Santiago de Chile 29th June 1973: unable to remove President Allende constitutionally the US government and the Chilean opposition opt for the strategy of a coup. The Battle of Chile II: The Coup D’Etat *****
The tanks exchange fire with the presidential guard. ibid.
Loyal troops begin the counter-attack to break the siege. ibid.
From the morning of 29th June left wing workers take control of factories, companies, mine and agricultural centres throughout Chile. ibid.
Some officers start to act against factory employees and workers. ibid.
The entire opposition joins the anti-government escalade. ibid.
Command of the army falls meanwhile on General Pinochet. ibid.
More than 800,000 people file past the president of the republic. ibid.
‘The time for reconciliation is over! It’s time to fight!’ ibid. workers’ demonstration
On September 11 the Navy unleashes the coup in the port of Valparaiso. At the same time four North American destroyers move close to the Chilean coast. ibid.
‘I shall repay the loyalty of the people with my life.’ ibid. Allende
At 2.15 p.m. President Allende dies in La Moneda. ibid.
‘The Junta will maintain political power.’ ibid. Pinochet
From 11th September all the army’s resources are used to repress the popular movement with the compliance of the US government. ibid.
Thousands of people lose their lives and the main sports stadiums are turned into concentration camps. ibid.
The Battle of Chile is not yet over. ibid.
Santiago de Chile 1972: In only 18 months Salvador Allende’s socialist government has carried out a large part of its social reform programme. Over a year and a half it has nationalized the big copper, iron, coal, nitrate and cement mines … It has also expropriated six million hectares of arable land and nationalized almost all national and foreign banks. The Battle of Chile III: The Power of the People
‘The mummies have never respected the present government. It’s the people who respect the government. They follow the government’s orders. But those rich guys, the moneybag men, the men who are losing their interests, they’re the ones who are complaining.’ ibid. worker
‘The fascist groups attacked the students and workers who were showing support for the government.’ ibid.
‘Let’s Create Popular Power!’ ibid. slogan
‘We’ve earned huge fortunes for those guys, the bosses. But the won’t do anything for the welfare of the workers. And now they want to destroy us. There’s a great persecution of trade union leaders.’ ibid. worker
In 1973 the people’s stores are feeding some 300,000 families in Santiago, more than half its total population. ibid.
With the population in shock, Pinochet imposed the policies recommended by the Chicago boys: the removal of price controls, the sale of state companies, the removal of import barriers and cuts to government expenditure. Friedman later acknowledged the importance of the Chilean experiment. It didn’t work. The Shock Doctrine, 2009
I would like to know who this Mr Neruda is: because he boasts about peace while supporting strikers who attack our law enforcement. Neruda 2016 starring Luis Gnecco & Gael Garcia Bernal & Alfredo Castro & Mercedes Moran & Diego Munoz & Pablo Derqui & Michael Silva& Jaime Vadell & Marcelo Alonso & Francisco Reyes et al, director Pablo Larrain, right-wing politician
Union leaders, communist party members, are being thrown into jail. And it’s all being done by your president. ibid. Neruda
It is said Neruda is the most important communist in the world. ibid. commentary
In Chile there’s no freedom of speech. There’s no freedom of fear. Today 6th January 1948: I’m being persecuted for remaining faithful to lofty human aspirations. And for the first time I had to sit before a court for reporting to the Americas despicable violations of those freedoms. ibid. Neruda
Catch him and humiliate him. They we’ll throw a party. ibid. president
Neruda likes sex, murder and violence. ibid. wife
Poets organise an heroic resistance against Chile’s fascism. ibid. Picasso
Deep in the foothills of this mountain range set in this beautiful landscape of low forested hills and fast flowing rivers is a small community of Germans who have lived here for the last fifty years. But this is not Germany or even Europe and these mountains are not the Alps but the Andes in central Chile … Colonia Dignidad, the Dignity Colony. But behind this idyllic facade hides a place where unspeakable things have happened. The Colony: Chile’s Dark Past Uncovered, Faris Kermani, Al Jazeera 2013
‘A paedophiles’ paradise.’ ibid.
Its residents have revealed horrifying stories of child abuse and forced labour, torture and killings. ibid.
By 1962 [Paul] Schafer and his group had established themselves as a charity in central Chile. They set up a farm, a bakery and even a state -subsidised hospital that offered free treatment to the local population, all with the blessing of the Chilean authorities. Schafer had his own very particular vision of how his community should be organised. ibid.
Schafer was creating a community that obeyed and followed his every command and where everyone looked up to the Permanent Uncle as a god. All this control allowed Schafer a free run to do as he wished, not only with the adults but also with the children … ibid.
Schafer reinforced this power through an elaborate system of mutual betrayal. ibid.
Frightened that he would have face criminal charges Paul Schafer fled just as he had done nearly forty years earlier. Schafer’s inner circle continued to assert its hold over the colony, but with investigators on their heels, they had to make changes to cover their tracks. ibid.
He became a symbol of the power of the people. Massacre at the Stadium: A Victor Jara Story I, woman, Netflix 2019
He was too much of a threat. They had to kill him. ibid. other woman
One of the great unsolved murders of the twentieth century. ibid. dude
Victor sang traditional folk repertoire. ibid. woman
During the presidential campaign we accompanied Allended to many places. Victor’s songs were the soundtrack for that piece of history. His music was essential to Allende’s victory. ibid. dude
Then we realised that the right wing opposition to Allende was getting more aggressive. Paramilitary groups were forming. We saw how right wing forces wanted to disrupt society just because they were losing power. ibid. musician
He was murdered in the worst possible way. Tortured to death. ibid. dude
The CIA was sent by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger to overthrow Allende and help bring Pinochet to power. ibid. historian
For 44 years we’ve been seeking justice. ibid. Joan Jara
To the question, ‘In 1973 did you fire and kill Victor Jara?’ he [Barrientos] shows a high 97% rate of deception [less than 99% = inconclusive]. ibid. Alberto Gonzalez, lie detector examiner
Every year, the festival of 1000 Guitars for Victor Jara is held in Santiago, Chile, to celebrate his life and his music. ibid.
On July 3 2018 eight retired Chilean officers were sentenced to 15 years for their involvement in Victor Jara’s torture and death. Pedro Barrientos was not included in the process, since he resides in the United States. Although the Chilean judicial system has renewed their effort to have him extradited, Barrientos still lives a free man in Florida. ibid.
The United States also saw a threat growing in the country from a new socialist political powerhouse: he [Allende] was a doctor, he loved fine wine and expensive suits … Under orders from the White House, the CIA and National Security Council drew up a twin track plan … Track Two of the military plan was a military takeover. Secret Wars Uncovered s1e9: Coups D’etat, History 2020
America would support the forces in doing what ever they needed to do to tighten their grip over the country. ibid.
Twenty-six similarities in technique and motif on pottery from Japan and Valdivia. Who Really Discovered America? History 2010
Allende was overthrown in 1973 and Pinochet was put in power to protect the copper industry from being nationalised. And these elites were given tremendous resources … 1954: Arbenz who wanted to challenge United Fruits … Arbenz becomes a communist in the eyes of the press … It’s a different kind of empire. Chris Hedges, interview Abby Martin, The Empire Files: War, Propaganda and the Enemy Within, Youtube 2015
Now the CIA turned its attention to Chile with devastating results. Secrets of the CIA, Sky One 2006
Salvador Allende was killed in the process. With Pinochet in power, violence, corruption and torture quickly spread throughout Chile. ibid.