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General and President '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (b. [[Valparaíso]], on November 25, 1915–d. [[Santiago]], on December 10, 2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[general]] who became Chile's head of state (or leader) from September 11, 1973 to March 11, 1990 ([[President of Chile|President]] from 1974 to 1990). He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the [[communism|communist]] government of President [[Salvador Allende]].  Pinochet restored the [[free market]], traditional [[Western]] values, and prosperity to Chile after [[tyranny]] under communism.  [[Leftist]]s hated Pinochet for his [[conservative]] policies, to the point of wrongly imprisoning him in [[England]] on political charges long after Pinochet had relinquished power.  He was ultimately released.<ref name=EUvsPinochet>{{cite book|url=https://librospinochetistas.blogspot.com/2022/12/europa-vs-pinochet-indebido-proceso.html|title=Europa vs. Pinochet, Indebido Proceso|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|date=1998|language=es}}</ref>

General and President '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (b. [[Valparaíso]], on November 25, 1915–d. [[Santiago]], on December 10, 2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[general]] who became Chile's head of state (or leader) from September 11, 1973, to March 11, 1990 ([[President of Chile|President]] from 1974 to 1990). He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the [[communism|communist]] government of President [[Salvador Allende]].  Pinochet restored the [[free market]], traditional [[Western]] values, and prosperity to Chile after [[tyranny]] under communism.  [[Leftist]]s hated Pinochet for his [[conservative]] policies, to the point of wrongly imprisoning him in [[England]] on political charges long after Pinochet had relinquished power.  He was ultimately released.<ref name=EUvsPinochet>{{cite book|url=https://librospinochetistas.blogspot.com/2022/12/europa-vs-pinochet-indebido-proceso.html|title=Europa vs. Pinochet, Indebido Proceso|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|date=1998|language=es}}</ref>

A polling expert, Marta Lagos, observed in 2023 while thousands of migrants seek prosperity and freedom in [[Chile]] rather than its [[Marxist]] [[South America]]n neighbors:

A polling expert, Marta Lagos, observed in 2023 while thousands of migrants seek prosperity and freedom in [[Chile]] rather than its [[Marxist]] [[South America]]n neighbors:

[[File:Salvador Allende & Fidel Castro.jpg|200px|thumbnail|[[Salvador Allende]] and [[Fidel Castro]] in 1971.]]

[[File:Salvador Allende & Fidel Castro.jpg|200px|thumbnail|[[Salvador Allende]] and [[Fidel Castro]] in 1971.]]

[[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.]]

[[United States]] intelligence reports implicated the Marxist 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 from the Soviet Union.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history-nro-symposium</ref> Allende was formally condemned by Chile's parliament for systematically destroying democracy in Chile.<ref>“Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy,” Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies, Chile, August 22, 1973.</ref> The Chilean Chamber of Deputies Resolution of August 22, 1973, accused Allende of support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, confiscating private property, and not allowing people to leave the country. In the infamous "Cuban Packages Scandal" that precipitated the coup, large quantities of weapons were sent from Castro's Cuba to arm pro-Allende terrorists in Chile.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history-nro-symposium</ref> Kissinger privately told Nixon that Allende might declare martial law.<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>  

[[United States]] intelligence reports implicated the Marxist Allende in the assassination of several opponents,<ref name="nixontapeaudio.org">http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref> while [[KGB]] files smuggled out of Russia by Vasily Mitrokhin indicate that Allende received funds from the Soviet Union.<ref name="nationalreview.com">https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history-nro-symposium</ref> Allende was formally condemned by Chile's parliament for systematically destroying democracy in Chile.<ref>“Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy,” Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies, Chile, August 22, 1973.</ref> The Chilean Chamber of Deputies Resolution of August 22, 1973, accused Allende of support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, confiscating private property, and not allowing people to leave the country. In the infamous "Cuban Packages Scandal" that precipitated the coup, large quantities of weapons were sent from Castro's Cuba to arm pro-Allende terrorists in Chile.<ref name="nationalreview.com"/> Kissinger privately told Nixon that Allende might declare martial law.<ref name="nixontapeaudio.org"/>  

By 1973, as a result of covert U.S. aid to Chilean dissidents and financing of pro-democracy protesters, US intelligence indicated Allende would likely lose the next Chilean election if it was held.<ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref>  According to ''The Wall Street Journal,'' faced with illegal seizures of farms and factories, defiance of judicial orders, unchecked street violence and death threats against the judges themselves, the Supreme Court warned on May 26, 1973, in a unanimous and unprecedented message, that Chile faced "a peremptory or imminent breakdown of legality."<ref>https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20040108221609/http://lyd.org/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref>  Volodia Teitelboim, the chief ideologue of the Communist Party in Chile, declared that if civil war came, "it probably would signify immense loss of human lives, between half a million and one million."<ref>https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20040108221609/http://lyd.org/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref>

By 1973, as a result of covert U.S. aid to Chilean dissidents and financing of pro-democracy protesters, US intelligence indicated Allende would likely lose the next Chilean election if it was held.<ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref>  According to ''The Wall Street Journal,'' faced with illegal seizures of farms and factories, defiance of judicial orders, unchecked street violence and death threats against the judges themselves, the Supreme Court warned on May 26, 1973, in a unanimous and unprecedented message, that Chile faced "a peremptory or imminent breakdown of legality."<ref name="web-beta.archive.org">https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20040108221609/http://lyd.org/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref>  Volodia Teitelboim, the chief ideologue of the Communist Party in Chile, declared that if civil war came, "it probably would signify immense loss of human lives, between half a million and one million."<ref name="web-beta.archive.org"/>

In January 1971 Pinochet was promoted to Major General and appointed General Commander of the Santiago Army Garrison. Subsequently, at the beginning of 1972, he was appointed Chief of the Army General Staff. Within a convulsed internal political situation, on August 23, 1973, Pinochet was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, following the removal of General Carlos Prats González.

In January 1971 Pinochet was promoted to Major General and appointed General Commander of the Santiago Army Garrison. Subsequently, at the beginning of 1972, he was appointed Chief of the Army General Staff. Within a convulsed internal political situation, on August 23, 1973, Pinochet was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, following the removal of General Carlos Prats González.

As President of the Military Junta between 1973 and 1981 and as President of the Republic between 1981 and 1990, Augusto Pinochet carried out a series of visits to different cities and towns in Chile, mainly inaugurating numerous development works such as schools, high schools, health clinics, hospitals, housing, bridges and roads, sports centers and CEMA Chile headquarters, attended the inauguration of different private companies and met with the presidents of Bolivia and Argentina seeking a peaceful solution to the border problems. The Military Government Junta carried out a series of reforms as a legislative body. Two major world recessions damaged the economic activity that was beginning to recover.

As President of the Military Junta between 1973 and 1981 and as President of the Republic between 1981 and 1990, Augusto Pinochet carried out a series of visits to different cities and towns in Chile, mainly inaugurating numerous development works such as schools, high schools, health clinics, hospitals, housing, bridges and roads, sports centers and CEMA Chile headquarters, attended the inauguration of different private companies and met with the presidents of Bolivia and Argentina seeking a peaceful solution to the border problems. The Military Government Junta carried out a series of reforms as a legislative body. Two major world recessions damaged the economic activity that was beginning to recover.

General Pinochet headed a [[Augusto Pinochet regime (Chile, 1973–90)|military government for 17 years (1973-1990)]] which suppressed [[communist]] revolutionaries in Chile. In Pinochet's military government, the Ortúzar Commission (integrated by [[Jaime Guzmán]] as well as other experts) drafted a [[Chilean Constitution of 1980|new Constitution (1980)]], which was approved in a referendum with 67% of the vote. The text established a gradual and legal path for the return to full democracy and introduced a new binomial electoral system that was also made by Guzmán. The constitution introduced an amnesty law for all military officials, and Pinochet granted himself the title of senator for life (''Senador vitalicio'') that would be enacted once Pinochet left the charge of Commander in Chief of the Chilean Armed Forces.   

General Pinochet headed a [[Augusto Pinochet regime (Chile, 1973–90)|military government for 17 years (1973–1990)]] which suppressed [[communist]] revolutionaries in Chile. In Pinochet's military government, the Ortúzar Commission (integrated by [[Jaime Guzmán]] as well as other experts) drafted a [[Chilean Constitution of 1980|new Constitution (1980)]], which was approved in a referendum with 67% of the vote. The text established a gradual and legal path for the return to full democracy and introduced a new binomial electoral system that was also made by Guzmán. The constitution introduced an amnesty law for all military officials, and Pinochet granted himself the title of senator for life (''Senador vitalicio'') that would be enacted once Pinochet left the charge of Commander in Chief of the Chilean Armed Forces.   

General Pinochet instituted [[Free market|free-market]] reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom. During this period, he held a plebiscite on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for his emergency government.   

General Pinochet instituted [[Free market|free-market]] reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom. During this period, he held a plebiscite on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for his emergency government.   

As the highest authority of the military branch, the former general complied with the presidential hierarchy. However, during Patricio Aylwin's term of office, the Army expressed its dissatisfaction on two key occasions.

As the highest authority of the military branch, the former general complied with the presidential hierarchy. However, during Patricio Aylwin's term of office, the Army expressed its dissatisfaction on two key occasions.

A judicial case known by [[Leftist]]s as "''Pinocheques''" was an investigation of Augusto Pinochet Hiriart, son of General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, for receiving payment of 971 million pesos (three million dollars) from the Army, following the sale of the armaments factory "Valmoval" which was part of the Army. But a Chamber of Deputes investigative commission examined every detail of that sale and concluded that the transaction had been convenient for the Army. The involvement of a relative so close to the Commander-in-Chief, was a lack of delicacy, but there was no evidence of malice or fiscal damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2019/02/de-poncio-pilatos-pinochet.html|title=De Poncio Pilatos a Pinochet|language=es|date=February 24, 2019|publisher=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]'s blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Historia de la Revolución Militar Chilena 1973 - 1990|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|publisher=Editorial El Roble|date=2019|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2018/05/historia-de-la-revolucion-militar_21.html}}</ref>

A judicial case known by [[Leftist]]s as "''Pinocheques''" was an investigation of Augusto Pinochet Hiriart, son of General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, for receiving payment of 971 million pesos (three million dollars) from the Army, following the sale of the armaments factory "Valmoval" which was part of the Army. But a Chamber of Deputes investigative commission examined every detail of that sale and concluded that the transaction had been convenient for the Army. The involvement of a relative so close to the Commander-in-Chief, was a lack of delicacy, but there was no evidence of malice or fiscal damage.<ref name="De Poncio Pilatos a Pinochet">{{cite web|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2019/02/de-poncio-pilatos-pinochet.html|title=De Poncio Pilatos a Pinochet|language=es|date=February 24, 2019|publisher=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]'s blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Historia de la Revolución Militar Chilena 1973 - 1990|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|publisher=Editorial El Roble|date=2019|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2018/05/historia-de-la-revolucion-militar_21.html}}</ref>

The "liaison exercise" (''ejercicios de enlace'') happened in December 1990, treated as a routine military maneuver, was actually an expression of the Army's rejection of the possible request for Pinochet's resignation by the Minister of Defense, Patricio Rojas. This possible request would have been motivated by the judicial investigations of officers and by attacks by parliamentarians on the Commander-in-Chief and the military institution.

The "liaison exercise" (''ejercicios de enlace'') happened in December 1990, treated as a routine military maneuver, was actually an expression of the Army's rejection of the possible request for Pinochet's resignation by the Minister of Defense, Patricio Rojas. This possible request would have been motivated by the judicial investigations of officers and by attacks by parliamentarians on the Commander-in-Chief and the military institution.

On May 28, 1993, the headline "Pinochet's son's checks case reopened" appeared on "La Nación" Newspaper.  After the press release, the building of the Armed Forces - a few steps away from [[La Moneda]] - was surrounded by soldiers with war uniforms, painted faces and black berets, this is known as the "''boinazo''". There was no evidence of malice or fiscal damage in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2019/02/de-poncio-pilatos-pinochet.html|title=De Poncio Pilatos a Pinochet|language=es|date=February 24, 2019|publisher=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]'s blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Historia de la Revolución Militar Chilena 1973 - 1990|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|publisher=Editorial El Roble|date=2019|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2018/05/historia-de-la-revolucion-militar_21.html}}</ref>

On May 28, 1993, the headline "Pinochet's son's checks case reopened" appeared on "La Nación" Newspaper.  After the press release, the building of the Armed Forces - a few steps away from [[La Moneda]] - was surrounded by soldiers with war uniforms, painted faces and black berets, this is known as the "''boinazo''". There was no evidence of malice or fiscal damage in the case.<ref name="De Poncio Pilatos a Pinochet"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Historia de la Revolución Militar Chilena 1973 - 1990|author=[[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]]|publisher=Editorial El Roble|date=2019|url=https://blogdehermogenes.blogspot.com/2018/05/historia-de-la-revolucion-militar_21.html}}</ref>

The "''boinazo''" consisted of a reinforcement of the guard of the Armed Forces building by a special group of commandos, carried out during a meeting of the Corps of Generals that lasted eight hours. The cause was similar to that of the previous episode. Given the lack of communication between the Executive and the Army, they sought to avoid what the military branch considered to be a campaign against them.

The "''boinazo''" consisted of a reinforcement of the guard of the Armed Forces building by a special group of commandos, carried out during a meeting of the Corps of Generals that lasted eight hours. The cause was similar to that of the previous episode. Given the lack of communication between the Executive and the Army, they sought to avoid what the military branch considered to be a campaign against them.

{{See also|Letter to the Chileans, by Augusto Pinochet}}

{{See also|Letter to the Chileans, by Augusto Pinochet}}

[[File:Pinochet and his wife with Margaret Thatcher.jpg|thumbnail|Pinochet and his wife with Margaret Thatcher.]]

[[File:Pinochet and his wife with Margaret Thatcher.jpg|thumbnail|Pinochet and his wife with Margaret Thatcher.]]

In 1998, the [[leftists]] who had long hated Pinochet arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment. An unprecedented arrest warrant was issued in [[Spain]] by judge [[Baltasar Garzón]] for alleged [[human rights]] violations with the charges of "genocide, terrorism and torture" that is accused of being responsible during his government. [[Margaret Thatcher]] was a vocal supporter of Pinochet during the arrest. The stunt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile due to his ill health after a year and five months of detention in England. He returned to his country on March 3, 2000. Upon his return, he had to face numerous lawsuits filed against him in the courts. On June 5, the Court of Appeals decided -by 13 votes to nine- to strip the senator for life of his immunity, a measure that was ratified by the Supreme Court by 14 votes to six. He was later indicted and charged with '[[kidnapping]]' 19 supporters of Salvador Allende (Left Wing Terrorists) during the 1973 coup in which Pinochet took power. The Chilean [[Supreme Court]] suspended the prosecution in July 2002, again due to Pinochet's continuing poor health.<ref name=Biografia/><ref name=EUvsPinochet/>

In 1998, the [[leftists]] who had long hated Pinochet arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment. An unprecedented arrest warrant was issued in [[Spain]] by judge [[Baltasar Garzón]] for alleged [[human rights]] violations with the charges of "genocide, terrorism and torture" that is accused of being responsible during his government. [[Margaret Thatcher]] was a vocal supporter of Pinochet during the arrest. The stunt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile due to his ill health after a year and five months of detention in England. He returned to his country on March 3, 2000. Upon his return, he had to face numerous lawsuits filed against him in the courts. On June 5, the Court of Appeals decided -by 13 votes to nine- to strip the senator for life of his immunity, a measure that was ratified by the Supreme Court by 14 votes to six. He was later indicted and charged with '[[kidnapping]]' 19 supporters of Salvador Allende (Left Wing Terrorists) during the 1973 coup in which Pinochet took power. The Chilean [[Supreme Court]] suspended the prosecution in July 2002, again due to Pinochet's continuing poor health.<ref name=EUvsPinochet/><ref name=Biografia/>

==Trials, persecution and revenge against him==

==Trials, persecution and revenge against him==