2016 celebrated the one hundredth birthday of Miguel Arraes on December 15th, the 10-year anniversary of the Miguel Arraes Institute, and the 40 year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1976, in Argel, with the contribution from Arraes.
The contribution of Miguel Arraes to freedom movements fighting to end colonization was more evident in Portuguese language countries. In Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe there was a strict relationship and collaboration fighting for the freedom of these countries. He was present at the invitation his friend Samora Machel when the Mozambique flag was hoisted when its freedom was granted. They also paid attention to South Africa, Namibia, and Algeria.
Arraes immigrated from Araripe to Recife and afterwards, he was exiled for 14 years in Algeria, in northern Africa, where he experienced an arduous life as immigrants and refugees. He was also one of the main witnesses, and almost a victim of the “Condor Operation”, a political-military alliance put into effect in the decade from 1970 to 1980 to repress and do away with opposing political leaders to dictators in South American countries.
Arraes was a politician who always emphasized his cause and placed great importance on the deployment of democratization. His fighting resulted in avoiding the privatization of CHESF and, consequently “Rio São Francisco” (River). He recovered the idea of the “Transnordestina” (Northeastern railway), worked on supplying electric power, the issue of land ownership, and other relevant subjects.
Arraes was the greatest social project laboratory in Brazil. It was in “Chapéu de Palha”, where the worker received, but worked at the LAFEPE Foundation, an innovative project for the creation of a laboratory for making medications for the needy.
This year starting now, Brazil needs to reencounter its route and prepare a minimal agenda to benefit the true interests of Brazilian people. The Brazilian Socialist Party — PSB, inspired by Arraes, plays an important role in this national scenario and it needs to overcome the identity crisis the leftwing is going through and formulate a new project that considers a new division from those who live in comfort, and benefit from globalization, and those who do not have comforts and do not benefit from them.
Magdalena and Miguel Arraes’ house is in the Casa Forte section in Recife made history, the Miguel Arraes Institute is and was there — IMA, an open political college. A people cannot say farewell to its history. Miguel Arraes lives and has left a legacy for fighting and resisting oppression.