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One account of Nelson Mandela.
"Nelson Mandela was convicted in 1964 for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the South African government. At his trial, he admitted his guilt with pride.
At his farm in the Transvaal, Mandela and his fellow terrorists stored large amounts of explosive ordnance. This material was for an insurrection called Operation Mayibuye.
Plans of 106 targets were discovered, including the homes of black policemen, power stations and police stations. Mandela's group had been trained in the arts of intimidation, murder and sabotage by Russian instructors at camps in Algeria, Ethiopia and Egypt.
The leading conspirators fled, leaving Mandela and a few others to take the rap.
On a number of occasions during his sentence, Mandela was offered freedom on condition that he renounce violence. The power to 'free Nelson Mandela' was partly in his own hands for much of his time on Robben Island.
However, he was not in a position to comply, as to do so would have isolated his colleagues on the outside who were pursuing power through mass intimidation.
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