MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chile launches “Truth and Justice” program to determine forced disappearances under dictator Pinochet
Government reports show 1,469 people were victims of forced disappearances, of whom 1,092 were secretly detained and 377 were executed. 
The project, officially known as Truth and Justice, will have a dedicated budget and staff, with investigators tasked with reconstructing the victims' final days. Chile's government launched a program on Wednesday that seeks to determine what happened to more than 1,000 people during Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship 50 years ago.
“Justice has taken too long,” President Gabriel Boric said as he announced the government project at the presidential palace. “The only way to build a future that is more free and respectful of life and human dignity is to know the whole truth,” he emphasized.
Pinochet seized power in a bloody coup of which the United States under president Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, was well aware on September 11, 1973 and would remain in power until 1990.
During his dictatorship, some 40,175 people were executed, detained and disappeared, or tortured as political prisoners, according to Chile's Ministry of Justice.
Government reports show 1,469 people were victims of forced disappearances, of whom 1,092 were secretly detained and 377 were executed. Their remains were never returned to families.
Pinochet died in 2006 at the age of 91, and was never convicted for his role in the crimes. Many have been pushing the government for more answers and accountability.
Until now, the circumstances of those who were declared missing has not been looked into, the weight only carried by bereaved loved ones.
The project, officially known as Truth and Justice, will have a dedicated budget and staff, with investigators tasked with reconstructing the victims' final days.
Earlier this week, the US State Department declassified briefings presented to Richard Nixon, the US president at the time, on September 8 and September 11.
The reports show how he was briefed on Chile's impending coup which was part of the wave of military dictatorships in the region in the 1970s.
In Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, families have also pushed for more information on those who were declared missing during military regimes.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsTænk & imoyaro
Aug 31st, 2023 - 10:03 pm 0This 18th of September will be Chile's national holiday as well as the 50th anniversary of deposing the Marxist Allende regime.
Thankfully the Pinochet salvation reversed the Communist takeover and allowed our country to have a successful democracy with a healthy economy today.
The difficult transmission required great sacrifice and obviously was difficult, but as someone has already explained: “...sometimes you have to break eggs to make an omelette...”
... obviously many regrettable errors occured...
I still vividly remember Fidel Castro's month long visit... ...we truly experienced a civil war!
In 1982 I accepted an admission into the Naval Academy, which was a VERY remarkable period...
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Today I'm sincerely sympathetic to my Argentine neighbors, but they themselves are at fault...
¡Saludos de La Dehesa!
Hermanito...
Sep 02nd, 2023 - 05:51 am 0“... obviously many regrettable errors occured...” ..., you say...?
Obviously..., plenty of regrettable Systemic Actions occured..., I say...!
- “Systemic Actions” that..., in this auld Patagonian's decades long experience in the Aysen region of Shile humble opinion..., has resulted in a “PTSD” & “Stockholm Syndrome” ridden civil society...
(Like the traditional huaso system of beating the hell off a horse to break it..., ya' know...)
Anyhow...
- In the hope that our dear Shile keeps staightening its path..., hereby a link to a TODAY'S NEWSPAPER article about some “REGRETTABLE ERRORS” comitted by your big brother's Armed Farces to the east...:
https://www.pagina12.com.ar/584339-la-resolucion-de-cuatro-casos-de-embarazadas-asesinadas-por-
I Tænk that..., today..., many of ya' auld commanding officers must be envying you and your strong alibi...:
(“In 1982 I accepted an admission into the XXX Academy”,..)
Vincit Omnia Veritas
Saludos...
Tænk
Sep 02nd, 2023 - 01:03 pm 0It's good to see you address the terrible atrocities committed by your military.
Although our military government did commit several regrettable errors, Chile also experienced a protracted civil war.
The actual estimated deaths in Chile was perhaps three to 3 to four thousand...
Your country death rate remains unspeakable...
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This weekend Madame and I are babysitting our son's children, while we debate garden plans.
¡Saludos de La Dehesa!
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