Portuguese Dictatorship

Archive Report

Opposition to the Salazar Dictatorship

Acis of Defiance and Petitions for Liberty

Anti-Colonialist Riots in Portugal's African territory of Angola, inspired by hijacking of the cruise ship Santa Maria, were followed within a few weeks by the presentation in Lisbon of a manifesto calling for orderly dismantling of the dictatorial regime that has ruled Portugal for more than three decades. The manifesto, signed by 160 leading citizens, asked “restoration to the Portuguese of fundamental liberties,” release of all political prisoners, “immediate abolition of censorship,” and permission for opposition political parties to enter candidates in next November's elections for the National Assembly.

Seizure of the Santa Maria in West Indian waters on Jan. 22 by a band of armed dissidents set in motion the chain of events that ...

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