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Artur da Costa e Silva[urtOOr´ dA koosh´tu e sEl´vu] Pronunciation Key, 1902–69, president of Brazil (1967–69). An army general, he participated in the 1964 coup that deposed President JoAo Goulart. He served as war minister (1964–66) under President Humberto Castelo Branco and succeeded him in office. As president, he rejected the calls for a general amnesty, refused to hold elections, and repressed student strikes. Emboldened by the nation's strong economic performance, he moved to silence his critics. In Dec., 1968, he assumed emergency powers, dismissing congress and imposing news censorship. After 1968, torture of dissidents became widespread. He suffered a stroke in Aug., 1969, at which time power passed to a military triumvirate.
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