One of the most oppressive periods in the history of Brazil is remembered to this day by the maxim Remember so as not to forget. This is what the writer and retired professor from the Department of History (DeHis/CCHLA/UFRN), Conceição Fraga, did when she launched the work 60 years of the Civil Military Coup in Rio Grande do Norte. The event takes place in the Sônia Campos Ferreira Auditorium, located in the Zila Mamede Central Library building (BCZM/UFRN), at 9am on December 19th.
The book features the participation of João Maria Fraga, a graduate in history from UFRN, in both the bachelor's and bachelor's degrees, and also a master's degree in History Teaching from the University. The graduate was responsible for writing a chapter on the historiography surrounding the coup, focusing on explaining how the facts were recorded, interpreted and analyzed over time.
The launch will feature musical performances and a poetry recital. The program is aimed at teachers, students, historians and society in general. 60 years of the Civil Military Coup in Rio Grande do Norte gives visibility to the relationship between the military and politicians in Brazil, providing a history of coups d'état that occurred in the country, as well as failed attempts.
researchers, masters and doctors who study the period, presenting details about the scenario that precedes the historic moment of 1964, the days of the coup, the period of the military dictatorship and Brazilian redemocratization. "For this reason, it fills a gap, as it allows the reader to have a historical and panoramic view of events, with unprecedented analyses. For all this, it contributes to providing knowledge about history, as it is up to the historian to remember what society wants to forget", comments Conceição Fraga.
According to the author, the creation process took place following an invitation made to João Maria Fraga to put together a reflection that would serve the university public. As a result, the book began to be organized at the beginning of 2023 and will now be available to anyone interested in the topic.
About the dictatorship
The Brazilian Military Dictatorship was an authoritarian regime that lasted from 1964 to 1985, marked by the intervention of the military in power after a coup d'état that deposed the democratically elected president, João Goulart. During these years, the group governed the country in a repressive manner, suspending civil rights, censoring the press, persecuting political opponents and carrying out torture and murders.
The system justified its actions as a way to combat communism and guarantee order in the country. In the 1980s, there was a serious economic crisis and an increase in popular mobilizations, such as the Strikes at ABC and the demonstrations for Diretas Já. Although elections by direct vote were not won immediately, the transition to democracy came to fruition with the indirect election of Tancredo Neves in 1985, who, after his death, was replaced by José Sarney. This period resulted in the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, consolidating redemocratization.
Conceição Fraga – Photo: Personal archive.