Civil resistance movements in several countries successfully overthrew dictatorships in nonviolent ways. In Portugal in 1974, a nonviolent popular uprising and general strike supported by the army overthrew the authoritarian regime. In Uruguay from 1983-1984, a small nonviolent human rights group organized strikes and demonstrations that eventually led to free elections and the end of the dictatorship. In Tunisia in 2010-2011, mass nonviolent protests in response to economic and political issues grew large enough that the army eventually refused to support the regime, leading the dictator to flee and free elections.

1. Slides 3-2
Civil resistance
against dictatorships
Étienne Godinot
Translation : Claudia McKenny Engström
26.06.2017
Slides n° 3
Civil resistance against dictatorships, coups and terrorism

2. Civil resistance against dictatorships
Contents
1 - Portugal (Caetano, 1974)
2 - Uruguay (1983-1984)
3 - Haïti (Duvalier,1985-1986)
4 - Philippines (Marcos, 1986)
5 – South Korea (Chun Doo-hwan, 1987)
6 – Tunisia (Ben Ali, 2010-2011)
7 - Hong Kong (2013-2014)
Sources : - Résistance civiles, les leçons de l’histoire, dossier Non-violence actualité,
- review Alternatives non-violentes, n° 119-120 , été-automne 2001
- Les luttes non-violentes au XXème
siècle, (Nonviolent Struggles in the XXth Century)
revue ANV, n° 121, 2001
- Jacques Sémelin, Face au totalitarisme, la résistance civile, André Versaille, 2011
- Faim et Développement (CCFD), janv.-.fév. 2015 : “Les parapluies de Hong Kong”.
- Internet Wikipedia

3. 1 – Carnation Revolution in Portugal
(april 1974)
The Revolução dos Cravos is the name given to the
events that took place in April 1974 and that led to
the fall of the Salazar Regime, who had ruled over
Portugal since 1933.
Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, its
founding father, died in 1970. He had been replaced
by Marcelo Caetano, whose attempts to reform
Portuguese politics where annihilated by an inert
system and the omnipotence of the secret and
military police, the PIDE.
Photos : - Antonio Salazar (1889-1970)
- Marcelo Caetano (1906-1980)

4. The army opposes the dictatorship
Since 1972, the Governor and Commander of Armed Forces
in Guinea-Bissau, Antonio de Spinola, had been trying to
convince Marcelo Caetano, President of the Council, to find a
political solution to a war he considered lost. But Caetano
refused : the regime prefers defeat to any form of negotiation
with the rebels fighting for their independence (Guinea,
Angola, Mozambique).
The Movimiento das Forcas Armadas (MFA/MAF, Movement
of Armed Forces), composed of left-wing army members,
comes forward with a programme: 1/ democratisation: power
needs to be taken back by a junta who will protect the
country’s democratisation; 2/ decolonisation: free elections
shall be organised by the government and a referendum for
the colonies abroad under protection of the army; 3/ economic
development.
Photos : - General Antonio de Spinola
- Press announces MFA coup

5. The population supports the army
On 25th April 1974, the MAF takes control of strategic
points and overthrows the dictatorial regime. Thousands
of Portuguese go into the streets and march side-by-side
with the army.
One of the central points of this gathering is the flower market
in Lisbon, then full of carnations. Many soldiers put flowers at
the tip of their guns, thus giving the revolution its symbolic
name.
Caetano hands the power over to General de Spinola.
The political police PIDE is the only one to oppose the armed
resistance. 4 people die, the only 4 of the whole revolution.

6. Free elections
As planned, power is handed over to a Junta for National
Salvation, who affirms its powers will be given to the people
after free elections are held.
Political prisoners are freed on 26th April. Party leaders in exile
return in triumph to Portugal: socialist Mario Soares and
communist Alvaro Cunhal become ministers of the temporary
government.
General Spinola fails in his 1975 coup.
This revolution is one among many democratisation
movements that will touch Spain, Greece, South America, and
later Eastern Europe.
Photos :
- Mario Soares, born 1924, Prime Minister in 1976, President in 1986
- Alvaro Cunhal (1913-2005

7. 2 - Uruguay (1983-1984)
- June 1973 : the army takes power to “fight against
subversion”. Uruguay is a dictatorship until 1983. 7000
political prisoners out a total population of 3 million. The
Death Squad, an extreme-right paramilitary group, hunt
down dissidents.
- November 1980 : the military regime organises a
referendum in the hope of strengthening its power, but as
it does not organise fraud, 87% vote against it.
Photos :
- Uruguyay map
- Hector Castagneto, agronomy student assassinated on 17th August
1971 by paramilitary group. His body was thrown into the Rio de la Plata.

8. A small nonviolent organisation
From 1982, trade unions, students and clergy members
mobilise for the Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ),
nonviolent movement founded in the late 60s and in
defence of human rights in South America.
Traditional parties’ silence and Church hierarchy grant
the SERPAJ a political role that surpasses it numeric
importance.
The SERPAJ in Uruguay is led by Jesuit Luis Perez
Aguirre.
Photos :
- Adolfo Perez Esquivel (Argentina), founder of SERPAJ, Nobel Prize for
Peace in 1980
- Luis Perez Aguirre

9. Hunger strike and stay-at-home operation
- July 1983: the SERPAJ spreads information
concerning tortures and rapes towards prisoners. Luis
Perez Aguirre is arrested and interrogated during 17
hours. Three members of the SERPAJ go on a 15 days
long hunger strike. The 25th August becomes a national
reflection day on democratic solutions to resorb the crisis
in the country.
- 25th August 1983: Stay-at-home operation in the
capital Montevideo. Lights are turned off, pots and pans
concert all night.
A national coordination of democratic forces is
organised.

10. The return of democracy
- 30th August 1983 : the SERPAJ is forbidden and
dismantled.
- 27th November 1983 : Uruguay sees the biggest
demonstration of its history : 500 000 people (1/6th of the
population) in spite of governmental prohibition
- 18th January 1984 : the general strike is a success
- 25th November 1984 : free elections, 85% participation
- 1st March 1985 : a national union government is
constituted by Julio Sanguinetti. The last political prisoners
are freed.
Photos :
- Luis Perez Aguirre’s book “All starts with a cry”
- The Palacio legislative in Montevideo.

11. 3 - Over-throwing Duvalier in Haiti (1986)
The regime of Jean Claude Duvalier, incompetent,
dictatorial, corrupt and spoliator, rested heavily on the
Tontons Macoutes militia.
It is over-thrown on 7th February 1986 after two months
of full popular mobilisation : religious communities,
farmers associations, municipalities, committees for the
defence of human rights, trade unions, youth
associations, women associations, etc.
The actions led were mainly nonviolent (protest
marches on 26-30 January), but also violent (fire in
Gonaïves Court House).
Photos :
- Jean-Claude Duvalier
- January 1986 demonstrations in Haiti.

12. 4 - Over-throwing Marcos in the Philippines
(1986) *
The 20 years President Ferdinand Marcos ruled the
Philippines were 20 years of baffling freedoms, forcing to
exile, imprisonment of opposition leaders, corruption,
explosion of inequalities, martial law in 1972.
Legal means were blocked due to election fraud and
because Marcos assassinated the only opponent who could
face him, Ninoy Aquino, on 21st August 1983 as he returned
from exile.
Photos : - Ferdinand Marcos
- The assassination of Ninoy Aquino.
* According to an article by Christian Mellon on this subject in the review
Alternatives non-violentes, “Nonviolent struggles of the XXth Century”, 2001.

13. An assassination that launches a nonviolent revolution
This assassination will be the detonator of an opposition
who multiplies strikes, demonstrations and leads a
campaign of non-cooperation and civil disobedience.
For years, catholic groups recommend nonviolent actions to
fight the dictatorship, namely bishop Francisco Claver and
the Akkapka movement led by Jose Blanco.
Photos :
- Francisco Claver sj
- Akkapka movement logo

14. Educating to nonviolent action and democracy
In 1984, parliamentary elections might be
falsified but they nonetheless allow election
of 56 opposition representatives and to
constitute the national Citizens’ Movement for
Free Elections (NAMFREL), that mobilises
hundreds of volunteers to ensure respect of
electoral rules, bureaus and counting.
Photos : NAMFREL logo with the saying “It is better to
light a candle than to curse the darkness”

15. Election fraud generates nonviolent insurrection
During the 7th February 1986 elections, the 500 000
NAMFREL volunteers count 52% for ONUDI party led
by Cory Aquino (Ninoy Aquino’s widow), but the
governmental electoral commission proclaims the
election of Marcos’ party, KBL.
In a country where 85% of the population is catholic,
the Conference of Bishops calls for a “nonviolent fight
for justice”.
The USA, who for too long supported Marcos,
condemn this fraud.
Photo : Corazon (Cory) Aquino

16. The turnaround of army democrats
On 22nd February 1986, Defence Minister Ponce Enrile and Army Chief of
Staff General Ramos, join Cory Aquino. They announce their decision on
Radio Veritas, the only one not under Marcos’ control, and take refuge in
the “Aguinaldo camp”, military barracks in Manilla.
In the evening, on Radio veritas, Cardinal Sin, Manilla Archbishop, invites
the local population to surround the camp and stop governmental troops
from attacking.
Photos : - Enrile and Ramos joining Cory Aquino
- Cardinal Jaime Sin

17. A human barricade
On 23rd February, the growing crowd marches
down on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA)
in Manilla.
In the middle of the afternoon, 5 tanks and 8
armoured vehicles attempt to cross the avenue
and attack the “rebels”.
A human barricade is then formed, and people
refuse to separate before the advancing tanks.
The vehicles are encircled, people call out to
soldiers, give them flowers and beverages.

18. The turnaround of army democrats
General Tadar threatens to open fire on the crowd is
it doesn’t disperse. No one moves. Twice they
attempt to move the tanks forward. The human
barricade stays solid. The General then orders the
tanks to pull out.
Early in the morning of the 24th February, soldiers
attempt to attack the rebel camp, but artillerymen
refuse to shoot.
Seven helicopters having received the order to
attack the camp, but they landed peacefully and
retrenched with General Ramos.

19. The media and population’s support to the legitimate presidency
On 24th February at 9 o’clock, as Marcos
was being interviewed on an official
television channel with his new Army Chief
of Staff, the programme is interrupted :
television managers had rallied to Cory
Aquino.
In the afternoon, following the legitimate
Presidency’s call, more than 2 million people
demonstrate on EDSA Avenue.

20. International support to the legitimate presidency
On Tuesday 25th February, as Marcos is taking his
oath, no foreign diplomat is present.
At the same time, another television channel
retransmits Cory Aquino’s oath, who immediately
names her government.
In the evening, American helicopters pick up the
former president, his family, gold and jewellery and
takes them to Hawaï.
Photos :
- Cory Aquino cheered by the population
- Ronald Reagan let down his protégé Marcos, realising he had lost
real power on Philippines society.

21. 5 – Overthrowing South Korea dictatorship
(1987)
- Dictatorships : Park Chung-hee (1972-1979) and Chun Doo-
hwan (1979-1987). Murderous repression of anti-martial law
riots in Gwangju on 18th May 1980.
- For decades, many activists of the Oecumenical Church
(National Council of Churches of Korea – NCCK) and Buddhist
leaders are influenced and trained by American Civil Rights
movement of the 60s, led by Martin Luther King.
Church activists represent the highest number of political
prisoners.
Photo above : General Chun Doo-hwan, leader of the
12th December 1979 coup

22. Protest words and actions
- 1st March 1976: 12 notorious dissidents, led by
Seoul Cardinal Kim Su-hwan and NCCK Secretary
General Dim Kwan-sok, proclaim the Declaration for
Democracy and National Salvation, demanding
repeal of the 1975 repressive decree and liberation
of political prisoners.
- 1987 : a mass funeral procession in memory of a
student tortured and assassinated by the police,
marches along the 1600 km that separate Seoul from
Kwangju.
Photo above : cardinal Kim Su Hwan

23. Pro-democracy demonstrations
- Demonstrators occupy Myeong Dong Cathedral in central
Seoul. The site serves as centre for the July mass
demonstrations that gathered over 100 000 people, and
which refer to the People Power Revolution in the
Philippines
- 29th June 1987: General Roh tae Who, presidential
candidate of the unique party in place, the Party for
Democratic Justice, announces universal suffrage in
presidential elections. This declaration is contrary to
President Chun Doo-hwan’s decision. The whole country is
in awe.
Photos :
- Myeong Dong Cathedral in Seoul
- General and President Roh Tae-wooh

24. The advent of democracy
With this declaration, a violent confrontation is latent and
avoided in extremis. The nation engages on the path of
democratisation.
Roh tae Woo is elected President on 16th December 1987 with 39,5% of
votes in favour, due to the candidacy of two opposition leaders Kim Dae-
Jung and Kim Young-sam.
Kim Dae-jung, elected in 1997, is the first President to benefit
from democratic legitimacy.
Photos :
- Kim Dae-jung (1925-2009), main opposition figure during the dictatorship in
South Korea. He escapes an attempted assassination in 1971, disguised as road
crash and goes into exile in Japan where he creates the Democratic Opposition
Front. Kidnapped in 1973 by the political police, he escapes death thanks to the
intervention of a handful of American civil servants hostile to Nixon’s politics.
Sentenced to death in 1980, the latter sentenced in revised to 20 years
imprisonment after American intervention, and then exile. After his election, he
wins the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2000 for his political efforts to tighten relations
with North Korea.
- South Korean flag.

25. 6 - Overthrowing the dictatorship in Tunisia
(2010-2011)
The anger expressed in Tunisia at the end of 2010 is the
consequence of unemployment and increasing regional
development disparities and inequalities. President Ben Ali and
his family are directly accused of corruption, misappropriation of
funds and theft.
On 17th December 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, 26 year old fruit
and vegetable street vendor whose goods had been
confiscated by the police, sets fire to himself in front of the local
government’s building. He is imitated by other young people.
Protest demonstrations follow against the unemployment that
hits many young people, especially recently graduated, against
corruption, censorship and police repression.
Photos :
- President-Dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali
- Stamp in memory of Mohamed Bouazizi, street vendor.

26. The army protecting the crowd against police forces
For four weeks and in spite of the repression,
demonstrations spread across the country. A general
strike is started in Sfax on 12th January 2011 with a
demonstration counting 50 000 citizens. The day after, the
army deployed in Tunis refuses to follow Ben Ali and
chooses to protect civilians against police forces.
Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia on 14th January 2011. The
day after, the Constitutional Court proclaims Tunisian
Parliament President Fouad Mebazza interim President of
the Republic.
Squads faithful to Ben Ali, armed and aboard 4x4, spread
terror and chaos in the streets of Tunis and other towns.
Tunisians organise local committees to protect
themselves.
Photos : Demonstrations in Tunis on 14th January 2011.

27. First free elections
On 16th January in the evening, the army launches an
assault on the presidential palace in Carthage
harbouring faithful members of the presidential guard.
338 people are killed and 2174 wounded during the
revolution.
On 23rd October 2011, the first pluralist and transparent
elections take place.
A new Constitution is adopted in January 2014. It
stabilises the new democracy, real exception in the Arab
world after the “Arab Spring”.
Photos :
- Sit-in on Kasbah Square in Tunis, 28th January 2011
- Tunisian National Assembly

28. A democracy in the arab world
The Preamble to the Constitution proclaims the people’s
attachment to human rights and Arab-Muslim identity
characterised by “openness and moderation”.
It clarifies the need for Tunisia to build a State grounded the
Rule of Law, Democracy and Participative in which
sovereignty belongs to the people and where of separation of
powers is ensured as principal.
The Constitution recognises freedom of belief and of thought.
It is, in the Arab-Muslim world, the one that guarantees most
rights to women.
Photos :
- Moncef Marzouki, born 1945, doctor, ex-president of the Human Rights
League, imprisoned in 1994, assigned to house arrest in 1998, President
of the Republic by interim from Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2014
- Tunisian Constitution.

29. 7 – Civil resistance in Hong Kong, 2013-2015
Hong Kong, former British colony counting 7 million
inhabitants, is – with Macao, ex-Portuguese colony – one of
the two “special administrative regions” of the People’s
Republic of China. It’s also the third financial market.
In 2017, for the first time in its history, Hong Kong will hold
free universal suffrage elections to choose who will succeed
to Leun Chun-ying as regional governor. However, only 2 or
3 candidates were approved by the Chinese regime.
In reaction to this anti-democratic restriction, the
disobedience movement Occupy Central, very informal,
organised around one and only demand : free elections.
Photos :
-Hong Kong map (1 100km2)
- Leun Chun-ying, Hong Kong Governor.

30. Press articles, meetings, referendum
In January 2013, Benny Tai, law professor, suggests via a press
article, different forms of pacific action, including civil
disobedience.
In the following months, 3 public debates are organised by
Occupy Central in June 2013, March and May 2014. They
gather a large spectrum of people and pro-democracy
organisations, and set up electoral rules.
From 20th to 29th June 2014, Occupy organised a referendum
asking Hong Kong population to decide on the electoral rules
established after those 3 debates. 800 000 people (out of 3,7
million voters) participate.
4 Occupy leaders : Joseph Zen, Chu
Yiu-ming, Chan Kin-man and Benny Tai.
For more details, see Slides Charts on
Nonviolence. See Tai, 1964.

31. A huge demonstration
On 1st July 2014, commemoration day of Hong Kong’s
restitution to China (1st July 1997), a demonstration is
organised, like every year, by the Civil Front for Human
Rights, but with Occupy’s support. 500 000 people
demonstrate (photo above) demanding free elections. After the
demonstration, the police will arrest 511 people who had
been occupying down-town (photo below).
Indeed, financial and industrial leaders working in down-
town Hong Kong support Chinese government, which allows
them to increase their wealth in China, and do not want a
democratic evolution that would lead to sanctions on Labour
law or social inequalities.

32. Students and Trade unions
Initiated by Occupy Central, the civil disobedience
movement is planned for 1st October 2014. But a few days
before, students (photo above) go on strike and try to occupy
administrative buildings. The police retaliates with tear gas
grenades and arrests several of the student leaders.
The population, in awe, goes into the streets to support the
students. Hong Kong trade union confederation ((Hong
Kong Confederation of Trade Unions – HKCTU) calls for a
general strike.
The umbrellas used by demonstrators in September 2014
to protect themselves against tear gas are largely
mediatised by international press and social networks
(#umbrellarevolution) : it becomes the “umbrella
movement” (photo below).

33. Two months occupation
Occupation camps are put up during two months in various
areas of the city : Admiralty, Wan Chaï, Mong Kok,
Causeway Bay, etc., but disturb commercial activities.
Hence, anti-Occupy demonstrations break out more or less
spontaneously, organised by triad men, Chinese mafia,
which is said to be controlled by Beijing…
The movements reaches no concrete result. Public opinion,
annoyed by traffic jams and constant disturbances, does not
support them. The movement is divided between those who
want to radicalise the action and those who want to change
strategies.
By the end of November, the barricades erected in Mongkok
area, on Kowloon peninsula, are evacuated by the army :
many people are wounded; 160 arrested.

34. The end of the occupation, no movement…
On 3rd December 2014, Occupy founders call the end
of demonstrations and participation in a debate on
political reform. They hand themselves in to the police,
symbolically, as “participants of a non-authorised
reunion”.
Seized by a bus company, the High Court’s order of
evacuation is published in the press on 9th December.
On 15th December 2014, the police peacefully moves
out the last occupants on Causeway Bay.

35. A useful experience for the future
“ Hong Kong have never experienced anything like it. It
just experienced its own Tien’anmen. They wrote a page
in history. In the long run, they expressed new forms of
socialisation (…). People went into the street, met up,
debated on political issues (…). Thousands of young
people lived, for the first time, the unforgettable feeling of
solidarity and collective action, they voiced out their
opinion, shook hierarchies (...) Mobilisation is always full
of hope ”.
Cai Chongguo, Tien’anmen activist, member of
China Labour Bulletin

36. A movement to follow…
No one doubts that the “umbrella movement” is not over.
In all forms, democrats have said “ We’ll be back !
It’s just the beginning ! ”.
And on 1st February 2015, a demonstration gathered
10 000 democrats.
■