Monday, December 11, 2006

Former Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet Dead

Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean dictator who overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in 1973 and ruled with impunity for 17 years Pinochet has passed. Chileans I spoke to, both in the United States and inside Chile, first expressed disbelief, because of the countless hospitalizations false alarms, then happiness. Yes, I know it's not nice to celebrate the dead, but Pinochet, who has been linked to thousands of deaths and disappearances, and the immunity he created for himself within Chile has been a painful sore on the Southern Cone nation.

News reports show local reaction across Chile ranging from jubilation to mourning as well as protests in the streets that have been met with water canons.
Pinochet, as per his request, will be cremated, to avoid his grave being becoming a site of conflict. It's shame that so many of those that were killed or "disappeared" during his rule weren't afforded the same luxury.

Links : La Prensa Latina
Image : VivirLatino

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

May he NEVER rest in peace!!

Unknown said...

God has a way of dealing with people like Pinochet far better than mortals ever could. let's hope that since he did not come to justice on earth, he will come to full justice up above. At least another one bites the dust.

Dr. Mathews said...

For those who think he authored some sort of economic "miracle", this should put it into perspective:

In 1973, the year General Pinochet brutally seized the government, Chile’s unemployment rate was 4.3%. In 1983, after ten years of free-market modernization, unemployment reached 22%. Real wages declined by 40% under military rule.

Anonymous said...

Site of conflict, ya right. He just didn't want people dancing on his grave! Immunity to the last.

Captain USpace said...

..
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
admire brutal dictators

absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
mourn evil tyrants...
..

Anonymous said...

Hey Maegen, nice blogging on Pinochet...but...why don't you remove the spam from your comments???

Thanks.