Several religious men and women faced this reality during the civil war in Mozambique and tell their stories in the book “Blood That the Earth Has Drank,” published in Portugal.
By Juliana Batista *
Three events that occurred during the civil war in Mozambique – which pitted the government of the National Liberation Front (Frelimo) against the forces of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) between 1977 and 1992 – are recounted in the book “Blood That the Earth Has Drank,” now in its second edition. One of the cases presented concerns the attack on the vehicle in which Father João Coelho Baptista, IMC, and his companions were travelling, and the kidnapping of this missionary by Renamo in 1992. “The young men charged with taking me away were about ten, all very young. Some were barely out of their teens, with rather thin physiques. Some of them could barely hold the weapons they were carrying,” recalls Father João Baptista. “They were so small and weak that they could barely hold me and staggered from side to side, causing my broken leg to hit trees and bushes,” adds the priest.
Another event concerns the attack on the car of Father José Fernando da Rocha Martins, which resulted in the death of Colombian Consolata missionary Father Ariel Granada Serna in 1991. “As soon as the shooting stopped, the Renamo guerrillas – for that was who they were—rushed to the scene of the attack. They were almost all teenagers. As they approached, some recognized the victims. One exclaimed, ‘Father Rocha!’ And another, ‘The nun!’ As he made this exclamation, the boy turned to avoid being recognized by her. It was useless, because she recognized him and knew his family history. The boy’s mother had died near a mission during a Renamo attack. No one else was able to stop the hungry robbers, who seized everything there. When they opened the door on the left side, Father Ariel’s body, which had been leaning there, fell to the ground.”
The book also recalls the kidnapping of two priests and four Consolata missionary nuns in 1982. “There were 20 guerrillas in front of us, another 20 behind us, and the six of us in the middle. They were paths of sharp stones, unbearable heat, fear in our hearts for what could happen at any moment. The days were hot and suffocating. At the slightest movement, sweat poured down our bodies,” recall the kidnapped missionaries.
Bishop Diamantino Antunes, Consolata missionary and bishop of Tete, Mozambique, wrote the book’s foreword. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the construction of the “São Tiago” kindergarten in the diocese of Tete.
* Juliana Batista is a journalist for Fátima Missionária, Portugal.
