Henrique Galvão
Encyclopedia
Henrique Galvão was a Portuguese military officer, writer and politician. He was initially a supporter but later become one of the strongest opponents of the Portuguese fascist regimen, the Estado Novo.
In the 1940s, while serving as the Angolan Deputy to the Portuguese National Assembly, Henrique Galvao read his "Report on Native Problems in the Portuguese Colonies" before the Assembly. In this report, Galvão condemned the "shameful outrages" he had uncovered, notably the forced labour of "women, of children, [and] of decrepit old men." In his report, he concluded that, in Angola, "only the dead are really exempt from forced labor". Galvao further claimed that as many as 30% of all Angolan forced labourers died. Galvao cited the government's policy of replacing deceased native workers, without directly charging the employer, as being instrumental in encouraging the poor care of the workers. Galvao further claimed that this practice would often then result in their death. Galvao claimed that this state policy, which he said differed from policy in other colonial societies, eliminated the employer's incentive to maintain the welfare of the workers. He therefore accused the Portuguese government, due to its colonial policies, for the elimination of native workers in Angola. The Portuguese government refuted these accusations and ignored Galvão's report. Galvao was arrested in 1952. He was compulsorily retired from his military career, but was awarded a state pension. In 1959, he escaped from Portugal to Venezuela
. He continued to be an anti-regime activist at that time.
Shortly before the events that would lead to the Portuguese Colonial War
, on January 22, 1961, Galvão led the Santa Maria hijacking
, also known as Operation Dulcinea. The hijackers, characterized by many as terrorists or rebels, seized the ship and took complete command of the vessel under Galvao's leadership. In this process, they isolated the vessel by cutting off all communication, and killed one officer and wounded several others. Galvao used the hijacking to send radio broadcasts from the ship calling attention to his concerns and views on what he characterized as the Portuguese regime of fascism
. The event received wide international press coverage. It is understood that the hijackers forced the captain of the ship, Mario Simões Maia, along with crew members, to redirect the ship's course. The liner evaded both the U.S. Navy and British Navy for eleven days before docking safely at Recife, Brazil. On February 2, 1961, the hijackers were met by Brazilian officials off the coast of Recife. After negotiating with Brazilian officials, Galvão released the ship's passengers in exchange for his own political asylum in Brazil. Galvão later announced that his original intentions for this operation were to sail the ship to the Portuguese overseas province of Angola. Galvao further claimed that he had planned to declare the independence of Angola from the Portuguese government, in opposition to António de Oliveira Salazar
's regime. Galvão remained exile
d in Belo Horizonte
, Brazil
, where he subsequently died in 1970.
Henrique Galvao's published works include "Da Vida e da Morte dos Bichos" ("The Life and Death of Wild African Game", e.g., elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetas, buffalos, etc.) published in five books and "Outras Terras, Outras Gentes". Galvao's stories of the Santa Maria hijacking
were translated into English and into a book as Santa Maria: my crusade for Portugal (New York, 1961).
In the 1940s, while serving as the Angolan Deputy to the Portuguese National Assembly, Henrique Galvao read his "Report on Native Problems in the Portuguese Colonies" before the Assembly. In this report, Galvão condemned the "shameful outrages" he had uncovered, notably the forced labour of "women, of children, [and] of decrepit old men." In his report, he concluded that, in Angola, "only the dead are really exempt from forced labor". Galvao further claimed that as many as 30% of all Angolan forced labourers died. Galvao cited the government's policy of replacing deceased native workers, without directly charging the employer, as being instrumental in encouraging the poor care of the workers. Galvao further claimed that this practice would often then result in their death. Galvao claimed that this state policy, which he said differed from policy in other colonial societies, eliminated the employer's incentive to maintain the welfare of the workers. He therefore accused the Portuguese government, due to its colonial policies, for the elimination of native workers in Angola. The Portuguese government refuted these accusations and ignored Galvão's report. Galvao was arrested in 1952. He was compulsorily retired from his military career, but was awarded a state pension. In 1959, he escaped from Portugal to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. He continued to be an anti-regime activist at that time.
Shortly before the events that would lead to the Portuguese Colonial War
Portuguese Colonial War
The Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...
, on January 22, 1961, Galvão led the Santa Maria hijacking
Santa Maria hijacking
Contrary to popular belief, the Santa Maria hijacking is not "piracy" because it does not fit the international definition of piracy involving an attack of one vessel on another for private ends...
, also known as Operation Dulcinea. The hijackers, characterized by many as terrorists or rebels, seized the ship and took complete command of the vessel under Galvao's leadership. In this process, they isolated the vessel by cutting off all communication, and killed one officer and wounded several others. Galvao used the hijacking to send radio broadcasts from the ship calling attention to his concerns and views on what he characterized as the Portuguese regime of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. The event received wide international press coverage. It is understood that the hijackers forced the captain of the ship, Mario Simões Maia, along with crew members, to redirect the ship's course. The liner evaded both the U.S. Navy and British Navy for eleven days before docking safely at Recife, Brazil. On February 2, 1961, the hijackers were met by Brazilian officials off the coast of Recife. After negotiating with Brazilian officials, Galvão released the ship's passengers in exchange for his own political asylum in Brazil. Galvão later announced that his original intentions for this operation were to sail the ship to the Portuguese overseas province of Angola. Galvao further claimed that he had planned to declare the independence of Angola from the Portuguese government, in opposition to António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
's regime. Galvão remained exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where he subsequently died in 1970.
Henrique Galvao's published works include "Da Vida e da Morte dos Bichos" ("The Life and Death of Wild African Game", e.g., elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetas, buffalos, etc.) published in five books and "Outras Terras, Outras Gentes". Galvao's stories of the Santa Maria hijacking
Santa Maria hijacking
Contrary to popular belief, the Santa Maria hijacking is not "piracy" because it does not fit the international definition of piracy involving an attack of one vessel on another for private ends...
were translated into English and into a book as Santa Maria: my crusade for Portugal (New York, 1961).