My Memoirs - Citizen of the World
My Memoirs - Citizen of the World
My Memoirs - Citizen of the World
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Militant for <strong>the</strong> Azores Independence<br />
A few months after <strong>the</strong> revolution in Portugal in 1974, many<br />
military <strong>of</strong>ficers who were <strong>the</strong> architects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Coup D’état<br />
planned to establish a communist regime in Portugal. An opposing<br />
militant group from <strong>the</strong> Azores came to New England and got<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r with some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portuguese leaders in <strong>the</strong> area, forming a<br />
committee to pressure <strong>the</strong> United States Government to intervene<br />
and prevent this movement from happening in Portugal. Many <strong>of</strong><br />
my friends were arrested in <strong>the</strong> Azores for fighting against such a<br />
regime. A great majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country was hoping to become a<br />
democracy after 40 years <strong>of</strong> dictatorship, and <strong>the</strong>re was turmoil for<br />
a couple <strong>of</strong> years. The first government after <strong>the</strong> revolution<br />
nationalized many banks, businesses and private properties. There<br />
was no respect for <strong>the</strong> rule <strong>of</strong> law. It was chaotic and unstable<br />
during this time. In response to <strong>the</strong> turmoil, many <strong>of</strong> my friends<br />
came to <strong>the</strong> United States until <strong>the</strong> government established a<br />
democracy. One <strong>of</strong> my best friends from Terceira Island, Dr.<br />
Alvaro Monjardino, came with his entire family and lived here for<br />
three months until <strong>the</strong> situation cooled <strong>of</strong>f. When <strong>the</strong>y returned, a<br />
government had been formed, and he was later elected as <strong>the</strong> first<br />
President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Regional Assembly <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Azores Government.<br />
Dr. Jose de Almeida, <strong>the</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Front for <strong>the</strong> Liberty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Azores, FLA, was a Portuguese pr<strong>of</strong>essor who came to New<br />
England and contacted me. He also contacted a few o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
Portuguese-Azorean Americans, including Carlos Matos, Alfredo<br />
Alves, Antonio Matos, Paula Raposo and o<strong>the</strong>r immigrants who<br />
did not like <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> a communist political system in <strong>the</strong> Azores.<br />
Such a case would have been worse than Salazar's regime. We<br />
organized many demonstrations and went to <strong>the</strong> United Nations in<br />
New York City to seek help in our fight against communism.<br />
Without <strong>the</strong>ir assistance, <strong>the</strong> Azores Islands could possibly have<br />
become independent from Portugal not because <strong>the</strong>y did not like<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir continental bro<strong>the</strong>rs, but because <strong>the</strong>y wanted a free Azores<br />
and not a communist dictatorship.<br />
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