PIDE
Encyclopedia
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS (Direcção Geral de Segurança, "General Security Directorate"). The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization
, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship
, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights. This resulted in a decrease in the perceived level of violence
used by the secret police and a consequent reduction in its effectiveness.
occurred near the PIDE/DGS headquarters, in the infamous António Maria Cardoso Street. Unidentified agents, desperate after being surrounded by rebellious troops and a throng of citizens, opened fire from the top of the building, killing four demonstrators. These were the only victims of the coup d'état which brought down the dictatorship.
This was the last strategic point to be occupied by the insurgents, thus leading to the escape of the agents and the destruction of most of the records. In the days following the revolution, most escaped to Spain
or went underground. Some of the archives were reportedly handed over by the Portuguese Communist Party to Soviet
agents.
After being sanitized, the corporation continued its operations in the Portuguese colonies under the name of the Military Information Police (Polícia de Informação Militar).
A commission was created for the extinction of the secret police. The remainder of the documents since 1990 are in the Torre do Tombo National Archive. They can be consulted, but the names of agents and informers are not disclosed.
The only PIDE agents who faced trial were those responsible for the death of exiled opposition leader Humberto Delgado
. They were tried in absentia
and the case dragged on for several years. None of them ever served time in jail.
Because of the memory of the abuses of the PIDE/DGS in supporting the regime the establishment of a new civilian intelligence agency was delayed for more than a decade. However, following a terrorist attack on the Embassy of Turkey
, the assassination of a Palestine Liberation Organization
representative at a Socialist International
conference in 1983, and a number of domestic terrorist attacks by isolated far-left and far-right groups, the Portuguese government
became convinced of the need for a new intelligence agency. This led to the establishment of the Sistema de Informações da República Portuguesa
(SIRP, Intelligence System of the Portuguese Republic) in 1984.
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights. This resulted in a decrease in the perceived level of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
used by the secret police and a consequent reduction in its effectiveness.
End of PIDE/DGS
The most dramatic moments of the 1974 Carnation RevolutionCarnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
occurred near the PIDE/DGS headquarters, in the infamous António Maria Cardoso Street. Unidentified agents, desperate after being surrounded by rebellious troops and a throng of citizens, opened fire from the top of the building, killing four demonstrators. These were the only victims of the coup d'état which brought down the dictatorship.
This was the last strategic point to be occupied by the insurgents, thus leading to the escape of the agents and the destruction of most of the records. In the days following the revolution, most escaped to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
or went underground. Some of the archives were reportedly handed over by the Portuguese Communist Party to Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
agents.
After being sanitized, the corporation continued its operations in the Portuguese colonies under the name of the Military Information Police (Polícia de Informação Militar).
A commission was created for the extinction of the secret police. The remainder of the documents since 1990 are in the Torre do Tombo National Archive. They can be consulted, but the names of agents and informers are not disclosed.
The only PIDE agents who faced trial were those responsible for the death of exiled opposition leader Humberto Delgado
Humberto Delgado
Humberto da Silva Delgado, GCL was a General of the Portuguese Air Force and politician.Delgado was born in Brogueira, Torres Novas. He was the son of Joaquim Delgado and wife Maria do Ó Pereira and had three younger sisters, Deolinda, Aida and Lídia....
. They were tried in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
and the case dragged on for several years. None of them ever served time in jail.
Because of the memory of the abuses of the PIDE/DGS in supporting the regime the establishment of a new civilian intelligence agency was delayed for more than a decade. However, following a terrorist attack on the Embassy of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the assassination of a Palestine Liberation Organization
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
representative at a Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
conference in 1983, and a number of domestic terrorist attacks by isolated far-left and far-right groups, the Portuguese government
Government of Portugal
The Government is one of the four sovereignty organs of the Portuguese Republic. It is also the organ that conducts politics in general in the country and is also the superior body in public administration...
became convinced of the need for a new intelligence agency. This led to the establishment of the Sistema de Informações da República Portuguesa
Sistema de Informações da República Portuguesa
The SIRP - Sistema de Informações da República Portuguesa is the coordinating structure of Portuguese intelligence....
(SIRP, Intelligence System of the Portuguese Republic) in 1984.
See also
- Sistema de Informações da República PortuguesaSistema de Informações da República PortuguesaThe SIRP - Sistema de Informações da República Portuguesa is the coordinating structure of Portuguese intelligence....
- OPSOffice of Public SafetyThe Office of Public Safety was a US government agency, established in 1957 by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower to train police forces of US allies. It was officially part of USAID , and was close to the Central Intelligence Agency . Police-training teams were sent to South Vietnam, Iran, Taiwan,...
(http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Torture/Hidden_Terrors_4.html) - Portuguese Legion (Estado Novo)Portuguese Legion (Estado Novo)The Portuguese Legion was a Portuguese paramilitary state organization founded in 1936 during dictator António de Oliveira Salazar's right-wing regime, the Estado Novo. It was dissolved in 1974....
- FlechasFlechasFlechas were a Portuguese special forces unit created during the Portuguese Colonial War. Flechas were platoon-sized units consisting of local tribesmen and rebel defectors who specialised in tracking, reconnaissance and pseudo-terrorist operations...
- List of defunct intelligence agencies
- Secret policeSecret policeSecret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
External links
- PIDE Documentation of PIDE/DGS in the National Archive (in Portuguese)