Octávio Pato
Encyclopedia
Octávio Floriano Rodrigues Pato (1 April 1925, Vila Franca de Xira
- 19 February 1999) started working at 14 in a shoe factory. At the same time he also played soccer on S.L. Benfica's youth teams (and remained an unconditional Benfica supporter throughout). Being a restless person, with an unusual working class feeling, he soon made contact with a group of intellectuals and artists of "neo-realismo" (the Portuguese wave of the socialist realism), such as Soeiro Pereira Gomes
and Alves Redol
that developed their political work in his home town, Vila Franca de Xira
. After that contact, he adhered to the Communist Youth Federation at the age of 15 and soon began his career as a revolutionary. Still a teenager, he was an active voice in the organization of the vast wave of strikes that frightened the Portuguese Fascist regime, led by Oliveira Salazar, in 1944. His brother Carlos was murdered in prison, along with Alfredo Dinis
(Alex) and some other top members of the Communist Party at the time.
In 1945 he plunged into clandestinity, controlling and organizing the youth and student branches of the Party. In 1947 he became responsible for the Lisbon Regional organization and for the party newspaper, "Avante!
", and the clandestine typographies where the newspaper was printed. He also joined the Central Committee.
He soon became prosecuted by the fascist political police, the PIDE
, being arrested in 1961. He was beaten and tortured continuously. He endured 11 and then another 7 days standing sleepless (a usual torture method carried by the police), suffered a syncope
and near death experience. Was kept isolated for 4 months. He didn't spoke a word to his captors.
Taken to court, Pato was defended by his long time friend, the social-democrat Mário Soares
(that would become the leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party
and President of Portugal
). Pato made a very famous political speech in his defense. He said he was proud to belong to the PCP and stated his belief in Marxism-Leninism
. He reminded the judges of his imprisoned wife and sons and of his murdered comrades. He also claimed that his judgment was an attempt on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
. He qualified the regime as an executive at the service of the monopolists and the latifundia and Criticized the country presence in NATO. At one point, the masters of the show just couldn't stand it anymore. Police agents started beating him up with clubs right on his accused stand, in front of the judges. Soares screamed in protest at the bar. To no avail. Pato was evacuated from the court and his sentence was read to him in his cell: 8 years in prison that could be adjourned (fascist political sentences were open-ended).
Pato got out of jail in 1970 and plunged again in clandestinity in 1972. At the time of the Carnation Revolution
, he was one of the most important members of the Party, being responsible by almost all the work inside the country, as the Party's General Secretary, Álvaro Cunhal
was exiled in Soviet Union
.
Later, in 1976, Octávio Pato was the Party's presidential candidate
. For the next years he continued in the Party's Central Committee.
Pato married four times and fathered five children.
Octávio Pato died in 1999, after a long struggle against cancer. He was buried at the Cemetery of Alto de São João, in Lisbon, in one of the rare permanent ground graves.
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 317.7 km² and a total population of 133,224 inhabitants. Situated on the west bank of the Tagus River, just 32 km north-east of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, Vila Franca de Xira is said to have been founded by French...
- 19 February 1999) started working at 14 in a shoe factory. At the same time he also played soccer on S.L. Benfica's youth teams (and remained an unconditional Benfica supporter throughout). Being a restless person, with an unusual working class feeling, he soon made contact with a group of intellectuals and artists of "neo-realismo" (the Portuguese wave of the socialist realism), such as Soeiro Pereira Gomes
Soeiro Pereira Gomes
Joaquim Soeiro Pereira Gomes was a Portuguese writer of realist influence and became one of the major names of Portuguese literature of the 20th century. Pereira Gomes is, along with Alves Redol, the biggest name of the Portuguese neo-realist movement...
and Alves Redol
Alves Redol
António Alves Redol was one of the most influential Portuguese neorealist writers. Redol was born in Vila Franca de Xira, an industrial zone near Lisbon. In 1927 he finished school, and in the next year travelled to Angola , where he stayed for three years...
that developed their political work in his home town, Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 317.7 km² and a total population of 133,224 inhabitants. Situated on the west bank of the Tagus River, just 32 km north-east of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, Vila Franca de Xira is said to have been founded by French...
. After that contact, he adhered to the Communist Youth Federation at the age of 15 and soon began his career as a revolutionary. Still a teenager, he was an active voice in the organization of the vast wave of strikes that frightened the Portuguese Fascist regime, led by Oliveira Salazar, in 1944. His brother Carlos was murdered in prison, along with Alfredo Dinis
Alfredo Dinis
Alfredo Dinis, often known by its nom de guerre, "Alex", was a notable Portuguese anti-fascist, member of the Portuguese Communist Party. "Alex" was murdered in 1945 by the PIDE ....
(Alex) and some other top members of the Communist Party at the time.
In 1945 he plunged into clandestinity, controlling and organizing the youth and student branches of the Party. In 1947 he became responsible for the Lisbon Regional organization and for the party newspaper, "Avante!
Avante!
Avante! is the official newspaper of the Portuguese Communist Party . Founded in 1931, it continues to be published to this day...
", and the clandestine typographies where the newspaper was printed. He also joined the Central Committee.
He soon became prosecuted by the fascist political police, the PIDE
PIDE
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . 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...
, being arrested in 1961. He was beaten and tortured continuously. He endured 11 and then another 7 days standing sleepless (a usual torture method carried by the police), suffered a syncope
Syncope (medicine)
Syncope , the medical term for fainting, is precisely defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery due to global cerebral hypoperfusion that most often results from hypotension.Many forms of syncope are...
and near death experience. Was kept isolated for 4 months. He didn't spoke a word to his captors.
Taken to court, Pato was defended by his long time friend, the social-democrat Mário Soares
Mário Soares
Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares, GColTE, GCC, GColL, KE , Portuguese politician, served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently as the 17th President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996.-Family:...
(that would become the leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party
Portuguese Socialist Party
The Portuguese Socialist Party was a political party in Portugal.The party was founded in 1875. During its initial phase the party was heavily influenced by Proudhonism, and rejected revolutionary Marxism. The party suffered constant factional struggles...
and President of Portugal
President of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
). Pato made a very famous political speech in his defense. He said he was proud to belong to the PCP and stated his belief in Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
. He reminded the judges of his imprisoned wife and sons and of his murdered comrades. He also claimed that his judgment was an attempt on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
. He qualified the regime as an executive at the service of the monopolists and the latifundia and Criticized the country presence in NATO. At one point, the masters of the show just couldn't stand it anymore. Police agents started beating him up with clubs right on his accused stand, in front of the judges. Soares screamed in protest at the bar. To no avail. Pato was evacuated from the court and his sentence was read to him in his cell: 8 years in prison that could be adjourned (fascist political sentences were open-ended).
Pato got out of jail in 1970 and plunged again in clandestinity in 1972. At the time of the Carnation Revolution
Carnation 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...
, he was one of the most important members of the Party, being responsible by almost all the work inside the country, as the Party's General Secretary, Álvaro Cunhal
Álvaro Cunhal
Álvaro Barreirinhas Cunhal, who used the name Álvaro Cunhal , was a Portuguese politician. He was one of the major opponents of the dictatorial regime of Estado Novo. He served as secretary-general of the Portuguese Communist Party from 1961 to 1992...
was exiled in Soviet Union
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....
.
Later, in 1976, Octávio Pato was the Party's presidential candidate
Portuguese presidential election, 1976
The Portuguese presidential election of 1976 was held on June 27.With a broad base of support that comprised the center-left and the center-right, Ramalho Eanes won the election on the first round and became the first elected President of Portugal after the Carnation Revolution.The Portuguese...
. For the next years he continued in the Party's Central Committee.
Pato married four times and fathered five children.
Octávio Pato died in 1999, after a long struggle against cancer. He was buried at the Cemetery of Alto de São João, in Lisbon, in one of the rare permanent ground graves.