the European Court of Justice for the payment of their outstanding “blood and disablement” allowances, the spokesman of their association, Rui Batican Ferreira said on Tuesday.

The Guinean veterans of the national liberation war backed the Portuguese colonial army against the dissidents of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) between 1962 and 1973.

They justified the action following the failure of a negotiated settlement with the Portuguese authorities.

“We have engaged two lawyers who will help us draw up the file and conduct the case during the lawsuit against the Portuguese government which systematically refuses to pay us our blood and disablement allowances in keeping with the 1973 Algiers agreements signed between Portugal and Guinea Bissau”, Ferreira said.

During the 1973 negotiations held in the Algerian capital, the Portuguese government pledged to pay allowances to all Guinean veterans who fought against the PAIGC.

Thirty-five years after the agreements, Lisbon they claim, has failed to honor its commitment to about 10,000 Guinean veterans who fought against their own compatriots and nation.

Most of the soldiers died without pocketing a penny of their allowances.

Source African Press Agency

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