The Parliament unanimously approved a motion of mourning presented by the Socialist Party for the death of General Amadeu Garcia dos Santos, highlighting “his role in building democracy and restoring freedom.”
The military figure of the April revolution passed away on July 4th at the age of 89.
Born on August 13, 1935, in Lisbon, Garcia dos Santos pursued a military career specializing in Military Engineering.
“While teaching at the Military Academy, he was contacted to manage communications for the Movement that was being prepared, a mission he joined and performed with special effectiveness, crucial for the success of the Operation ‘Fim Regime,’ which toppled the dictatorship,” recalls the motion approved today.
Between 1974 and 1975, he served as Secretary of State for Public Works in the II, III, and IV Provisional Governments, and again between 1975 and 1976 in the VI Provisional Government.
He was part of the group of moderate military officers who, on November 25, 1975, ensured the reestablishment of the initial goals of April 25, endorsing the ‘Document of Nine.’
With the onset of democratic institutions, he became the head of the Military House of President Ramalho Eanes during his first term, and later, between 1982 and 1983, served as the Chief of Staff of the Army. Later, between 1997 and 1998, he was the president of the Autonomous Roads Board (JAE).
He was honored with the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis, the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty, and the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ. He also held numerous foreign awards, including the French Legion of Honor, the Spanish Order of Military Merit, the Brazilian National Order of the Southern Cross, and the Orders of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Italy.
“The Assembly of the Republic expresses its condolences for the passing of Amadeu Garcia dos Santos, paying tribute to his role in the construction of Democracy and the restoration of freedom, offering heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” states the resolution.
On Tuesday, the 25th of April Association expressed “great dismay” at the absence of Government or parliamentary representatives at the funeral of General Garcia dos Santos, suggesting this could indicate “unthinkable changes” in the values upheld by the April revolutionaries.
“Among the state organs, only the President of the Republic honored the event by attending the wake and funeral of this April Captain, who rose to the rank of general. What else did we witness? From the Government or Parliament, there was only the presentation of condolences to the family by the Minister of National Defense’s chief of staff,” they criticized.
