United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the 1973 coup in Chile as “an institutional rupture” and paid tribute to the victims of “that dark period”, on the 50th anniversary of the coup led by Augusto. Pinochet, marked this Monday.
“The 1973 coup was an institutional rupture that severed the bonds of coexistence and marked generations of Chilean men and women, but which also inspired many to fight for justice and freedom,” said Guterres, who also paid tribute “to all the people who worked tirelessly to heal wounds and build a more inclusive and just society.”
‘The coup and the death of Allende [o então Presidente eleito Salvador Allende]seven months before the Carnation Revolution, touched me deeply, as did the stories of persecuted Chileans I met as refugees,” the United Nations (UN) representative said in a statement published by his office.
This anniversary, he indicated, coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that, in his opinion, “should serve as a guide to listening to all victims and their loved ones, their to acknowledge pain and contribute to their right to truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition.”
In this sense, Guterres emphasized that the Chilean government’s announcement on the plan to search for missing people “reflects the need to continue strengthening historical memory, as a way to unite society and solve pending tasks and common problems with a single future to deal with”.
The National Plan for the Search for Truth and Justice for the Victims of the Forced Disappearance of the Pinochet Dictatorship (1973-1990), presented on August 30 by President Gabriel Boric, aims to investigate the circumstances of the disappearance of the victims and their to clarify whereabouts. ensure access to information and participation of family members and society, and implement remedial measures and guarantees that the crime will not be repeated.
“Today’s strong Chilean democracy allows us to hope that humanity, united in its diversity, can solve any global problem,” Guterres said.
And he added: “On this anniversary, let us celebrate Chile’s commitment to democracy and human rights and reaffirm our commitment to building a more just, supportive and peaceful world.”
On September 11, 1973, General Augusto Pinochet seized power by overthrowing then-President Salvador Allende. The coup would mark the start of a bloody dictatorship that would last seventeen years and be officially responsible for 3,200 murders and disappearances.
Several heads of state and government, including Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, are in Chile to take part in ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the coup.
Source: DN
