History told of its heroism, triumph of humanity struggles, world becoming old but future the past, paradigms of ideological distortions, myth about the eighteenth-century colonial civilisation, modern scholarly and philosophers, ambassadors of intellectual sovereignty, new age of reawakening, beginning of enlightenment, darkest corners of our universe, hegemonic oligarchy, debilitating contribution of indigenous civilisations, history of development of human society.
Auditoriums of contemporary scholarship and philosophers, storehouse of generational intellectualism, self prestige and aggrandisement, appeasing theoretical world views of imperialism and neo-colonialism, not acknowledging historiography of violent foundations of colonial empires, reshaping conquered indigenous third world hemisphere, colonial invasions, land dispossessions, forced labour, slavery, massacres and brutal abuse of women through rape, disregarding monumental contribution, powerhouses of architecture, mathematics, astronomy, such as ancient Egypt, Timbuktu, Mapungubwe, Inca, Maya civilisations and many others.
Spectacular landscapes of the valley of revolutionary struggles, our homeland, Antilles of our America, greatest victories coming from different battles of age, struggles and wars of independence, on the edges of the beautiful horizons of the Andes, birth of a legendary warrior son of humanity freedoms, descendant of the indigenous Aymara tribe, Tupic Katari, symbolism of extraordinary feats of courage and heroism, waging ferocious battles against invading Portuguese and Spanish colonial forces, you can kill a revolutionary but not the revolution.
Atlantic ocean, bridge continental solidarity, our America our Africa, colonial regimes conquering the world, humanity brazen by same enemy forces, unrelenting and merciless, at the foothold of Mogodumo mountain ranges, heroic Kingdom of Bakone nation, fighting titanic battles, worldwide phenomenon of imperialism and colonialism, homage my brother from the womb of another mother, colossus of revolutionary struggles, forest mountain of Bolivia, profundity of his exemplary, bravery, selflessness, demonstrating high levels of persistence and perseverance, heroic pathways, sacrificing his being, noble cause of humanity’s freedoms.
Our warrior men and women of the Upper Peru, (present republic of Bolivia) distinguished amongst those to be honoured by history, insurmountable efforts of volunteerism, dismantling vicious colonial administrations, subjugating indigenous people, to untold atrocities of horrendous crimes against humanity, shaking foundations of Portuguese and Spanish empires, our America, homeland enduring struggles, illuminating flames of humanity enlightenment.
Born in the forest mountains of the Andes, village of Ayoayo, near La Pas, the kingdom of Aymara, galvanised by material conditions, appalling abject poverty, imposed by destiny, orphanage at the age of 12 years, work in the mines as a child labour, selling coca leaves and cloth, across the length and breath of the Andes, realities of untold atrocities of exploitation, brutalities of forced labour, sexual harassment of indigenous women by colonial masters, heavy taxes from Spanish and Portuguese colonial administrations.
The harsh experiences and hardships, endured by indigenous communities, propelled political conscience, Tupic Katari and wife Bartolina Sisa, joining underground movements, independence of the motherland, mobilising people to take arms against colonial settlers, formidable army of more than 40 thousands warrior men and women, war techniques and guerrilla warfare, spearheading a revolutionary upsurge, besieging the Spanish colonial capital of La Paz, breaking the yoke of the Spanish stranglehold in the Upper Peru.
The Spanish monarch mobilising elite forces, through Argentina, taking back control of the city of La Paz, weakening indigenous movement for liberation, betrayed by his own, together with his wife, captured and condemned to death by royalist forces. thousands tortured and amputated, encountering worse forms of crimes against humanity.
Magistrate, Francisco Tadeo Diez de Medina, harshest verdict against Katari, condemning him to death, said the following:
“I condemn Tupic Katari to death, I order that he be taken from prison, with an esparto grass rope around his neck, and he be dragged from a horse’s tail, to the Plaza of this Sanctuary, where the town crier will publicly make known his crimes.
“Indians from the nearby provinces, should be brought so that before the execution, it is explained to them how pleasing the execution will be to God and King, and worthy of justice, beneficence, and the sustenance of the Indians themselves.
“And tied by strong ropes, he should be quartered by four horses, until he dies a natural death, and this being done, his head should be taken to the City of La Paz, in order that it be placed on the gallows of the central Plaza, and that after some time, it should be burned and the ashes thrown in the air.
“His right hand shall go first to his natal town of Ayoayo, and afterward to Sicasica, where the same shall be done. The left hand to the town of Achacachi, the right leg to the Yungas, and the provincial capital of Chulumani, and the other to Caquiaviri in Pacajes.
“Any of his goods that have been or can be found are to be confiscated. In conformity with his infamous crimes of treachery, sedition, murder, and being a cruel man or monster of humanity, in his inclinations and abominable, horrible customs, I do pronounce and sign this definitive sentence.”
Humiliated by colonial authorities, paraded naked before thousands of his fellow countrymen, inflicted with extreme torture, before quartered by four horses, forced to redeem himself by asking apology before colonial authorities, with utmost revolutionary spirit and high morale, telling history what will be told to posterity, greatest acts of a warrior at the face of adversity, defying death for the sake of the freedom of humanity, walking with pride and heroism into the gallows, declaring himself hero of humanity struggles, before his nose, tongue and genitals cut with machete, before quartered by four horses, promulgating his world famous prophecy: “Today you kill me, I die today, but I will return in millions.”
His dear wife and comrade, Bartolina Sisa, who together formed the formidable army of the Aymara battalion, outstanding revolutionary leader of anti-colonial struggles, Commander of people’s army, mother of the nation, occupying the forefront trenches of the struggles, leading the wars of independence of our America, shaking the most advanced armies of the Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires, captured and condemned to death, tramped through the streets of La Paz by a horse, head cut before her fellow patriots, her bravery, determination, selflessness, commitment, untold acts of heroism, transforming herself a martyr, her living memories transcending generations.
Two centuries after horrendous acts of brutalities, gruesome murder of the father and mother of independent struggles of the Upper Peru, history of heroism, symbolism of the unity of the struggles of the people, young generations, bringing back Tupac Katari and his wife Bartolina Sisa, back in their millions, concerned by devastating socio, economic and political state of their country, on the 14 November 2006, cleansing the agonies of the tormented nation, organised a sacred ceremony, reconstituting the spirits of the dismembered mortal remains, igniting the momentum of the struggles, resolving centuries old contradictions of imperialism and colonialism.
The sacred ceremony, for the reconstitution of the remains of the two national heroes of the wars of independence was held in the town of Penas, where it began, bringing back their remains to mother earth (Pachamama), they formulated a declaration of Penas, recommitting themselves to the exemplary of Katari and Bartolina, which was as follows:
“The new pachakuti has arrived, the new sun, for the rebirth of our historical memory, of our male and female leaders who have shed their blessed blood, and of our total self-government here and now and in our minds, our hearts, and in our territory, today under the name Bolivia. We all stand up to govern ourselves forever.”
Bringing back the spirit of the dismembered body parts, in memory of Katari, his heroism and unrelenting leadership, struggles for liberation, his bravery during the wars of independence, they said:
“Tupaj Katari is with us today, newly converted into millions and millions, we are millions of Kataris and Sisas, spread out like small stones of pachamama earth, our achachila mountain which is immense, lofty with a shining heart to continue the struggle, for the total liberation of ourselves and our oppressors.
“From the heart of our mother earth, from our father the mountains, father sun and mother moon, we have come to officially declare the reconstitution of the ajayu and the body of Tupaj Katari, carried in the arms of men and women with telluric strength, from the four points where it was dispersed, by order of the assassin Francisco Tadeo Diez de Medina, and exorcised by the Catholic Church.”
Two years after planting back reconstituted spirit of Katari, same sacred ceremony organised for Bartolina Sisa, on the 5 September 2008, the leaders of the generation of the patriots of Bolivia, collectively said:
“Bartolina Sisa is present today in our bodies. Her memory, her ajayu, her courage did not die. She is present in her daughters, in the millions of ‘SISA’ women who have risen, stood up restoring our identities, our dignity against the colonial and neocolonial regime.
“From this place where the body of Bartolina Sisa was torn apart, we symbolically reconstitute her ajayu and her body, bringing to our memory, the strength and courage of an Indian woman, who rose up and shook the foundations of the established order.”
A rich historical testimony, brutal spectacles by colonial empires, condemning heroic son and daughter of Aymara tribe, halting the momentum of revolutionary struggles, movement forward of the people for freedom, instilling fear and agony to the peaceful people of the Upper Peru, not knowing that Katari and his wife, parents of thunder, son and daughter of the sun, moon and stars, their blood giving birth to a great nation, soul for the independence struggles of our America, will return back in millions.
In memory of epitaph of the world revolutionary movement, his incalculable contribution to the cause of the struggles for freedom of all humanity, its my honour, on behalf of all revolutionaries of our age, representing many generations to come, inspired by his untold heroism, his undoubtedly highest barometers of courage, solidarity, resilience, I dedicate his exemplary life, declaring him a hero of the future to come, joining the heroic people of the peaceful land of Bolivia.
Dedicating our memories to all who perished, for the cause of the struggles for liberation of the peoples of the world, from the deep bottom of our hearts, we join you, singing inspiring rhythms of your national anthem:
“Bolivians, a propitious fate
has at long last crowned our vows and longings;
This land is free, free at last.
Its servile state has now finally ceased…
The martial turmoil of yesterday,
and the horrible clamour of war,
are followed today, in harmonious contrast,
by sweet hymns of peace and unity.
Chorus:
Let us keep the lofty name of our Fatherland
in glorious splendour.
And, on its altars, once more we must swear:
To die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!
Eternal praise to the brave warriors
whose heroic valour and firmness
conquered the freedom and glories that now
a happy Bolivia justly begins to enjoy!
Let their names, preserved forever in marble and bronze,
transmit their glory to remote future ages.
And in resounding song let them repeat their simple call:
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Chorus
Here has Justice erected its Throne
which vile oppression ignores
and, on its glorious stamp let us rejoice
Freedom, freedom, freedom
This innocent and beautiful land,
which owes its name to Bolívar,
is the happy homeland where mankind
enjoys the benefits of bliss and peace.
Chorus
If a foreigner may, any given day
even attempt to subjugate Bolivia,
let him prepare for a fatal destiny,
which menaces such brave aggressor.
For the sons of the mighty Bolívar
have sworn, thousands upon thousands of times:
to die rather than see the country’s
majestic banner humiliated.”
OUR LEGENDARY LEADER OF HUMANITY STRUGGLES FOR LIBERATION, TUPAC KATARI, WILL NOT DIE, BUT WILL RETURN IN MILLIONS!
Thank you
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Ambassador Phatse Justice Piitso is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) writing this article in his personal capacity.