Edmundo Pedro
Biography:
Edmundo Pedro was born on November 8, 1918, in Samouco, Alcochete, into a family with intense political activity. His mother, a member of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), was arrested for political reasons. His father was deported and spent nine years in the Tarrafal Concentration Camp with Edmundo. His sister emigrated for political reasons; one brother died at age 14 after being assaulted at a student rally, and another served three years in prison for involvement in the Beja coup. His wife also spent time in the political police’s prisons.
At age 13, Edmundo worked at the Navy Arsenal and joined the Federation of Portuguese Communist Youth. He was arrested for involvement in the preparation of the general strike of January 18, 1934. He was sentenced by the Special Military Court to one year in prison, was released in January 1935, and in April, was elected to the leadership of the Communist Youth. He was arrested again in February 1936. After stints in Aljube, Peniche, and Caxias, he inaugurated Tarrafal in October, without trial. He was not yet 18 years old. He remained there for nine years. He attempted an escape in May 1943, which resulted in beatings and 60 days in the “frying pan.” After breaking with the PCP, he returned to Lisbon in 1945 to stand trial. He was sentenced by the Special Military Court to 22 months in correctional prison, already expiated after nearly ten years of pretrial detention. He was involved in the “Sé coup” (1959) and the Beja coup, following which he was arrested in January 1962 and sentenced in 1964 to three years and eight months in prison. He was released in November 1965.
In 1973, he joined the Socialist Party (PS), where he held various positions. He was a member of its National Committee, the Political Committee and the National Secretariat and was a member of the Assembly of the Republic for 11 years.
Date of Collection: 04.11.2015
Keywords: Tarrafal Concentration Camp, Violence, Interrogation, Tarrafal Escape, Family, Aljube Prison, Assault on Beja Barracks, PCP, Resistance, Post 25 April Prison.
