Iberian Revolutionary Liberation Directory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iberian Revolutionary Liberation DirectoryDirectorio Revolucionario Ibérico de Liberación Directório Revolucionário Ibérico de Libertação |
|
|---|---|
| Leader(s) | Humberto Delgado Xosé Velo Mosquera |
| Dates of operation | 1958–1964 |
| Motives | Overthrowing the dictatorships of Francisco Franco and António de Oliveira Salazar |
| Active regions | Portugal and Spain |
| Ideology | Antifascism Republicanism |
| Notable attacks | Hijacking, bomb attacks, sabotages |
| Status | Dissolved |
The Iberian Revolutionary Liberation Directory (DRIL) was a group formed by people from Spain and Portugal. They were against the governments (called dictatorships) that ruled their countries at the time. The group's name in Spanish and Galician was Directorio Revolucionario Ibérico de Liberación. In Portuguese, it was Directório Revolucionário Ibérico de Libertação.
The DRIL wanted to end the strict rule of Francisco Franco in Spain and António de Oliveira Salazar in Portugal. These leaders had complete control, and people did not have many freedoms. The DRIL had two main leaders: Humberto Delgado from Portugal and Xosé Velo Mosquera from Galicia, Spain.
The DRIL's Actions
The DRIL started its activities in February 1960. Their first action involved setting off several bombs in Madrid, the capital of Spain. Sadly, during one of these actions, a DRIL member named José Ramón Pérez Jurado died when a device exploded. Another member, Antonio Abad Donoso, was arrested. Even though no one else was hurt by the explosions, he faced very serious consequences.
The Santa Maria Ship Hijacking
One of the most famous actions by the DRIL happened in 1961. This event is known as the Santa Maria hijacking. Members of the DRIL took control of a large Portuguese luxury cruise ship called the Santa Maria. This ship was very long, about 186 meters (609 feet), and weighed 20,900 tons.
After taking control of the ship, the DRIL members talked with the government of Brazil. The Brazilian leader at the time was Jânio Quadros. The DRIL members agreed to give up the ship and their weapons. In return, they were allowed to stay in Brazil as political refugees. This means they could live there safely because they were in danger in their home countries. The Santa Maria ship was then returned to its owners, the Portuguese Company Colonial de Navegação.
End of the DRIL
After the Santa Maria incident, the DRIL continued to carry out occasional attacks. These actions took place between 1961 and 1964. In 1964, the organization decided to stop its activities and dissolved.
See also
In Spanish: Directorio Revolucionario Ibérico de Liberación para niños
