Comando de Libertação Nacional
Encyclopedia
The Comando de Libertação Nacional (Colina, National Liberation Command) was a far left
political organization in Brazil
. It originated on 1967 in the state of Minas Gerais
, through the merger of Worker's Politics , an organization founded in 1961 as a faction of the Brazilian Socialist Party
, with some leftists military. Colina embraced the ideas advocated by OSPAAAL
, beginning to held armed armed actions in 1968 to fund for rural guerrilla warfare
against the military dictatprship installed after the United States government
-sponsored 1964 coup d'état.
On 1969, when several of Colina militants were jailed, it became VAR Palmares
after the merger with former members of VPR. Colina became known for its clumsy attempt to "make justice" against Bolivian Captain Gary Prado, billed as the officer who had captured and executed Che Guevara
in Bolivia
. On June 1, 1968, João Lucas Alves, Severino Viana, José Roberto Monteiro, and Amílcar Baiardi shot and killed an officer in the neighborhood of Gávea
, Rio de Janeiro
, believing he was the Bolivian officer, when in fact it was Edward Ernest Tito Otto Maximilian Von Westernhagen, a German Army
Major. Given the misunderstanding, Colina refused to take responsibility for the attack. Baiardi, the only of the four militants who survived the dictatorship, revealed Colina's involvement in the attack on 1988.
On November 1968, João Lucas was arrested and tortured to death. Three months later, it was Severino that got captured. He was found dead in his cell under the allegation of "suicide". Such murder practice was common in the period, as the death of journalist Vladimir Herzog
would later reveal.
On January 1969, the Civil Police of Minas Gerais undertook a search in the organization's "unit", engaging in a heavy firefight with militants, which resulted in the death of two police officers. Soon after, the group would be dismantled with the arrest of its leaders. One of them, Murilo Pezzuti, was sent to Rio de Janeiro, where he served as a guinea pig for torture classes in the Military Village.
The most famous member of Colina was Dilma Rousseff
, the current President of Brazil, who had joined the group in her youth. Contrary to the rumors, Rousseff claims she never shot at any officials or military personnel during her time with Colina.
Far left
Far left, also known as the revolutionary left, radical left and extreme left are terms which refer to the highest degree of leftist positions among left-wing politics...
political organization in 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...
. It originated on 1967 in the state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, through the merger of Worker's Politics , an organization founded in 1961 as a faction of the Brazilian Socialist Party
Brazilian Socialist Party
The Brazilian Socialist Party , is a political party in Brazil. It was founded in 1947, before being abolished by the military regime in 1965 and re-organized in 1985 with the re-democratization of Brazil. It elected six Governors in 2010, becoming the second largest party in number of state...
, with some leftists military. Colina embraced the ideas advocated by OSPAAAL
Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America
The Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America , abbreviated as OSPAAAL, is a Cuban political movement with the stated purpose of fighting globalisation, imperialism, neoliberalism and defending human rights. It publishes the magazine Tricontinental...
, beginning to held armed armed actions in 1968 to fund for rural guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
against the military dictatprship installed after the United States government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
-sponsored 1964 coup d'état.
On 1969, when several of Colina militants were jailed, it became VAR Palmares
Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares
The Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares was a far left guerrilla organization in Brazil, which fought against the military dictatorship installed after the United States government-backed 1964 coup d'état in the country. The organization was named after Palmares, a legendary quilombo...
after the merger with former members of VPR. Colina became known for its clumsy attempt to "make justice" against Bolivian Captain Gary Prado, billed as the officer who had captured and executed Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. On June 1, 1968, João Lucas Alves, Severino Viana, José Roberto Monteiro, and Amílcar Baiardi shot and killed an officer in the neighborhood of Gávea
Gávea
Gávea is an affluent residential neighborhood located in the Southern Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It borders the São Conrado, Leblon, Lagoa and Jardim Botânico neighborhoods and is famous for its high concentration of artists and intellectuals. PUC-Rio, one of the most important...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, believing he was the Bolivian officer, when in fact it was Edward Ernest Tito Otto Maximilian Von Westernhagen, a German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
Major. Given the misunderstanding, Colina refused to take responsibility for the attack. Baiardi, the only of the four militants who survived the dictatorship, revealed Colina's involvement in the attack on 1988.
On November 1968, João Lucas was arrested and tortured to death. Three months later, it was Severino that got captured. He was found dead in his cell under the allegation of "suicide". Such murder practice was common in the period, as the death of journalist Vladimir Herzog
Vladimir Herzog
Vladimir Herzog nicknamed Vlado, was a Brazilian journalist, university professor and playwright of Yugoslavian origin. He also developed a taste for photography, because of his film projects...
would later reveal.
On January 1969, the Civil Police of Minas Gerais undertook a search in the organization's "unit", engaging in a heavy firefight with militants, which resulted in the death of two police officers. Soon after, the group would be dismantled with the arrest of its leaders. One of them, Murilo Pezzuti, was sent to Rio de Janeiro, where he served as a guinea pig for torture classes in the Military Village.
The most famous member of Colina was Dilma Rousseff
Dilma Rousseff
Dilma Vana Rousseff is the 36th and current President of Brazil. She is the first woman to hold the office. Prior to that, in 2005, she was also the first woman to become Chief of Staff of Brazil, appointed by then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva....
, the current President of Brazil, who had joined the group in her youth. Contrary to the rumors, Rousseff claims she never shot at any officials or military personnel during her time with Colina.
See also
- SocialismSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
- Brazilian military government
- Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária PalmaresVanguarda Armada Revolucionária PalmaresThe Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares was a far left guerrilla organization in Brazil, which fought against the military dictatorship installed after the United States government-backed 1964 coup d'état in the country. The organization was named after Palmares, a legendary quilombo...