Chile Republic of (Republica de Chile)

From 1993 the head of state government was Eduardo Frei.
1818 Achieved independence from Spain.
1964 PDC formed government under Eduardo Frei.
1970 Dr Salvador Allende became the first president; he embarked on an extensive programme of nationalisation and social reform.
1973 Government overthrown by the CIA-backed military, led by General Augusto Pinochet. Allende killed. Policy of repression began during which all opposition was put down and political activity banned.
1983 Growing opposition to the regime from all sides, with outbreaks of violence.
1988 Referendum on whether Pinochet should serve a further term resulted in a clear No' vote.
1989 President Pinochet agreed to constitutional changes to allow pluralist politics;
1981 Constitution adopted. Patrio Aylwin (PD C) elected president; Pinochet remained as army commander in chief
1990 Aylwin reached accord on end to military junta government. Pinochet censured by president.
1993 Ruling coalition successful in general election. PDC leader, Eduardo Frei succeeds Aylwin.


Government

Under the 1981 constitution, which provided for a 'transition to democracy' by 1989, there is a president elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term, who is both head of state and government. Members of the senate for eight years and deputies for four.


History

The area now known as Chile was originally occupied by the Araucanian Indians and invaded by the Incas in the 15th century. The first European to reach it was Ferdinand Magellan, who in 1S20 sailed through the strait now named after him. A Spanish expedition under Pedro de Valdiva founded Santiago 1541, and Chile was subsequently colonised by Spanish settlers who established an agricultural society, although the Indians continued to rebel until the late 19th century. Becoming independent from Spain 1818, Chile went to war with Peru and Bolivia 1879 and gained considerable territory from them.

'Social Justice'

The Christian Democrats under Eduardo Frei held power 1964-70, followed by a left-wing coalition led by Salvador Allende, the first democratically elected Marxist head of state. He promised social justice by constitutional means and began nationalising industries, including US-owned copper mines.


'Authoritarian Democracy'

The US Central Intelligence Agency painted Allende as a pro-Cuban communist and encouraged opposition to him. In 1973 the army, led by General Augusto Pinochet, overthrew the government. Allende was killed or, as the new regime claimed, committed suicide. Pinochet became president, and his opponents were tortured, imprisoned or just 'disappeared'. In 1976 Pinochet proclaimed an 'authoritarian democracy' and in 1977 banned all political parties.


Opposition To Government

In 1981 a new constitution, described as a 'transition democracy', was announced, but imprisonment and torture continued. By 1983 opposition to Pinochet had increased, with demands for a return to democratic government. In 1984 an antigovernment bombing campaign began, aimed mainly at electricity installations, resulting in a 90-day state emergency, followed by a 90-day state of siege. In 1985, as opposition grew within the Catholic church and the army, as well as among the public, another state of emergency was declared, but the bombings continued, as did the state terror.


Human Rights

Human rights abuses investigated in Jan 1990. the junta approved the disbanding of the secret police of the National Information Centre (CNI). A government commission was set up Sept. 1990 to investigate some 2,000 political executions 19 73-78, 500 political murders 1978-90, and 700 disappearances. In the same month the formerly discredited Salvador Allende was officially recognised by being buried in a marked grave, and President Aylwin censured General Pinochet for trying to return to active politics. In 1991 the official report for President Aylwin revealed 2,279 deaths during Pinochet's term, of which over 2,115 were executions carried out by the secret police.


Salvador Allende (Gossens) [1908-1973 1

Chilean left-wing politician. Elected president 1970 as the candidate of the Popular Front alliance, Allende never succeeded in keeping the electoral alliance together in government. His failure to solve the country's economic problems or to deal with political subversion allowed the army, backed by the CIA, to stage the 1973 coup which brought about the death of Allende and many of his supporters. In each election he had the support of the
socialist and communist movements but was defeated by the Christian Democrats and Nationalists.


Augusto Pinochet (Ugarte) [1915- 1

Military ruler of Chilefrom 1973, when a coup backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency ousted and killed President Salvador Allende. Pinochet took over the presidency and governed ruthlessly, crushing all opposition. He was voted out of power when the general elections were held Dec. 1989 but remained head of the armed forces.


Repression

In psychology, a mental process that ejects and excludes from consciousness ideas, impulses, or memories that would otherwise threaten emotional stability.


Democracy

Greek demos 'the community'. Government by the people, usually through elected representatives. In the modern world, democracy has developed from the American and French revolutions. In direct democracy the whole people meets for the making of laws or the direction of executive officers. Direct democracy today is represented mainly by the use of referendum, as in the UK The two concepts underlying liberal democracy are the right to representative government and the right to individual freedom. A political system can properly be called democratic if the government in power can be peacefully removed by a majority decision of the people, through fair and open elections.


Totalitarianism

Government control of all activities within a country, overtly political or otherwise, as in fascist or communist dictatorships. Examples of totalitarianism regimes are Italy under Benito Mussolini 1 922-45; Germany under Adolph Hitler 1933-45; and more recently Romania under Nicolae Ceausescu 19 74-89.