Carlos Lamarca

Carlos Lamarca
Born(1937-10-27)October 27, 1937
Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil
DiedSeptember 17, 1971(1971-09-17) (aged 33)
Ipupiara, Bahia, Brazil
AllegianceBrazil
Service / branchBrazilian Army
Years of service1955–1969
RankColonel
UnitUnited Nations Emergency Force (Suez Battalion)
Battles / warsSuez Crisis

Carlos Lamarca (Portuguese: [ˈkaʁluz lɐ̃ˈmaʁkɐ, laˈmaʁkɐ]; October 27, 1937 September 17, 1971) was a Brazilian Army Captain who deserted to join the armed struggle against the Brazilian military dictatorship. He was part of the Popular Revolutionary Vanguard (Vanguarda Popular Revolucionária VPR) and became, along with Carlos Marighella, one of the leaders of the armed struggle. Such groups were armed chiefly for self-protection from the Right-wing dictatorship that unleashed state terrorism against any who opposed their regime, including students, the clergy, and the children of those who called for democracy. The kidnappings by a few armed groups were conducted to free comrades suffering extremely brutal torture in Brazil's prisons.