Shmakalakan Crisis

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The Shmakalakan Terror, Shmakalakan Troubles or the Shmakalakan Crisis where Politcal and Ethno-Nationalist series of Low Level conflicts and/or struggles between Shmakalakan Government Backed Forces and there Allies and Communist backed Rebel forces and Portuguese Separatist Forces between the years of **1958** and **1994**. United States, British, Canadian and Australian forces aided and fought alongside the Government Forces. The end of the Conflict is usually listed as 1994 with the Disbanding of the Shmakalakan - Joint Federal Policing Force Act, however the Alpache Accord signed in **1961** is also seen as the end of the conflict.

The conflict was primarily political and nationalistic, fueled by historical events. It also had an ethnic or sectarian dimension, although it was not a overly religious conflict. Ethnic Portuguese nationalists/republicans, who were mostly Catholics, wanted Travira and Ilha Grande to leave the Commonwealth of Shmakalaka. Socialists were also caught up in the conflict as a ally of the the Sepratists.

The conflict began during a campaign launched by the Travira Civil Rights Association in May 1959 to end discrimination against the Catholic/nationalist minority by the Protestant/unionist government and police forces of Travira. The authorities attempted to suppress this protest campaign and were accused of police brutality; it was also met with violence from loyalists, who alleged it was a republican front. Increasing tensions in Ilha Grande and Travira led to severe violence and in August 1959 saw the deployment of troops. The emergence of armed paramilitary organisations led to subsequent warfare over the next three decades.

Separatist and Socialist paramilitaries carried out a guerrilla campaign against Government security forces as well as a bombing campaign against infrastructure, commercial and political targets. Loyalists targeted separatists/socialists and attacked the wider Catholic community in what they described as retaliation. At times, there were bouts of sectarian tit-for-tat violence. The Shmakalakan Government security forces undertook both a policing and counter-insurgency role, primarily against separatists. There were some incidents of collusion between Government security forces and loyalists. Loyalists pro government groups actively engaged against socialists as well. The Crisis also involved numerous riots, mass protests and acts of civil disobedience and led to segregation and the creation of no-go areas in Travira and Ilha Grande.

## Background

The Rise to power of Paulo Salazar who won the 1958 Governor election in Travira, a member of the DA and the Socialist wing of the party. The run up to the election resulted in unrest, with Salazar hiding behind a nationalist cloak, and fuelled anti-Anglo and Italian hate. Salazar left the DA to form his own party, the Travira State Parliament soon removed him from his position. Salazar then continued to stoke the flames and succeeded in managing to unite Socialist and Nationalist groups. Salazar was imprisoned, leading to the events that occurred at the Assemblia da Travira building in June 1959 which shortly after sparked the Travira Civil Rights Association to form leading to further violence and unrest.

## Combatants

The Conflict was mainly divided into 2 overarching factions. The Government of Shmakalaka composed of the State Police, Local Vigilantly and Anti-Catholic Groups and the Joint Federal Police alongside the Shmakalakan Armed Forces, backed by allies including the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The Other main faction being composed of Ethnic Portuguese pro separatist groups alongside revolutionary socialists.

### Pro Government Forces

#### Australia

Australian Police were involved from the onset of the conflict till 1977

#### Canada

Canadian Military Police Companies were deployed from 1960 till 1965

#### United Kingdom

The United Kingdom sent Policing aid to Shmakalaka from 1960 till 1984

### Republican/ Ethnic Forces

#### The Red Hand of Death

The Red of Hand of death was formed sometime in 1959 in response to the killing and persecution of ethnic Portuguese in Travira and Ilha Grande. They are infamous being one of the most ferocious groups active, there operations included targetting Infrastructure in not only Travira and Ilha Grande as well as tracking down opponents and killing them in cold blood.

### Socialist Forces

#### The Black Shadow

The most notorious group of the Left Faction, single handedly led to the split between the Separatist and Socialist's into 2 separate factions rather then a larger force fighting a common foe.

## Malverde Murders

On the Night of August 29th 1959, Sibras Metropolitan Police raided an address, which resulted in a shootout leading to the death of 4 occupants including two minors'.

## Alpache Accord (1961)

Treaty between the remaining Separatist/ Republican Groups with the Federal Government and the Native Defence League. Officially ends Republican Conflict in 1961. Some groups begin working alongside the Federal Government targeting Socialists. Travira State Legislature and Federal Government enact changes to appease Republicans and Separatist groups.

## Casualties

The Shmakalakan Crises is the worst event to have occurred on Shmakalakan soil. In the 25 years of conflict, it is estimated that roughly 1,900 Socialist and Separatist fighters died with roughly 800 pro-government forces killed and 536 Members of the Policing Task Force losing their lives, 2 Canadian and 1 Australian Police workers lost there lives as well. Furthermore, 6900 innocent civilians were either caught in the crossfire, or murdered by Socialist/ Separatist forces in the states of Ilha Grande and Travira. A further 7000 were arrested by the Policing Task Force (Federal Police, Rangers, SIFA, Ilha Grande Police, Travira Police or the Sibras Metropolitan Police)