CHILEAN President Gabriel Boric recently delivered a speech to mark a significant event that happened in Chile 50 years ago – the military coup that changed the country.
On September 11, 1973, a group of military officers, led by General Augusto Pinochet, took over the government, ousting the elected President Salvador Allende.
The United States backed the said coup.
During a special gathering in Santiago, dignitaries sat inside La Moneda, the presidential palace, while others stood outside with signs and chanted slogans like ‘the united people will never be defeated.’
President Boric talked about the importance of remembering those who defended the country’s laws and Constitution when the coup happened. At that time, the military used planes, tanks, and guns to take control, which was an act of betrayal and rebellion.
Boric also mentioned the need to appreciate the help Chile received from other countries during those challenging days. He said that the coup led to serious human rights violations against the people of Chile.
The military coup in 1973 marked the start of General Pinochet’s 17-year rule, during which about 40,000 people were either arrested, tortured, or disappeared.
Meanwhile, 2 Chilean Congressmen have urged the United States to formally apologize and provide economic reparations for its role in the said coup.
The two lawmakers conveyed their demands by sending a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden that was delivered through the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile.
