PRESIDENT MARIEN NGOUABI OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE ATTENDED A MARCH-PAST THIS WEEK TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE NATIONAL PIONEERS' MOVEMENT, THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ORGANISATION. THE FESTIVITIES TOOK PLACE IN BRAZZAVILLE'S BOULEVARD DES ARMEES.

FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS, THE GIRLS AND BOYS IN THE MOVEMENT MARCHED PAST THE DAIS WERE PRESIDENT NGOUABI, WITH STATE DIGNITARIES AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS, SAT AND CHEERED. THE CROWD ADDED TO THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE BY RELEASING HUNDREDS OF BALLOONS.

IN THE SPEECHES THAT PRECEDED THE PROCESSION, LEADERS OF THE PIONEER MOVEMENT HAD STRESSED ITS PROGRESSIVE NATURE, AND THE PRESIDENT, IN LIKE VEIN, EXHORTED HIS YOUNG LISTENERS TO WORK HARD AT SCHOOL IN ORDER TO SERVE THE REVOLUTION AND THE PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRY.

TURNING OT THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL SOLUTION IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT ATTEMPTED ANTI-GOVERNMENT COUP, THE PRESIDENT STRESSED THAT IT WAS THROUGH THE MATURITY AND DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT CLEMENCY HAD BEEN SHOWN TO THE AUTHORS OF THE PLOT.

"IT WAS NOT WEAKNESS BUT DIGNITY", HE SAID, "THAT MADE US REFRAIN FROM EXECUTING KOLELAS AND THE OTHERS WHO WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH."