Bronze-level articleAugusto Pinochet

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Many Chileans regard Pinochet as the builder of the modern Chile, which characterizes itself as one of the most stable and growing economies of the hemisphere. Indeed, terror was complemented by an economic miracle that has lasted despite a few bouts of inflation.  
 
Many Chileans regard Pinochet as the builder of the modern Chile, which characterizes itself as one of the most stable and growing economies of the hemisphere. Indeed, terror was complemented by an economic miracle that has lasted despite a few bouts of inflation.  
  
At the beginning of his tenure, Pinochet gave free rein to a group of economists called the ''Chicago boys'', nicknamed because of their devotion to University of Chicago economist [[Milton Friedman]]'s free-market theories. Although their practices increased the income disparity ratio in Chile, the Chicago boys achieved an annual economic growth rate of seven percent, a figure three times the overall Latin American average. By offering generous incentives to foreign investors and privatizing business, Pinochet's government transformed Chile into a modern land of plenty and boosted life expectancy, salaries, access to health services, and educational standards above those of any other Latin American country. Even today, [[conservative]]s around the world herald Pinochet's economic ends and ignore his means, even though a large proportion of the populace was in poverty and they could not protest or demand better salaries.
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At the beginning of his tenure, Pinochet gave free rein to a group of economists called the ''[[Chicago school|Chicago boys]]'', nicknamed because of their devotion to University of Chicago economist [[Milton Friedman]]'s free-market theories. Although their practices increased the income disparity ratio in Chile, the Chicago boys achieved an annual economic growth rate of seven percent, a figure three times the overall Latin American average. By offering generous incentives to foreign investors and privatizing business, Pinochet's government transformed Chile into a modern land of plenty and boosted life expectancy, salaries, access to health services, and educational standards above those of any other Latin American country. Even today, [[conservative]]s around the world herald Pinochet's economic ends and ignore his means, even though a large proportion of the populace was in poverty and they could not protest or demand better salaries.
  
 
Pinochet called a plebiscite for the 1988 presidential election, but lost. Surprisingly, the dictator respected the vote and stepped down from the presidency in 1990, to be substituted by the democratically elected Patricio Aylwin. Yet politics in Chile remained under his watchful eye as army commander, frequently reminding the new authorities of his lingering control.
 
Pinochet called a plebiscite for the 1988 presidential election, but lost. Surprisingly, the dictator respected the vote and stepped down from the presidency in 1990, to be substituted by the democratically elected Patricio Aylwin. Yet politics in Chile remained under his watchful eye as army commander, frequently reminding the new authorities of his lingering control.

Revision as of 18:01, 19 February 2011

General Pinochet

Augusto Pinochet Ugarte (November 25, 1915 - December 10, 2006) was a murderous dictator and criminal money launderer [1][2] who ruled Chile from 1973 until 1990. He attained rule by overthrowing the constitutionally elected government of Salvador Allende by military force, following a resolution from the Chilean legislature accusing that government of many civil rights abuses.[3] Ironically, however, he himself performed many of those abuses to a much greater extent than his predecessor.

A fierce supporter of economic neoliberalism, he has been called the "ultimate free marketeer,"[4] although he did not respect dissidents' self-ownership enough to refrain from interning them in soccer stadia and torturing them.

Contents

Life and ascension to power

Born in the province of Valparaíso, Pinochet entered the military career at 17. According to his biographer James Whelan, Pinochet lived a quiet childhood, with his mother playing a very important role in the formation of his character.

Quietly, but quickly, Pinochet rose through the officer corps and, as early as the 1950s, was involved in politics, as he headed the clampdown[5] on the Chilean Communist party. Paradoxically, it was for his apparent lack of political ambition that he advanced to the rank of commander-in-chief, under the left-wing Popular Unity government led by Allende, who believed in Pinochet's trustworthiness.

In fact, many believed that Pinochet backed Allende's government. Since Allende's election in 1970, Chile had teetered precariously on the edge of full-blown civil war. Allende's leftist platform advocated nationalizing foreign-owned industry and rectifying Chile's gross economic disparity. Further polarizing the situation, the American government under Richard Nixon smuggled funds to the military for arms and anti-Allende propaganda.

Allende appointed Pinochet Commander-in-Chief of the Army on August 23, 1973, but by September 8, Pinochet joined a four-man junta to overthrow the government. By September 11, Santiago was under a state of siege that would be lifted infrequently over the next 17 years. Pinochet assumed complete control of the group because he decided that such a volatile situation could be controlled only by one leader.

Early on the morning of September 11, the junta informed Allende that he must surrender to the army. Allende refused, and British-made warplanes bombed the presidential palace. Pinochet's treachery perhaps shocked Allende most, and in the first hours of the coup he believed that the junta had taken his general hostage. Once Pinochet's treason and the forces against the ousted leader became clear, Allende committed suicide.

Dictatorship

Declaring himself as President in 1974, Pinochet eliminated Congress, political parties, freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and trade unions. He also founded the DINA (the Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional - National Intelligence Directorate) as his secret police, charged with ferreting out opposition and silencing the nation with intimidation and oppression. All of this, of course, was in the name of preserving human rights.

The reign of terror began immediately after the coup, interning and torturing thousands of dissidents in Santiago's soccer stadium. Although the 1970s witnessed the worst human rights abuses, Pinochet's government is charged with "disappearing" over three thousand citizens and causing thousands more to flee during his rule. While the United States initially backed Pinochet's takeover, especially through Henry Kissinger, after a series of prominent atrocities including the murders of former Allende ambassador to the U.S. Orlando Letelier and his 25-year-old American assistant, Ronni Karpen Moffitt in Washington D.C., the international community cautiously removed support, but only on the surface.

Like the haze overhanging Pinochet's quick about-face, questions remain about the dictator's motives for ruling through terror. Some note a driving lust for power that Pinochet concealed well in the army, while apologists believe that Pinochet was at heart a nationalist, condoning one-man rule to return order. As a matter of fact, today's Chilean society remains sharply divided towards Pinochet.

Many Chileans regard Pinochet as the builder of the modern Chile, which characterizes itself as one of the most stable and growing economies of the hemisphere. Indeed, terror was complemented by an economic miracle that has lasted despite a few bouts of inflation.

At the beginning of his tenure, Pinochet gave free rein to a group of economists called the Chicago boys, nicknamed because of their devotion to University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman's free-market theories. Although their practices increased the income disparity ratio in Chile, the Chicago boys achieved an annual economic growth rate of seven percent, a figure three times the overall Latin American average. By offering generous incentives to foreign investors and privatizing business, Pinochet's government transformed Chile into a modern land of plenty and boosted life expectancy, salaries, access to health services, and educational standards above those of any other Latin American country. Even today, conservatives around the world herald Pinochet's economic ends and ignore his means, even though a large proportion of the populace was in poverty and they could not protest or demand better salaries.

Pinochet called a plebiscite for the 1988 presidential election, but lost. Surprisingly, the dictator respected the vote and stepped down from the presidency in 1990, to be substituted by the democratically elected Patricio Aylwin. Yet politics in Chile remained under his watchful eye as army commander, frequently reminding the new authorities of his lingering control.

Last years and death

On March 10, 1998, Pinochet stepped down from the army, and entered the Senate as senator-for-life, a post created in the constitution written under his regime. On October 16, while recovering from back surgery in England, Pinochet was arrested on a warrant issued by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, who sought his extradition to Spain on charges of murdering and torturing Spanish citizens in Chile. Held for 17 months, British authorities allowed him to return to Chile because of deteriorated health.

In 2001, Chilean Judge Juan Guzmán issued a first indictment of Pinochet on human rights charges. But the case faltered because courts found his poor health ruled out a trial. Three years later, a U.S. Senate investigation revealed that Pinochet had a fortune in foreign bank accounts, estimated by a Chilean judge at US$28 million, and he was indicted for tax evasion.

In 2006, Pinochet suffered a heart attack, and died on December 10. Days before, on his 91st birthday, Pinochet had issued a statement taking "full political responsibility" for the actions of his government. It is known that during that time more than 3,000 people were killed or "disappeared", and nearly 30,000 were imprisoned or tortured. Despite the evils committed under him, Margaret Thatcher stood by him until the end.[6]

External links

Footnotes

  1. Most of Pinochet’s 21m USD fortune cannot be legitimately accounted for - June 2010
  2. Augusto Pinochet 'amassed $21m fortune'
  3. Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile's Democracy
  4. Political Compass
  5. Some desperate reference to the Clash! surely needs to be entered here.
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/304516.stm
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