Changes

==History==

==History==

In November 1967, Salvador Allende and the Socialist Party unanimously approved, at their Congress in Chillán, a true "Declaration of War on Chilean Democracy".

In November 1967, Salvador Allende and the Socialist Party unanimously approved, at their Congress in Chillán, a true "Declaration of War on Chilean Democracy".

In that declaration it was affirmed: "Revolutionary violence is legitimate... it is the only way to take power... only by destroying the democratic-military apparatus of the State can the socialist revolution be consolidated... peaceful or legal forms of struggle do not lead to power... the political process leads us to armed struggle".

In that declaration it was affirmed: "Revolutionary violence is legitimate (...) it is the only way to take power (...) only by destroying the democratic-military apparatus of the State can the socialist revolution be consolidated (...) peaceful or legal forms of struggle do not lead to power (...) the political process leads us to armed struggle".

Allende, representing a coalition of [[Marxist]] parties, won the September 1970 election narrowly beating his closest opponent with 36.2% of the vote against the right-wing candidate, [[Jorge Alessandri]], who obtained 34.9%.<ref>[http://foia.state.gov/Reports/ChurchReport.asp]</ref>

In November, the Congress, which could choose between the two (there was no second round), elected him President.

[[File:USSR stamp Salvador Allende 1973 6k.jpg|thumb|A [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] stamp honoring Salvador Allende.]]

Allende was outspoken in his intent to dramatically "transform" Chile according to socialist principles, which concerned moderate voters and politicians. The Chilean Congress voted to give Allende the presidency, in accordance with run-off rules in place at the time, but required Allende to sign a special statement promising that his reforms would always respect the constitution.  

[[File:Salvador Allende & Fidel Castro.jpg|300px|thumbnail|Salvador Allende and [[Fidel Castro]] in 1971.]]

US intelligence reports implicated Allende in the assassination of several opponents,<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref> while KGB files smuggled out of Russia by [[Vasily Mitrokhin]] indicate that Allende received funds and support from the Soviet Union. The book "The World was Going our Way" by Vasili Mitrokilin (former KGB agent) and Christopher Anurew reveal: {{quotebox-float|By far the most important of the KGB’s confidential contacts in South America was Salvador Allende Gossens (codenamed LEADER by the KGB),— whose election as President of Chile in 1970 was hailed by a Moscow commentator as ‘second only to the victory of the Cuban Revolution in the magnitude of its significance as a revolutionary blow to the imperialist system in Latin America’ (...) Allende had first attracted KGB attention in the early 1950s when, as leader of the Chilean Socialist Party (Partido Socialista), he had formed an alliance with the then banned Communist Party. In 1952 he stood with its support at the presidential election but won only 6 per  

US intelligence reports implicated Allende in the assassination of several opponents,<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref> while KGB files smuggled out of Russia by [[Vasily Mitrokhin]] indicate that Allende received funds and support from the Soviet Union. The book "The World was Going our Way" by Vasili Mitrokilin (former KGB agent) and Christopher Anurew reveal: {{quotebox-float|By far the most important of the KGB’s confidential contacts in South America was Salvador Allende Gossens (codenamed LEADER by the KGB),— whose election as President of Chile in 1970 was hailed by a Moscow commentator as ‘second only to the victory of the Cuban Revolution in the magnitude of its significance as a revolutionary blow to the imperialist system in Latin America’ (...) Allende had first attracted KGB attention in the early 1950s when, as leader of the Chilean Socialist Party (Partido Socialista), he had formed an alliance with the then banned Communist Party. In 1952 he stood with its support at the presidential election but won only 6 per  

cent of the vote. Though there was as yet no KGB residency in Chile, a Line PR (political intelligence) officer, Svyatoslav Fyodorovich Kuznetsov (codenamed LEONID), probably operating under cover as a Novosti correspondent, made the first direct contact with Allende in the following year .— At the presidential election of 1958, standing as the candidate of a left-wing alliance, the Frente de Accion Popular (FRAP), Allende was beaten into second place by only 35,000 votes. What Allende ’s KGB file describes as ‘systematic contact’ with him began after the establishment in 1961 of a Soviet trade mission in Chile, which provided cover for a KGB presence. Allende is reported to have ‘stated his willingness to co-operate on a confidential basis and provide any necessary assistance, since he considered himself a friend of the Soviet Union. He willingly shared political information . . Though he became a KGB ‘confidential contact’, however, he was never classed as an agent. The KGB claimed some of the credit for Allende’s part in the campaign which led to the establishment of Soviet-Chilean diplomatic relations in  

cent of the vote. Though there was as yet no KGB residency in Chile, a Line PR (political intelligence) officer, Svyatoslav Fyodorovich Kuznetsov (codenamed LEONID), probably operating under cover as a Novosti correspondent, made the first direct contact with Allende in the following year .— At the presidential election of 1958, standing as the candidate of a left-wing alliance, the Frente de Accion Popular (FRAP), Allende was beaten into second place by only 35,000 votes. What Allende ’s KGB file describes as ‘systematic contact’ with him began after the establishment in 1961 of a Soviet trade mission in Chile, which provided cover for a KGB presence. Allende is reported to have ‘stated his willingness to co-operate on a confidential basis and provide any necessary assistance, since he considered himself a friend of the Soviet Union. He willingly shared political information . . Though he became a KGB ‘confidential contact’, however, he was never classed as an agent. The KGB claimed some of the credit for Allende’s part in the campaign which led to the establishment of Soviet-Chilean diplomatic relations in  

same. Affectionately, Che"

same. Affectionately, Che"

In July 1973, the then President of the Senate and former President of the Republic, Eduardo Frei Montalva, faced with the serious crisis after 900 days of government of the Socialist Party united with the Communist Party, told important businessmen: "This problem can only be solved with guns", as revealed in the Rivera Act.

 

In November, the Congress, which could choose between the two (there was no second round), elected him President.

Allende was outspoken in his intent to dramatically "transform" Chile according to socialist principles, which concerned moderate voters and politicians. The Chilean Congress voted to give Allende the presidency, in accordance with run-off rules in place at the time, but required Allende to sign a special statement promising that his reforms would always respect the constitution.

 

 

During his government, Allende instituted a plan called the "Chilean way to socialism" (''La vía chilena al socialismo'') or "socialism within pluralism" in attempt to address the unequal distribution of wealth in the Chilean economy, but which led to widespread disruption and social polarization.  Upon assuming power Allende expropriated private sector business, middle class and [[bourgeois]] property and began to implement an agrarian reforms and a program to nationalize vital industry.  Allende posted some of his supporters to oversee these expropriations and nationalization, including David Silberman <ref>http://www.jta.org/1976/02/06/archive/family-of-former-chilean-jewish-official-seeking-his-where-abouts</ref> (disappeared) who was assigned to oversee the "nationalization" of Chile's largest copper industry: Chuquicamata. The media wrote extensively of Allende's failures.  Strikes and shutdowns caused massive inflation and unrest, and the conservative-controlled Chilean Congress sought to reject Allende's proposals whenever possible, causing considerable political gridlock.

===Congress accusations===

===Congress accusations===

Allende was formally condemned by Chile's Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, the arm of the Congress that had elected him, in its Resolution of August 22, 1973,<ref>https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Breakdown_of_Chile%E2%80%99s_Democracy “Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy”</ref> called for Allende's removal from the Presidency in a historic Accord which accused Allende of 20 violations to the Constitution and the law: support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, manipulating education, confiscating [[private property]], and not allowing people to leave the country. The text of the Resolution was published in the government newspaper ''LA NACION'' on August 25, 1973, and (English translation by Chilean economist [[José Piñera]])'' "...it is their (the Chilean military's) duty to put an immediate end to all situations herein referred to that breach the Constitution and the laws of the land..."'' It is eloquent that the Agreement was voted in favor by all the deputies of the Christian Democrats (including B. Leighton).

Allende was formally condemned by Chile's Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, the arm of the Congress that had elected him, in its Resolution of August 22, 1973,<ref>https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Breakdown_of_Chile%E2%80%99s_Democracy “Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy”</ref> called for Allende's removal from the Presidency in a historic Accord which accused Allende of 20 violations to the Constitution and the law: support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, manipulating education, confiscating [[private property]], and not allowing people to leave the country. The text of the Resolution was published in the government newspaper ''LA NACION'' on August 25, 1973, and (English translation by Chilean economist [[José Piñera]])'' "...it is their (the Chilean military's) duty to put an immediate end to all situations herein referred to that breach the Constitution and the laws of the land..."'' It is eloquent that the Agreement was voted in favor by all the deputies of the Christian Democrats (including B. Leighton).

So those who really removed Allende were the 81 Chilean deputies (63.3% of the Chamber) who voted in favor of the Agreement of August 22, 1973.<ref name=josepinera>{{cite web|url=http://www.josepinera.org/articles/articulos_verdadhistorica_twitter.htm|title=LA TRAGEDIA DEL QUIEBRE DESDE ADENTRO DE LA DEMOCRACIA CHILENA|language=es|publisher=[[José Piñera]]|date=2010}}</ref>

So those who really removed Allende were the 81 Chilean deputies (63.3% of the Chamber) who voted in favor of the Agreement of August 22, 1973.<ref name=josepinera>{{cite web|url=http://www.josepinera.org/articles/articulos_verdadhistorica_twitter.htm|title=LA TRAGEDIA DEL QUIEBRE DESDE ADENTRO DE LA DEMOCRACIA CHILENA|language=es|publisher=[[José Piñera]]|date=2010}}</ref>

===Military Intervention===

==Military Intervention==

{{Main article|1973 Chilean Military Intervention}}

{{Main article|1973 Chilean Military Intervention}}

[[File:Intervención militar de 1973.jpg|215px|thumbnail|Military intervention, [[La Moneda|La Moneda Presidential Palace]], 11th of September 1973.]]

[[File:Intervención militar de 1973.jpg|215px|thumbnail|Military intervention, [[La Moneda|La Moneda Presidential Palace]], 11th of September 1973.]]