Difference between revisions of "Augusto Pinochet"
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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. Socialist Salvador Allende, elected with a minority of the vote, was assassinating opponents<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, threatening opposition media<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, arming left-wing paramilitary groups<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, receiving funding from the KGB<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, and ultimately caught collaborating with [[Fidel Castro]] to arm left-wing terrorists to launch attacks on government buildings so he could declare martial law.<ref>http://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. Not only did he violate the Constitution, but it was becoming clear that he was operating in a systemic manner with the goal of creating "a totalitarian system" in Chile. He was condemned for his illegal conduct by numerous civil society organizations.<ref name="violations">[http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=304jhvp68lurxp08&size=largest How Salvador Allende Destroyed Democracy in Chile]</ref> | 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. Socialist Salvador Allende, elected with a minority of the vote, was assassinating opponents<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, threatening opposition media<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, arming left-wing paramilitary groups<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, receiving funding from the KGB<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, and ultimately caught collaborating with [[Fidel Castro]] to arm left-wing terrorists to launch attacks on government buildings so he could declare martial law.<ref>http://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. Not only did he violate the Constitution, but it was becoming clear that he was operating in a systemic manner with the goal of creating "a totalitarian system" in Chile. He was condemned for his illegal conduct by numerous civil society organizations.<ref name="violations">[http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=304jhvp68lurxp08&size=largest How Salvador Allende Destroyed Democracy in Chile]</ref> | ||
| − | General Pinochet headed a military dictatorship for 17 years (1973-1990) as he | + | General Pinochet headed a military dictatorship for 17 years (1973-1990) as he suppressed [[communist]] revolutionaries in Chile. |
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. | 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. | ||
| − | During his time in power, at least 1,200 people were killed or vanished. The most common estimate is that 3,000 were killed,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> while other estimates go as high as 10,000. 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 | + | During his time in power, including the 1973 coup, at least 1,200 people were killed or vanished. The most common estimate is that 3,000 were killed,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> while other estimates go as high as 10,000. 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 allegedly 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. | ||
Revision as of 12:44, November 17, 2010
General Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (1915–2006) was a Chilean 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. Socialist Salvador Allende, elected with a minority of the vote, was assassinating opponents[1], threatening opposition media[2], arming left-wing paramilitary groups[3], receiving funding from the KGB[4], and ultimately caught collaborating with Fidel Castro to arm left-wing terrorists to launch attacks on government buildings so he could declare martial law.[5] Allende was formally condemned by Chile's parliament for systematically destroying democracy in Chile.[6] 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. Not only did he violate the Constitution, but it was becoming clear that he was operating in a systemic manner with the goal of creating "a totalitarian system" in Chile. He was condemned for his illegal conduct by numerous civil society organizations.[7]
General Pinochet headed a military dictatorship for 17 years (1973-1990) as he suppressed communist revolutionaries in Chile.
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.
During his time in power, including the 1973 coup, at least 1,200 people were killed or vanished. The most common estimate is that 3,000 were killed,[8] while other estimates go as high as 10,000. 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 allegedly tortured citizens.[9]
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.
Pinochet moved Chile into a market economy, privatizing many inefficient government businesses, and opening the country to foreign investment. The stability that his government gave encouraged foreign investors to come to Chile. He also started one of the first private pension accounts pension systems in the world, which has been highly successful.
As promised, President Pinochet held another plebiscite in October 1988 on the issue of whether he should continue as president. He was defeated by a vote of 55-43%, and subsequent free elections were won by the Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, who was installed as president on March 11, 1990.
General Pinochet was a graduate of the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1998, the leftists who had long hated Pinochet 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 while Pinochet was president. 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]
Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.[10]
References
- ↑ http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf
- ↑ http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf
- ↑ http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium
- ↑ http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium
- ↑ http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium
- ↑ “Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy,” Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies, Chile, August 22, 1973.
- ↑ How Salvador Allende Destroyed Democracy in Chile
- ↑ BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm
- ↑ Augusto Pinochet Biography http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&ei=5070 NYTimes
