The Chilean military dictatorship It began with the military coup carried out in the country, on September 11, 1973, against then-President Salvador Allende. The new regime, led by General Augusto Pinochet until 1990, was characterized by intense repression and censorship and caused the death of more than 3,000 people, the torture of approximately 40,000 and the exile of thousands of Chilean citizens.
Coup against Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende was the Chilean president elected in the 1970 presidential elections with 36.63% of the votes. He was a socialist politician, and his candidacy received support from a coalition of Chilean left-wing parties that became known as the Popular Unity. Allende's government was marked by the serious economic crisis and the existing political polarization in the country.
After taking over the Chilean government, President Allende put into practice his measures to socialize the economy. For this, an agrarian reform program was initiated in the country and the nationalization and nationalization of banks, copper mines and countless large companies that were installed in the country.
The measures imposed by Allende brought great dissatisfaction in large corporations installed in Chile, as these companies saw their economic interests in the country at risk. Furthermore, the socialist policy implemented by Allende generated discontent in the United States, which maintained a policy of non-acceptance of socialism in Latin America (especially after what had happened in Cuba).
From that point onwards, Allende's government began to be sabotaged by the action of internal and international groups with the aim of causing its political weakening. Some sanctions on the Chilean economy were implemented by the United States, a country that, through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), began to support groups opposing the Allende government with the intention of wearing it down.
The main of these opposition groups belonged to the extreme right and was known as the Frente Nacionalista Patria y Libertad . This group carried out terrorist acts against the Allende government. The CIA's actions also financed internal strikes in fundamental areas with the aim of destabilizing the Chilean economy, such as the truck drivers' strike that took place in 1972.
The economic restrictions and internal unrest financed by the United States led to a total destabilization of the Chilean economy. In 1973, for example, the country's economy was close to reaching 400% inflation and the Gross Domestic Product was falling. Finally, the last step in the conspiracy against Allende was the formation of a Military Junta, which plotted the overthrow of the government.
The main name of this conspiracy was General Augusto Pinochet , commander in chief of the Chilean army since August 1973 (he had been appointed to the post by Allende). With Pinochet's accession, the coup was planned for the 11th of September. On the day of the coup, La Moneda presidential palace was bombed by planes and attacked from the ground by heavily armed fighters. President Allende was in the palace at the time of the attack and committed suicide (For years he was thought to have been murdered).
With that, the Military Junta that had conspired the coup took power in Chile and started a dictatorial period in the country that lasted until 1990. The Chilean military coup followed a trend in America of the implantation of military dictatorships supported by the United States with the objective of preventing the strengthening of left-wing political groups. Other examples of military dictatorships were those implemented in Brazil and Argentina.
Chilean dictatorship
With the overthrow and death of President Allende, the Military Junta chose Augusto Pinochet for the government of Chile. Pinochet remained in the post of president during the entire period of the Chilean dictatorship, that is, until 1990. The years of this regime were marked by repression and imposed censorship and resulted in the death or disappearance of 3,065 people and in the torture of 40,018|1| .
In addition to the large number of people who were killed or tortured in the years of the Chilean dictatorship, thousands of other Chileans were forced to leave the country to escape repression. People who expressed opposition to the government or defended political positions aligned with socialism were indiscriminately arrested. In the first years of the regime, the National Stadium in Chile was used as a prison and housed thousands of people who were victims of repression.
On the economic issue, the dictatorship undid the entire socializing project put into practice by Salvador Allende and implemented a neoliberal economic policy. This economic policy was influenced by a group of young Chilean economists who had studied in Chicago, in the United States, and who became known as “Chicago Boys ”. As measures adopted, there was a decrease in government spending and a reduction in social benefits, which largely contributed to the increase in social inequality existing in Chile.
After the 1980 plebiscite, the application of a new constitution was approved that guaranteed Pinochet's permanence in power until 1988, when a new consultation was to be held for his permanence in power. The new plebiscite held in 1988 ended up determining the end of his dictatorship, as 56% of the population chose not to continue his government.
With the defeat in the plebiscite, the Pinochet government began the transition to a new democratic period. The soldier remained a senator for life after leaving the presidency, and Patrício Aylwin was elected as the new president of Chile. The country's redemocratization led to numerous denunciations and trials of crimes committed by members of the government.
Pinochet remained a senator for life until 1998, when he left it due to his fragile health. He was later arrested and charged with violation of human rights and crime of corruption , with the diversion of money to secret accounts, however, the dictator was never put on trial, as he presented a certificate of mental weakness. Pinochet died in December 2006.
|1| Chile:those who still defend Pinochet. Available here.
by Daniel Neves
Graduate in History