Ernesto Melo Antunes - Background

Background

He was the son of Ernesto Augusto Antunes (1907–1986) and Maria José Forjaz de Melo (1911–1987). Born in Lisbon, he moved to Angola at the age of 6, as a result of his father's military posting. He returned to Portugal at age 10 and lived in Aveiro and Tavira. Under family pressure, he entered the Military College in 1953. An avid reader since youth, he audited classes at the University of Lisbon in Philosophy (his main interest) and Law. His intellectual curiosity led him to read Marx and other authors prohibited by the Dictatorship, and led to his "exile' to the Azores in 1957.

Intensely involved in cultural and political activities, he formed with Manuel Alegre, in 1962 the Patriotic Action of the Azores, which promoted activities to denounce political propaganda. His most daring project was to attempt a military and popular revolt in the Azores, with the promised support of General Humberto Delgado. This attempt was unsuccessful, as General Delgado withdrew support.

In 1971-1973, he completed his third and last combat posting in Angola, an experience that was instrumental in forming his anti-colonialist political thinking. It was a traumatic experience, which led him to declare that he had fought on the "wrong side."

His initial participation in the Movement of Captains, a military group plotting to overthrow the dictatorship, occurred in 1974. His solid knowledge of doctrine and political consistency led to his immediate notice, and he was asked to draft the political program of the Movement of the Armed Forces (MFA). Thus began his role as the "intellectual in uniform" and author of some of the most important political documents of the Revolution.