Operation Mondego
#inthisday May 17, 1967 was launched “Operação Mondego”, aimed at financing the political activity of the League of Union and Revolutionary Action (LUAR) through an assault on the Banco de Portugal branch in Figueira da Foz. the operation is successful, and in a light aircraft, the assailants head to the Algarve, trying to create the illusion of a way out to North Africa, when in reality the destination was neighboring Spain, from where they went to France.
The assault is claimed in France by LUAR, and in August Palma Inácio will be arrested, but, contrary to what was intended by PIDE, he is not extradited to Portugal. The divergences around the money resulting from the assault, but also from conflicting strategic concepts, will increase, culminating in the rupture between the factions that made up the LUAR.
The 1960s will mark the reinforcement of the direct and armed the line of action for the overthrow of the dictatorship. After the Revolutionary Action Movement or the Popular Action Front, LUAR and then the Revolutionary Brigades and Armed Revolutionary Action, will be some of the organizations that will carry out armed actions against the Estado Novo.
Image: (1968), “LUAR Communication on Palma Inácio Prison”, Mário Soares Foundation / AMS – Mário Soares Archive
http://hdl.handle.net/11002/fms_dc_93470 (2021-5-16)
