Augusto Pinochet
| Augusto Pinochet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Augusto Pinochet in 1990 | |
| 30th President of Chile | |
| In office 17 December 1974 – 11 March 1990 |
|
| Prime Minister | José Toribio Merino |
| Preceded by | Salvador Allende |
| Succeeded by | Patricio Aylwin |
| President of the Government Junta of Chile |
|
| In office 11 September 1973 – 11 March 1981 |
|
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | José Toribio Merino |
| 58th Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army | |
| In office 23 August 1973 – 11 March 1998 |
|
| Preceded by | Carlos Prats |
| Succeeded by | Ricardo Izurieta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte 25 November 1915 Valparaíso, Chile |
| Died | December 10, 2006 (aged 91) Santiago, Chile |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Spouse(s) | Lucía Hiriart (1943-2006) |
| Children | Inés Lucía Pinochet María Verónica Pinochet Jacqueline Marie Pinochet Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet Marco Antonio Pinochet |
| Alma mater | Chilean War Academy |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Soldier |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Chile |
| Service/branch | Chilean Army |
| Years of service | 1931 - 1998 |
| Rank | Captain General |
| Unit | "Chacabuco" Regiment "Maipo" Regiment "Carampangue" Regiment "Rancagua" Regiment 1st Army Division |
| Commands | "Esmeralda" Regiment 2nd Army Division 6th Army Division Santiago Army Garrison Chilean Army |
| Battles/wars | 1973 Chilean coup d'état |
General Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (November 25, 1915 – December 10, 2006) was a Chilean army general and president who led Chile from 1973 to 1990. He became leader after he overthrew Salvador Allende, a socialist president.
About 3,000 Chilean people died because of Pinochet's rule and many other people were tortured. Many of the people that died during Pinochet's rule were communists, however many of Pinochet's supporters died as well.
Pinochet introduced many neoliberal free market policies, bringing growth and great economic progress to Chile.
The coup d'état that was launched to overthrow Allende and put Pinochet in power was supported by the United States, as was Pinochet's regime.[1]
In 1988, there was a plebiscite in Chile. The people were asked whether Pinochet should rule for another eight and a half years. About 56% of the people did not want that. Pinochet respected the wish of the people, and stepped down from power in 1990. Patricio Aylwin became the next president. Pinochet kept his responsibilities as head of the military until 1998. After this, he became a senator. He left the senate in 2002, but he was not arrested because the Supreme Court of Chile said he suffered from dementia. In May 2004, judges said that was not true. On December 13 he was placed under house arrest.
He died from heart failure on December 10, 2006, a week after a heart attack.
Reference [change]
- ↑ Chomsky, Noam (2006). Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy. Metropolitan Books. p. 111. ISBN 0-8050-7912-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=9p4A-omIdgYC&pg=PA111&dq=%22Failed+States%22+Pinochet#PPA111,M1. "Meanwhile, Washington firmly supported Pinochet's regime of violence and terror and had no slight role in its initial triumph."
