- Banned
- #1
On December 18, 1961, India invaded the Portuguese colonies of Goa, Daman, and Diu. The invasion is commonly referred to as the Invasion of Goa, Portuguese-Indian War, Liberation of Goa, Operation Vijay, and Conflict in Goa. The war between India and Portugal lasted two days and resulted in India annexing Goa. The Invasion of Goa brought an end to 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in India.
During the short conflict, 31 Portuguese troops were killed, 57 were wounded, and 4,668 were captured. Subsequently, 34 Indian troops were killed and 51 were wounded. The Portuguese had 3,995 infantry, 200 sailors, 1 frigate, and 3 patrol boats. The Indians had 45,000 infantry, 1 light aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers, 1 destroyer, 8 frigates, 4 minesweepers, 20 Canberras, 6 Vampires, 6 Toofanis, 6 Hunters, and 4 Mysteres.
The Portuguese government declared an emergency session in the United Nations and the United States drafted up a resolution which called for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Indian troops from Goa, and for negotiations to resume. The resolution was supported by the United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, but the Soviet Union vetoed the resolution.
The Portuguese POWs were initially subject to very poor conditions in internment camps. The prisoners were eventually moved to a different camp, where conditions were better. India viewed the invasion as anti-imperialism and as a liberation. The fascist Portuguese government saw the invasion as aggression against national soil. After the war, Portugal severed diplomatic negotiations with India, and India's rule over Goa remained unrecognized until 1975, when the fascist dictatorship in Portugal was overthrown.
The question is, do you believe the Portuguese-Indian War was justified? I believe it was justified, seeing as how Portugal was fascist at the time. However, I do believe that Goans should have had a vote to decide whether they wanted to stay part of Portugal, join India, join the United States, or become an independent state. Also, do you believe the war was imperialist or anti-imperialist? What do you personally believe should have happened to Goa and the other two territories, do you believe they should have stayed part of Portugal, joined India, or became independent (or something else, like join the United States)? And back to the initial question, last but not least, do you believe the invasion was justified?
During the short conflict, 31 Portuguese troops were killed, 57 were wounded, and 4,668 were captured. Subsequently, 34 Indian troops were killed and 51 were wounded. The Portuguese had 3,995 infantry, 200 sailors, 1 frigate, and 3 patrol boats. The Indians had 45,000 infantry, 1 light aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers, 1 destroyer, 8 frigates, 4 minesweepers, 20 Canberras, 6 Vampires, 6 Toofanis, 6 Hunters, and 4 Mysteres.
The Portuguese government declared an emergency session in the United Nations and the United States drafted up a resolution which called for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Indian troops from Goa, and for negotiations to resume. The resolution was supported by the United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, but the Soviet Union vetoed the resolution.
The Portuguese POWs were initially subject to very poor conditions in internment camps. The prisoners were eventually moved to a different camp, where conditions were better. India viewed the invasion as anti-imperialism and as a liberation. The fascist Portuguese government saw the invasion as aggression against national soil. After the war, Portugal severed diplomatic negotiations with India, and India's rule over Goa remained unrecognized until 1975, when the fascist dictatorship in Portugal was overthrown.
The question is, do you believe the Portuguese-Indian War was justified? I believe it was justified, seeing as how Portugal was fascist at the time. However, I do believe that Goans should have had a vote to decide whether they wanted to stay part of Portugal, join India, join the United States, or become an independent state. Also, do you believe the war was imperialist or anti-imperialist? What do you personally believe should have happened to Goa and the other two territories, do you believe they should have stayed part of Portugal, joined India, or became independent (or something else, like join the United States)? And back to the initial question, last but not least, do you believe the invasion was justified?
