The 6 June 1975 Micalense Farmers' Protest, or simply the 6 June (as it is known locally), was an organized protest by Micalense farmers, in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the then-Autonomous District of the same name, following the Carnation Revolution. Inspired by rural property-owners and right-wing factions, the protest forced the resignation of the civil governor and inspired a series of terrorist acts, that ultimately led to the creation of the Regional Junta of the Azores, and the basis of modern Azorean politics.
History The protest was organized by large property-owners and landed gentry of the island of São Miguel that united hundreds of protesters. The principal motive of the gathering was to demonstrate agricultural issues, but mixed reactions against the left-leaning policies on the continent, and the desire to prevent progressive reforms in São Miguel. In particular, was a proposal by the anti-fascist Civil Governor of the Autonomous District of the Azores, António Borges Coutinho, and President of the Junta Geral, Álvaro Soares de Melo (both members of the MDP/CDE), to implement the reform of rural land rent policies and, possibly, the adoption of agrarian reforms imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture ().
The possibility of freedom and democracy, promoted by the Movement of the Captains () brought to the Azores a perception that the time to reclaim political autonomy or even independence was at hand for some. The radical politics in the continent, with the spectre of nationalization, contributed daily to the feeling of confrontation, in an archipelago that was openly hostile to communism and leftist ideologies.
The economic situation in the region was no better. In 1975, half of the population was involved in agriculture, and the nascent economy was asfixated by the price differential between the islands and the continent. Feed, fertilizer, cement and gas/oil were all influenced by cost of transport, inflation and the high margins fixed by commercial monopolies. High interest rates and low milk prices put the agricultural industries at risk: many of the farming families were desperate.
Event Although the protest was prohibited in a joint communique by the Civil and Military Governors, it nonetheless went ahead.José Manuel Oliveira Mendes (2003) The Military Governor, General Altino Pinto de Magalhães, had indicated that a protest at that time was not prudent, owing to arrival of a NATO squadron at the city port, which could have been interpreted as a reaction to their presence. Members of the agricultural cooperatives were mobilized, with tractors and pickup trucks arriving from around the island, parading around the streets of Ponta Delgada. There were chants of "If you are Azorean come here!", including cries of "exploitation" and unequal treatment by continental Portuguese. The protest wound through streets, following the path of the annual festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, although veering off to the headquarters of the PCP at one point, to provoke the communists.
The idea was made by the leaders of the protest, José Franco, Luís Indio, Armando Goyannes and Luís Franco, among others, linked to the independence movements like MAPA and, later, FLA.
When the procession finally reached the Palace of Conceição, the first placards started to appear, appealing to Azorean freedom, mixed with cries of "Viva a independência dos Açores" (Long live the independence of the Azores). In addition, the main captains of the political arm of the FLA appeared, the lawyers Carlos Melo Bento and Abel Carreiro. It was at that time that the protest took on a character of separatism: "We need to be free...we need to demonstrate that the Azores are able to auto-govern themselves....This protest is for independence and is just"!
By this time, the first military interventions in the protest, in order to block the crowd, but protesters were able to enter the Civil Governor's offices. Within the Palace, after a few moments of tension, the protesters demanded the head of Governor Borges Coutinho, the political symbol of the "communist threat" from the continent. This was the main reason for Luís Franco, and other leaders of the protest: to demand his resignation.
António Borges Coutinho appeared at the top of the staircase, and received a delegation from the protesters to discuss their demands. During the course of this discussion, Coutinho was interrupted by the Military Governor, who affirmed that the Civil Governor should resign, in order to put an end to the protests. Coutinho, losing his power base by the Military Governor, therefore resigned publicly on the veranda of the Palace of Conceição.
Aftermath A series of protests occurred in simultaneity with the events (but were likely planned earlier), including the occupation of the headquarters of the regional radio station (ERA) and the main post office, as well as the blockade of the runways of Ponta Delgada's airport.
The Military Governor ordered the imprisonment of the principal individuals allegedly responsible for the acts, resulting in the detention of approximately 29 of the participants. The majority of the people rounded up by local security forces were linked to the political right, some separatists/independentists or fascists, who were imprisoned in Angra do Heroísmo, including:
Abel da Câmara Carreiro (1916–2006), a sexagenarian lawyer, who was apprehended in the morning at his home, on Rua Dr. Armando Cortes Rodrigues (Ponta Delgada), who was a jurist and founder of the Movimento de Autodeterminação do Povo Açoriano (Movement for the Auto-determination of the Azorean People), who participated along with General Altino de Maglhães in the forced resignation of the Civil Governor, in the Palace of Conceição (and tried to prevent violent reprisals); Aguinaldo da Silva Almeida Carneiro (26 June 1951 – 15 March 1999), captured at 3:30 in the morning, by soldiers who were once instructees, at his home on Rua Teófilo Braga in Ponta Delgada, even as his wife was expecting their first child. Noting the stress that this would cause, he proposed to the soldiers that they should arrest him on Rua da Vila Nova de Baixo, while she was sent to her father's home. He was an active organizer and protester during 6 June, who entered the Palace and took to the veranda with the Civil Governor, when he resigned; Álvaro Pereira Branco Moreira was arrested at home on Rua dos Prestes de Baixo, one of the few prisoners who were unjustly detained, in place of his brother Rui, who was intimately involved in the protest and FLA; António Brum de Sousa Dourado, from a monarchist family and anti-communist, was arrested at his home on Rua Carvalho Araújo in Ponta Delgada, for his involvement as an active protest organizer, founder of the MAPA and its signatory to its manifesto (while his son, painted in black, had improvised a fire in front of the barracks, in a provocative preparatory action before 6 June); Antônio Clemente Pereira da Costa Santos, Counsel of France, was also arrested at his home on Rua Dr. Bruno Carreiro (Ponta Delgada), in the presence of his wife and children, by soldiers who had followed the couple into their home (and bathroom). A relatively wealthy man, having inherited a great fortune, his role was small, although he was loathed by some local militants, he was one of the first to be freed after eight days of jail. During his sentence, the French crew of naval ship docking in Ponta Delgada were surprised, since the Counsel, who should have been waiting, was not in attendance: representatives traveled to the square in Angra do Heroísmo where they waited until he was freed; António José do Amaral was arrested at 2:00 in the morning, at Rua do Diário dos Açores by a Sergeant and PSP officer; member of the MAPA, he was contacted before the protest by Rainer Daehnart, art dealer and active supporter of anti-communists forces. He was interrogated in the barracks in Ponta Delgada various times, for comments, threats and digressions made about Azorean independence during a Christmas dinner party, where he was denounced by a lieutenant in Fiscal Guard; António Manuel Gomes de Menezes, captured on Rua Dr. Armando Narciso, in the Bairro da Vitória, by a platoon of 12 nervous armed soldiers, captained by a marine sergeant, son-in-law of Floriberto Rodrigues. When captured, he and his wife had returned after a dinner with António Costa Santos, and their children were already asleep: when arrested he was counseled to bring a razor. António Menezes, participated in the protests, was a member of MAPA and FLA, and days earlier had accompanied Commander Eduardo Pavão, when he distributed independence pamphlets around Ponta Delgada, aboard a small airplane of the Aeroclube de S. Miguel; António Nuno Alves da Câmara, a young Azorean ex-military, was spirited from his house in Abelheira (Fajã de Baixo), by armed military: an active member of FLA, Câmara and his father animated the protest on 6 June, with this popularity, but he always remained isolated and alone in his prison cell; Armando Guilherme Goyanes Machad, was arrested in his Rua de Santana home in Ponta Delgada, and was known for his visceral anti-communist leanings; Bruno Tavares Carreiro was the son of a historical autonomist, arrested with his father, open independentists and high within the hierarchy of the FLA, he reacted negatively while in prison and proudly criticizing severely the others responsible (particularly Magalhães and Ricou). Carlos Eduardo da Silva Melo Bento, a 33 lawyer, was captured after one in the morning, by various soldiers commanded by a sergeant from Ginetes, friend and supporter of Marcelo Caetano's ANP. He was taken from his four children and wife on Rua da Cruz in Ponta Delgada, and imprisoned aboard a lighthouse ship, before being transported to Terceira. Liberated 15 days later, from popular pressure, for several years he was dedicated to Azorean independence, joining FLA for some time: although he had no involvement in the protest, he did support the sentiments of the protesters. Commandant Eduardo José Pereira de Almeida Pavão (30 November 1946 – 7 July 1999) was a pilot for SATA Air Açores, and colleague of General Diogo Neto, member of the National Salvation Junta. He was imprisoned after being rounded-up on 10 June (along with Mont'Alverne and Tomás Caetano), around 1:00 in the afternoon by a sergeant and four soldiers. He was a member of the executive council of FLA, when José d'Almeida became its president, to whom he was loyal until his death: all the clandestine actions of FLA was signed off by him, including the protest. He was primarily responsible for the nationalist pamphlet campaign, flying his personal plane and dropping the pamphlets on the island; Fernando Manuel Mont'Alverne de Sequeira, also captured during 10 June round-up, he was picked up from his home on Rua de Lisboa, and imprisoned by armed forces at the PSP command post, along with Eduardo Pavão; Gualberto Borges Cabral, was an active organizer and proponent of the protest, as well as member of the FLA and right-wing monarchist, played a role in the Movimento Nacionalista Açoriano (Azorean Nationalist Movement). He was arrested at his residence on Rua Coronel Chaves, leaving behind his widowed mother in a state of despair, a fact that he never forgave his accusers. Gustavo Manuel Soares Palhinha Moura, journalist for Açoriano Oriental, was arrested after publicizing the acts of the event: he was arrested at night, at his residence along the Estrada Regional da Ribeira Grande; João Gago da Câmara, personally wealthy, the enthusiastic independentist, was apprehended at his home on Rua do Castilho; imprisoned, he eventually travelled to the United States, then returned, before holding the office of President of the municipality of Ponta Delgada for 10 years;