On this day, 10 December 2006, former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, died. His regime, which swept into power after a bloody 1973 coup and saw thousands of radicals, trade unionists and others rounded up and executed, was enthusiastically supported by both British and American governments.
He was close friends with Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (with whom he is pictured), and when Spain tried to extradite Pinochet from Britain to face trial for torture and murder, Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw ruled that he should not be extradited.
He was allowed to return freely to Chile where he was immune from prosecution. And although he was stripped of his immunity in 2004 and charged with multiple counts of kidnapping, torture and murder, he died before being convicted or punished.
The recent working class rebellion in Chile, provoked by an increase in the price of the Santiago subway, has developed into an enormous uprising demanding the abolition of Chile’s Pinochet-era constitution, which is still in effect. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1289003097951504/?type=3
On this day, 10 December 2006, former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, died. His regime, which swept into power after a bloody 1973 coup and saw thousands of radicals, trade unionists and others rounded up and executed, was enthusiastically supported by both British and American governments.
He was close friends with Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (with whom he is pictured), and when Spain tried to extradite Pinochet from Britain to face trial for torture and murder, Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw ruled that he should not be extradited.
He was allowed to return freely to Chile where he was immune from prosecution. And although he was stripped of his immunity in 2004 and charged with multiple counts of kidnapping, torture and murder, he died before being convicted or punished.
The recent working class rebellion in Chile, provoked by an increase in the price of the Santiago subway, has developed into an enormous uprising demanding the abolition of Chile’s Pinochet-era constitution, which is still in effect. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1289003097951504/?type=3
President Sebastián Piñera just declared Chile at “state of emergency” over the riots that are taking place in Santiago.
This means that the police, military and special forces are no longer subject to our constitution’s laws; they can legally violate our human rights without getting any punishment.
Guys, I’m scared. They’re torturing people and a student is already missing. They’re throwing tear gas grenades directly at people, shooting teens and college students, hitting and hurting anyone who happens to be on the streets. They apparently killed two college students already.
Please, please don’t let this get swept under the rug.
