1. Chile’s Coup and Authoritarian Period

2. Chile in the 1960’s Period of social and political tumult Nueva canción movement Three major political forces: Marxists/Socialists, Christian democrats, Conservatives Eduardo Frei elected 1964: major social and economic reforms –Agrarian reform to redistribute land –“Chileanization” of copper mines (Chile produced 25% of world’s copper)

3. Unidad Popular Socialist coalition aimed to establish “via chilena al socialismo”, socialism without armed revolution

4. Allende Elected -1970 Allende opposed by USA Sought to continue socialist reforms but declared opposition to communism

5. Allende’s economic reforms Continued “Chileanization” of copper, nationalized mines owned by Anaconda and Kennecott in 1971 Turned over land in large estates, and some factories, to workers

6. US reaction Document 1: Sept 15, 1970 handwritten note taken by CIA director Richard Helms, recording orders of US President Nixon to foster a coup in Chile: 1 in 10 chance perhaps, but save Chile! Worth spending Not concerned No involvement of Embassy $10,000,000 available, more if necessary full-time job – best men we have make the economy scream 48 hours for plan of action

7. US reaction “Not a nut or a bolt shall reach Chile under Allende. Once Allende comes to power we shall do all within our power to condemn Chile and all Chileans to the utmost deprivation and poverty.” –Edward Korry, US Ambassador to Chile US began economic blockade of Chile Intervened with World Bank, IADB to freeze Chile’s credit

8. US reaction In first year, economy grew 8%, inflation low; but by 1973, inflation topped 300% (500%?) Shortage of commercial goods Society deeply polarized -> strikes, instability Allende called for a popular referendum on his economic program, to be held Sept. 11, 1973

9. After the coup Thousands of Chileans, members of Allende’s UP party, were rounded up by armed forces, placed in concentration camps The Red Cross estimates that as many as 7000 were held in the National Stadium

10. In the National Stadium “Every night we would hear the screams of the workers who were executed in the east wing of the National Stadium in Santiago. The next day, the blood stains were washed away with hoses. Every day, observers would see a pile of shoes that had been worn by the victims of the previous night." (Pablo Antillano, Venezuelan journalist in the Morning Star, September 28, 1973. Chile. Libro Negro)

11. US Military Support Report by US Naval Attache Patrick Ryan on Chile’s coup: “close to perfect”.

13. CIA support Well through the 1970’s, CIA continued funneling money to torturers and murderers in Pinochet’s government, because, as Secretary of State Kissinger told Gen. Pinochet, “In the United States, as you know, we are sympathetic to what you are trying to do here.”

14. The victims Immediately after coup: –UP members, supporters of leftist parties, anyone affiliated with Allende –Students, professors, university personnel –Military who opposed to coup –Union members –Family and associates of the above groups As dictatorship wore on, growing human rights movement also targeted

16. Growing resistance Catholic Church, human rights groups, students’ groups, trade unions First national protest May 11, 1983: “The Time Has Come to Say Enough!” 1988 plebiscite on Pinochet rule: Pinochet voted out (53 to 44%) Patricio Aylwin, first civilian president since Allende, took office 1990

19. The Rettig Commission Truth Commission, created 1991 to investigate acts ending in death/disappearance Concluded in 1996 that: A total of 3,197 people died or went missing between September 11, 1973 and March 11, 1990. Of these, 1,102 classify as disappeared and 2,095 as deaths. Valech Report (2004): 27,000 were incarcerated without trials and subjected to torture Latin American Institute on Mental Health and Human Rights (ILAS) estimates 200,000 directly affected by repression

20. Pinochet’s legacy After stepping down as president, remained “Senator for Life” Margaret Thatcher: Pinochet "saved Chile for democracy” Presided over period of economic growth

22. Pinochet’s legacy Detained in 1998 when visiting Britain, on warrant from Spanish judge Eventually released on medical grounds in 2000, returned to Chile When died in 2006, 300 criminal charges pending against him in Chile