TOTALITARIAN WAYS DIE HARD

Police-state mentality, however, continued, as can be seen from the following dispatch marked “Confidential” concerning Jehovah’s Witnesses and signed by the Minister of the Interior:

“(1) By means of Circular No. S.I.​—981/70, Prec. 21088 of 1st Sec/​2nd Division of G. Command, dated October 21, 1970, there have been compiled instructions as to the illegality of the sect under consideration and especially about its propaganda.

“(2) The press recently published the terms of a proposed law on ‘Religious Liberty,’ which by its very nature could lead to a different interpretation as to its objective, especially by some young men who pretend to exempt themselves from military service.

“(3) In view of what is stated in Clause 2, these facts were presented to His Excellency the Minister of the Interior who deemed it well to formulate the following dispatch:

“‘The proposed law of Religious Liberty in no way alters the conditions imposed upon Jehovah’s Witnesses for reasons of the highest national interest, and their activities should continue to be prevented.’”

Brother João Mancoca had finally been granted freedom in August 1970, after serving more than nine years in penal work camps; but as of April 1971, he was back in prison, together with more than thirty other faithful Witnesses.