Guide Note:
Military dictator Augusto Pinochet ruled Chile after a coup d'etat in 1973 overthrew the democratically-elected Salvador Allende government. Pinochet's 17 year dictatorship was marked by murder, torture and widespread human rights abuses. He amassed a huge fortune, which was stashed in foreign banks, and avoided standing trial in 2001 due to poor health.
Fast Facts:
- Born: November 25, 1915 in Valparaiso, Chile
- Spouse: Maria Lucia Hiriart Rodriguez
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Successor: Patricio Aylwin
- Pinochet's security forces killed 2,600+ people and tortured 28,000+ during his dictatorship
- The U.S. supported Allende's overthrow, and assisted Pinochet's regime
- Joined other South American dictators in Operation Condor, a secret program to eliminate political opponents
- Supported Britain over neighbor Argentina during the 1982 Falklands Conflict, becoming a friend of Margaret Thatcher
- Died: December 10, 2006 in Santiago, Chile
Rise to Power
On September 11, 1973, the Chilean military, lead by General Augusto Pinichet, overthrew President Salvador Allende in a coup d'état. The reason given by the opposition was that Allende had breached Chile's constitution. The following government was lead by four people: Pinochet, Gustavo Leigh Guzmán, José Toribio Merino Castro and César Mendoza Durán. The four decided on naming Pinochet the head of the Junta. The military dictatorship lasted to 1990.
Augusto Pinochet Satire and Humor
Guardian Unlimited: Pinochet Goes Home
Guardian Unlimited: Pinochet and Thatcher
The Onion: Prosecuting Pinochet
The People's Cube: Piss in Wal-Mart Dressing Rooms to Avenge Allende
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