Goveya, Fernando

Born out of wedlock, considered illegitimate. Fernando's father was a military doctor, his mother a maid. He graduated from elementary school in Lisbon . Received further technical education on his own ^[1] .

From his youth, Fernando Araujo Goveya adhered to ultra-right nationalist and anti - communist views. He was originally a supporter of the National Syndicalist Movement Francisco Roland Preto . Greeted the 1926 military coup . He became a fanatical supporter of António Salazar and the regime of the New State . Consisted in the Portuguese Legion , was involved in the protection of Salazar.

In 1929, Fernando Goveia joined the police ^[2] . He was notable for harshness in detentions; he had disciplinary sanctions for this. Therefore, in 1933, when creating PIDE (then PVDE ), it was not included in the state (in addition, preference was given to army officers). He spent several years as unemployed in Coimbra . He then worked as a technician at a magnesium mine in Mealhada .

In 1944, Fernando Goveia was recruited to PID as an agent. He entered the unit involved in the suppression of communist activity. He demonstrated great success in identifying clandestine cells in the Portuguese Communist Party (PKP). He tracked down and arrested several prominent PKP functionaries, including the head of the Lisbon organization Carlos Brito in 1957 ^[3] . He was considered in PID the main specialist in the control panel.

It was a very dangerous type. A rare cynic. At PID, he served out of a love of art. Undoubtedly, it was he who led the struggle against the party.

- Alsina Ferreira, PKP activist (about Fernando Goveya) ^[1]

During arrests and interrogations, Fernando Goveia practiced harsh physical violence, beatings and torture. He also used such investigative methods as blackmail by the persecution of relatives ^[2] . Several communist activists - in particular, a member of the Central Committee of the PCP, Alfredo Dinis , union activist Antoniu Jose Patuleia , and communist artist Jose Dias Coelho - were killed with his direct participation. The Communists have repeatedly noted the particular cruelty of Goveya ^[3] . A photograph of Goveya was published in an underground communist publication - for quick recognition, in order to avoid danger ^[4] .

Despite great operational success, agent Fernando Goveia slowly climbed the career ladder. It was only in 1958 that he was appointed inspector and chief of technical services at PIDE. But Goveya showed neither career ambitions nor material self-interest. PID emphasized distanced himself from internal hardware conflicts ^[1] .

This man loved his profession ^[2] .

Subsequently, Goveya expressed regret that he could not neutralize Alvara Kunyala . In addition, he was unable to prevent several resonant escapes - the communist Antoniu Diás Lorenz from Peniche prison in 1954 ^[1] , the group Alvar Cunial from Peniche in 1960 ^[5] , the revolutionary Erminiu da Palm Inacio from prison in Porto in 1969 ^[6] .

Since 1962 , after taking on the post of PIDE director Fernando Silva Pais , the role of Govei began to decline. However, he continued to participate in the arrests and interrogations of the communists. In July 1971, he was hospitalized for nine months and did not return after being active in PID. However, in February 1973 he was again appointed assistant inspector with the rank of lieutenant.

April 25, 1974 The carnations revolution overthrew the "New State" regime. PIDE employees, defending themselves at their headquarters, put up armed resistance. Among them was Fernando Goveiai, by then almost 70-year-old. Goveya refused the offer to help with emigration ^[1] .

On April 29, 1974, Fernando Goveia was arrested ^[7] and imprisoned in Caxias Prison. He spent more than two years in prison. Released on August 13, 1976 , after stabilization of the political situation in Portugal. Goveya was never brought to trial.

In 1979, Fernando Goveia published a book of historical memoirs - Memórias de um Inspector da PIDE 1. A organização clandestina do PCP - Memoirs of the Inspector PIDE. 1. The underground organization of the PKP ^[8] . The book is self-praising, the author justifies PIDE, criticizes the PKP and the Carnation Revolution ^[9] . At the same time, Goveia rejected the allegations of torture during interrogations.

Until the end of his life, Fernando Goveia remained committed to salazarism and anti-communism; he considered his activities to be a fulfillment of patriotic duty. He died at the age of 86 years ^[2] .

The personal life of Fernando Goveia was distinguished by a peculiar "mess". He was married several times, maintained extramarital affairs. He had seven children from five legal and common-law wives. In family relationships, he allowed himself assault. Despite this, he was able to evoke good feelings for himself. At home, he refrained from talking about official affairs, but enthusiastically commented on international news.

In material terms, the lifestyle of Fernando Goveia was modest. He never had his own housing; he was renting an apartment. For the first time he received his home telephone and company car shortly before his sixtieth birthday.

He was distinguished by anti-intellectualism, so he was not inclined to read. He especially despised jurisprudence, philosophy, and history, considering them to be "the creatures of communism." He was fond of classical music. He was a passionate fan of Benfica .

Fernando Goveia led a social life (within limited financial possibilities), he loved gambling, and visited the Coimbra casino. He adhered to traditional concepts in the family-domestic sphere (of which he blamed the Communists), but differed sharply anti-clerical views. The style feature of Fernando Goveia was wearing a hat and a blue cloak ^[1] .

The biography of Fernando Goveia is set out in the book of the historian Irene Pimentel ^{[7] [10]} . The author adheres to leftist views, calls Fernanda Goveya “a scary person” ^[2] , but a “complex person” ^[1] and considers him a figure worthy of an interested study ^[2] .

• Antonio Rosa Cazacu
• Casimir Monteiro