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[[Image:342px-Pinochet de Civil.jpg|right|thumb|Augusto Pinochet]]

[[Image:342px-Pinochet de Civil.jpg|right|thumb|Augusto Pinochet]]

General '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (1915–2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[soldier]] and [[politician]] who became Chile's head of state from 1973 to 1990. He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the government of President [[Salvador Allende]] on September 11, 1973. Allende, a [[radical]] [[Marxist]], had gained power after barely winning only a 36% plurality of the popular vote in 1970, but he violated the Chilean [[Constitution]]{{fact}} and was condemned for his illegal conduct by the Chilean legislature and by civil society organizations.

General '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (1915–2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[soldier]] and [[politician]] who became Chile's head of state from 1973 to 1990. He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the government of President [[Salvador Allende]] on September 11, 1973. Allende was a [[radical]] [[Marxist]], whose presidency was highly controversial in a polorized Chile. Pinochet's rule saw many acts of repression against politcal opponents and those members of the military who supported the principle constitutional, democratic government.

General Pinochet headed a military government for 16 years (1974-1990) as he fought and defeated [[communist]] opponents in Chile. [[Leftists]] have hated Pinochet ever since for defeating them.  Pinochet was at one time a military subordinate of [[Salvador Allende]].  After the [[coup]], Pinochet saw support from [[America]].

General Pinochet headed a military government for 16 years (1974-1990) as he fought and defeated [[communist]] opponents in Chile.   Pinochet was at one time a military subordinate of [[Salvador Allende]].  After the [[coup]], Pinochet saw support from [[America]].

General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a [[plebiscite]] on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for him. However, the plebiscite is regarded by some as fraudulent. [[Leftists]] complain that during his time in power over 3,000 people were killed or vanished,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> but that total includes treasonous Marxist terrorists and people who died in private disputes unrelated to politics. In addition, over a quarter million Chileans were arrested. Universities were purged of terrorist sympathizers, Marxist books were burned, and rival political parties banned.  Thousands of members of the Socialist Party of Chile and the Communist Party of Chile fled the country out of fear of the [[secret police]], which routinely tortured citizens.<ref>Augusto Pinochet Biography http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html</ref>

General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a [[plebiscite]] on his rule which alleged that 75% of the people affirmed their support for him.However, the free and fair nature of the plebiscite is open to debate. During his time in power, most historians estimate that over 3,000 people were killed or vanished,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> but that total may include people who died in private disputes unrelated to politics. In addition, over a quarter million Chileans were arrested. Universities were purged of [[leftist]] sympathizers, Marxist books were burned, and rival political parties banned.  Thousands of members of the Socialist Party of Chile and the Communist Party of Chile fled the country out of fear of the [[secret police]], which routinely tortured citizens.<ref>Augusto Pinochet Biography http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html</ref>

A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.

A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.

General Pinochet was a graduate of the [[School of the Americas]] at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]].

General Pinochet was a graduate of the [[School of the Americas]] at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]].

In 1998, the [[leftists]] who long hated Pinochet for defeating them arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment.  The [[leftists]] arranged for an unprecedented arrest warrant to be issued in [[Spain]] for alleged [[human rights]] violations that occurred in Chile during while Pinochet was president.  It was outrageous that an activist court in Spain would assert jurisdiction over Pinochet in London for allegations arising long ago in Chile.  The stunt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile in part based on his ill health.  The [[leftists]] continued after him, and had him indicted and charged with [[kidnapping]] 19 supporters of Salvador Allende 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.[1]

In 1998, campaigners and victims of his rule arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment.  The [[leftists]] arranged for an unprecedented arrest warrant to be issued in [[Spain]] for [[human rights]] violations that occurred in Chile during while Pinochet was president.  It was contraversial that an activist court in Spain would assert jurisdiction over Pinochet in London for allegations arising in Chile.  The attempt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile in part based on his ill health.  The campaigners continued after him, and had him indicted and charged with [[kidnapping]] 19 supporters of Salvador Allende 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.[1]

Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&ei=5070 NYTimes</ref>

Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&ei=5070 NYTimes</ref>