General Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile as a dictator for 17 years, is dead. He led the military coup that overthrew Chile's elected socialist president, Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Guillermo Allende Gossens was a Chilean democratic socialist politician and physician, President of Chile from 1970 until 1973, and head of the Popular Unity political coalition government; he was the first ever Marxist to be elected president in a country with liberal democracy.
What did Augusto Pinochet do?
General Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile as a dictator for 17 years, is dead. He led the military coup that overthrew Chile's elected socialist president, Salvador Allende, in 1973. He was ruthless in eliminating his political opponents in Chile, and ultimately was held responsible for the torture and deaths of thousands of people.
What happened to Pinochet's body?
Pinochet's body was cremated in Parque del Mar Cemetery, Concón on 12 December 2006, on his request to "avoid vandalism of his tomb", according to his son Marco Antonio. His ashes were delivered to his family later that day, and are deposited in Los Boldos, Santo Domingo, Valparaiso, Chile; one of his personal residences.
What did Pinochet do to stop Allende?
Pinochet finally agreed with other military officers that they had to stop Allende, and from that point on, Pinochet showed him no mercy. On Sept. 11, 1973, he ordered a fierce ground and air assault on the presidential palace.
What were the effects of the Pinochet dictatorship?
During Pinochet's reign it is estimated that some one million people had been forced to flee the country. Armed opposition to the Pinochet rule continued in remote parts of the country.
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Did Pinochet violate human rights?
The systematic human rights violations that were committed by the military dictatorship of Chile, under General Augusto Pinochet, included gruesome acts of physical and sexual abuse, as well as psychological damage.
What human rights are being violated in Chile?
Respect for the integrity of the personArbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life. ... Disappearance. ... Torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. ... Arbitrary arrest or detention. ... Fair public trials. ... Political prisoners and detainees. ... Civil judicial procedures and remedies.More items...
How is Chile pronounced?
0:270:50How to Pronounce Chile? (CORRECTLY) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAmerican. This is normally pronounced Chile Chile Chile in English or in Spanish Chile Chile ChileMoreAmerican. This is normally pronounced Chile Chile Chile in English or in Spanish Chile Chile Chile country in South America.
Does Chile have freedom?
The constitution provides for religious freedom, and the government generally upholds this right in practice. Generally, academic freedom is unrestricted in Chile.
Why were there protests in Chile?
Civil protests took place throughout Chile in response to a raise in the Santiago Metro's subway fare, a probity crisis, cost of living, privatisation and inequality prevalent in the country.
Why is Chile in poverty?
Chile is currently struggling with its finances and education system. A public charity called Hogar De Cristo conducted a survey concluding that 58 percent of Chileans found that a lack of opportunities and education were the leading causes of poverty in Chile.
What is Chile doing about deforestation?
SANTIAGO/WASHINGTON, December 10, 2019 — Chile has signed an agreement with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a global partnership housed at the World Bank, unlocking up to $26 million to increase carbon sequestration and reduce emissions from forests.
What are the current issues in Argentina?
Longstanding human rights problems in Argentina include police abuse, poor prison conditions, and endemic violence against women. Restrictions on abortion and difficulty accessing reproductive health services remain serious concerns.
What is Augusto Pinochet known for?
Augusto Pinochet is known for being the leader of a military junta that overthrew the socialist government of Pres. Salvador Allende of Chile on Se...
Where was Augusto Pinochet from?
Augusto Pinochet was born in Valparaiso, Chile.
Where did Augusto Pinochet attend school?
Pinochet attended the military academy in Santiago, graduating in 1936.
How did Augusto Pinochet come to power?
Augusto Pinochet led a military coup that overthrew Chile’s government on September 11, 1973. He was named head of the military’s governing council...
What was the impact of the Pinochet case on Chile?
The United States and other countries were prompted to release formerly classified documents concerning Chileans who had “disappeared”—who were kidnapped and presumably killed by the Pinochet regime.
What was Pinochet known for?
What is Augusto Pinochet known for? Augusto Pinochet is known for being the leader of a military junta that overthrew the socialist government of Pres. Salvador Allende of Chile on September 11, 1973 and for heading the ensuing military government (1974–90) that harshly suppressed dissent and tortured opponents but also promoted economic growth.
How did Pinochet come to power?
How did Augusto Pinochet come to power? Augusto Pinochet led a military coup that overthrew Chile ’s government on September 11, 1973. He was named head of the military’s governing council and later assumed the title of president in 1974. He stepped down in 1990 after a presidential election was held.
How many cases of torture did Pinochet commit?
Near the end of 2004 the National Commission on Political Imprisonment and Torture issued its report, which confirmed more than 35,000 cases of torture that took place during the Pinochet regime.
What was the result of the 1988 plebiscite?
The result was a “no” vote of 55 percent and a “yes” vote of 43 percent. Although rejected by the electorate, Pinochet remained in office ...
When did Pinochet step down?
He stepped down in 1990 after a presidential election was held. Pinochet, a graduate of the military academy in Santiago (1936), was a career military officer who was appointed army commander in chief by President Allende 18 days before the coup, which he planned and led. Pinochet was named head of the victorious junta’s governing council, ...
When did Pinochet liberalize?
A modest political liberalization began in 1978 after the regime announced that, in a plebiscite, 75 percent of the electorate had endorsed Pinochet’s rule.
Why was Pinochet detained?
Finally as a result of years of hard work by the international human rights movement, Pinochet was detained in London in October 1998 for crimes against humanity. Five hundred days later he was sent back to Chile, allegedly for health reasons.
How did the Pinochet affair affect human rights?
They are determined to end the impunity of public officials, including that of the civilian and military leaders in the United States who engage in state terrorism and human rights abuses while violating international treaties like the Geneva Conventions.
What did Rumsfeld do for the rest of his life?
Like Pinochet and Kissinger, Rumsfeld may very well spend the rest of his life trying to escape the grasp of domestic and international courts.
What US corporations participated in the efforts to destabilize Chile?
US corporations such as IT&T also participated in the efforts to destabilize the country. In the midst of this struggle for control of Chile, Allende insisted, almost stubbornly, on maintaining the country’s democratic institutions.
How many people died in the aftermath of the coup?
In the aftermath of the coup over three thousand people perished, including two American friends of mine, Charles Horman and Frank Terrugi. The United States knowing of these atrocities, rushed to support the military regime, reopening the spigot of economic aid that had been closed under Allende.
Who was the president of Chile when Pinochet died?
Salvador Allende, the elected Socialist president of Chile died in the palace. Being from the United States, the death of General Augusto Pinochet brings back many memories of the military coup and the role played by my government in the violent overthrow of Allende.
Who should be held responsible for the torture of Iraqi and Afghani detainees?
federal court that Rumsfeld and three senior military officials should be held responsible for the torture of Iraqi and Afghani detainees.
Why was Pinochet arrested?
Pinochet was arrested in London on "charges of genocide and terrorism that include murder" in October 1998. The indictment and arrest of Pinochet was the first time that a former government head was arrested on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Who is Augusto Pinochet?
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte was born in Valparaíso on 25 November 1915. He was the son and namesake of Augusto Pinochet Vera (1891–1944), a descendant of an 18th-century French Breton immigrant from Lamballe, and Avelina Ugarte Martínez (1895–1986), a woman whose family had been in Chile since the 17th century.
What province was Pinochet in?
In his new function, he was also appointed Intendent of the Tarapacá Province. In January 1971, Pinochet was promoted to division general and was named General Commander of the Santiago Army Garrison.
How many people did Pinochet torture?
After his rise to power, Pinochet persecuted leftists, socialists, and political critics, resulting in the executions of from 1,200 to 3,200 people, the internment of as many as 80,000 people, and the torture of tens of thousands.
Why did Pinochet call for elections?
Another reason for Pinochet's decision to call for elections was the April 1987 visit of Pope John Paul II to Chile. According to the US Catholic author George Weigel, he held a meeting with Pinochet during which they discussed a return to democracy. John Paul II allegedly pushed Pinochet to accept a democratic opening of his government, and even called for his resignation.
What was Pinochet's military career?
Military career. In September 1937, Pinochet was assigned to the "Chacabuco" Regiment, in Concepción. Two years later, in 1939, then with the rank of Sub-lieutenant, he moved to the "Maipo" Regiment, garrisoned in Valparaíso. He returned to Infantry School in 1940.
Where did Pinochet go to school?
Pinochet went to primary and secondary school at the San Rafael Seminary of Valparaíso, the Rafael Ariztía Institute ( Marist Brothers) in Quillota, the French Fathers' School of Valparaíso, and then to the Military School in Santiago, which he entered in 1931.
When did Pinochet die?
Pinochet died December 10, 2006, never having stood trial for the crimes for which he was accused. Biography courtesy of BIO.com.
Why was the Spanish sailor arrested?
In October 1998 he became the centre of international attention when he was arrested in London, following a request from Spain for his extradition to stand trial for ‘crimes of genocide and terrorism’ , in which some of the victims had been Spanish nationals.
Who was the leader of the Chilean dictatorship?
Augusto Pinochet. Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006) was a Chilean dictator born in Valparaíso, Chile. A career army officer, he led the military coup overthrowing the Allende government in 1973, establishing himself at the head of the ensuing military regime. In 1980 he enacted a constitution giving himself an eight-year presidential term (1981–1989).
What did Pinochet do for Chile?
What Pinochet Did for Chile. Chile’s former president, General Augusto Pinochet, died in December. Some of his legacies are well known, but others are not. Pinochet directed the coup of September 11, 1973, and presided until 1990 over a military regime that violated human rights, shut down political parties, canceled elections, ...
What were the legacies of Pinochet?
Legacies for the World. The innovations in economic and social policy of the Pinochet government had significant influences on, and implications for, not only subsequent governments in Chile but also the rest of Latin America and the wider world. Today almost the entire globe relies on the state less and on markets more than in 1973.
What was the coup of 1973?
The 1973 coup is often represented as having destroyed Chilean democracy. Such characterizations are half-truths at best. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Chile’s democracy was already well on the road to self-destruction. The historian James Whelan caught its tragic essence when he wrote that Chile’s was a “cannibalistic democracy, consuming itself.” Eduardo Frei Montalva, Chile’s president from 1964 to 1970, who helped to bring in Salvador Allende as his successor, later called the latter’s presidency “this carnival of madness.” Freedoms increasingly overwhelmed responsibilities. Lawlessness became rampant. Uncontrolled leftist violence had also been escalating during the government of Christian Democrat Frei Montalva, before Allende became president and long before Pinochet played any role whatsoever in Chilean politics.
What did Allende do to the Chilean government?
In the process Allende, his supporters, and extremists they could not control virtually destroyed the economy, fractured the society, politicized the military and the educational systems, and rode roughshod over Chilean constitutional, legal, political, and cultural traditions.
Why was Pinochet extradited to Spain?
Pinochet’s government has been justly condemned for engaging in some terrorist activities abroad, from Argentina to the United States. Amnesty International strongly supported the Chilean leader’s extradition to Spain in 1998 for a trial it thought would enact justice.
How long did Pinochet rule?
Pinochet directed the coup of September 11, 1973, and presided until 1990 over a military regime that violated human rights, shut down political parties, canceled elections, constrained the press and trade unions, and engaged in other undemocratic actions during its more than 16 years of rule. These facts are important and widely recounted.
How much popular vote did Allende win in 1970?
In 1970, Allende won 36.2 percent of the popular vote, less than the 38.6 percent he had taken in 1964 and only 1.3 percent more than the runner-up. According to the constitution, the legislature could have given the presidency to either of the top two candidates. It chose Allende only after he pledged explicitly to abide by the constitution. “A few months later,” Whelan reports, “Allende told fellow leftist Regis Debray that he never actually intended to abide by those commitments but signed just to finally become president.” In legislative and other elections over the next three years, Allende and his Popular Unity (UP) coalition, dominated by the Communist and Socialist parties, never won a majority, much less a mandate, in any election. Still Allende tried to “transition” (his term) Chile into a Marxist-Leninist economic, social, and political system.
What happened to Pinochet and Prats?
The defense minister Jose Toha had been imprisoned and would later be tortured to death, while his former father-figure Prats had already been earmarked for assassination. In less than 90 days, Pinochet had gone from being their close friend, one who cried during soppy movies, to the man responsible for their brutal, protracted deaths. It was a shocking betrayal for everyone involved, but the Chilean despot was only warming up.
When did Pinochet step down?
Augusto Pinochet stepped down as leader of Chile in 1990, paving the way for the country’s first democratic elections. At least, they were democratic if you define “democracy” as “its exact opposite.” Between 1990 and 1998, Pinochet retained his position as head of the armed forces, frequently threatening to reinstall himself as dictator if the government didn’t do exactly as he wished. When he was finally forced from the army, he became “Senator for Life”—a position that included power of veto over any proposed legislation. Finally, in 2006, he did the decent thing and died, ending his stranglehold grasp on Chilean politics at last.
How old was Lelia Pérez when she was in the police?
Lelia Pérez had her first run-in with Pinochet’s secret police (the DINA) at the age of 16. In an interview with Amnesty International, she later described how she was used as a training tool for DINA recruits hoping to learn torture skills.
When did Pinochet celebrate his birthday?
Have you ever wondered how a despotic autocrat celebrates their birthday? Well, on November 25, 1975, Pinochet had likely one of the strangest parties in history when he invited the butchers in charge of Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay to visit Santiago.
What happened to the stadium after the coup?
For months after the coup, the stadium was ground zero for some of the worst human rights abuses in living memory. Ordinary people were rounded up and separated into two lines: those who would and those who would not die. Those in the “death line” were taken onto the pitch and shot by firing squads; those who lived frequently underwent weeks of torture before release. For six whole months the capital essentially became a gigantic concentration camp, a festering sore on South America’s backbone.
How did inmates get forced to live?
Other inmates were forced to live through abuse most of us can’t even imagine. According to the BBC, victims had their bones broken with hammers, were forced to play Russian roulette, and had their legs crushed under the wheels of cars. Others had their skin melted with flamethrowers, were pushed out of helicopters, or forced to eat the flesh of murdered fellow prisoners.
What was the aftermath of the coup?
In the immediate aftermath of the coup, the Chilean capital became a modern vision of hell. Armed troops went from door to door looking for evidence of left-wing sympathy. Students, writers, Catholics, indigenous people and union workers were all rounded up and sent to the torture centers sprouting up across Santiago like mushrooms. Sometimes these were in the back rooms of military barracks or police cells, but more often they were in ordinary houses, hotels or offices. At the height of the repression, over 60 round-the-clock torture centers were operating in the metropolitan area of the city alone—the most infamous of which was the international soccer stadium.
Overview
Military dictatorship (1973–1990)
The junta members originally planned that the presidency would be held for a year by the commanders-in-chief of each of the four military branches in turn. However, Pinochet soon consolidated his control, first retaining sole chairmanship of the military junta, and then proclaiming himself "Supreme Chief of the Nation" (de facto provisional president) on 27 June 1974. He officially c…
Early life and education
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte was born in Valparaíso on 25 November 1915. He was the son and namesake of Augusto Pinochet Vera (1891–1944), a descendant of an 18th century French Breton immigrant from Lamballe, and Avelina Ugarte Martínez (1895–1986), a woman of Basque heritage whose family had been in Chile since the 17th century.
Pinochet went to primary and secondary school at the San Rafael Seminary of Valparaíso, the R…
Military career
In September 1937, Pinochet was assigned to the "Chacabuco" Regiment, in Concepción. Two years later, in 1939, then with the rank of Sub-lieutenant, he moved to the "Maipo" Regiment, garrisoned in Valparaíso. He returned to Infantry School in 1940. On 30 January 1943, Pinochet married Lucía Hiriart Rodríguez, with whom he had five children: Inés Lucía, María Verónica, Jacqueline Marie, Augusto Osvaldo and Marco Antonio.
Military coup of 1973
On 11 September 1973, the combined Chilean Armed Forces (the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Carabineros) overthrew Allende's government in a coup, during which the presidential palace, La Moneda, was shelled and where Allende was said to have committed suicide. While the military claimed that he had committed suicide, controversy surrounded Allende's death, with many claimin…
Military junta
A military junta was established immediately following the coup, made up of General Pinochet representing the Army, Admiral José Toribio Merino representing the Navy, General Gustavo Leigh representing the Air Force, and General César Mendoza representing the Carabineros (national police). As established, the junta exercised both executive and legislative functions of the government, suspended the Constitution and the Congress, imposed strict censorship and curfew, …
Ideology and public image
Pinochet himself expressed his project in government as a national rebirth inspired by Diego Portales, a figure of the early republic:
[Democracy] will be born again purified from the vices and bad habits that ended up destroying our institutions.... [W]e are inspired in the Portalian spirit which has fused together the nation...— Augusto Pinochet, 11 October 1973.
Post-dictatorship life
Pinochet was arrested in London on "charges of genocide and terrorism that include murder" in October 1998. The indictment and arrest of Pinochet was the first time that a former government head was arrested on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
After having been placed under house arrest on the grounds of the Wentworth C…