Chilean activists recently gathered to discuss the traumatic impact of Augusto Pinochet’s regime. Veronica De Negri and Marco Echeverría emphasized the importance of remembering victims and confronting historical injustices. The panel highlighted ongoing societal effects of the regime and the need for public memorials to prevent the repetition of such crimes. The event underscored a collective responsibility to remember and honor those who suffered during this dark period in Chile’s history.
On Monday, activists and former student protesters convened at the Elliott School of International Affairs to address the lasting trauma caused by Augusto Pinochet’s regime in Chile. Veronica De Negri, a renowned Chilean human rights activist, and Marco Echeverría, a case worker at the Latin American Youth Center, emphasized the significance of remembering the victims of the regime’s abuses. The event was organized by LATAM@GW, a student organization focused on issues relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean, and moderated by Rosela Millones from the University of Chile.
The panel highlighted the harrowing events of September 11, 1973, when Pinochet, supported covertly by the United States, overthrew the democratically elected government of President Salvador Allende. This initiated a 17-year period marked by widespread repression, during which countless individuals were subjected to torture, kidnapping, and murder. De Negri stressed, “What I can tell you is this thing happened. Not as an accident, these things happen by political decision.”
Millones pointed out that the legacy of violence and oppression from the Pinochet era continues to resonate within Chilean society, impacting various social, political, and cultural spheres. The ongoing struggle to confront this past leaves many abducted Chileans unaccounted for, as attempts to investigate continue to languish. She noted that only in recent years have efforts to document the regime’s effects gained traction.
In commemoration of the coup’s 50th anniversary in 2023, a nationwide research initiative was launched to locate over 1,000 missing persons. Millones remarked on the “open wounds of the dictatorship” that remain a painful reminder of this dark chapter in history. De Negri recounted her personal tragedy, revealing that her eldest son, Rodrigo, was arrested and ultimately succumbed to his injuries from police brutality during a demonstration in 1986, underscoring the enduring pain of loss that families endure.
A notable concern raised by De Negri is the tendency among some Chileans to forget or deny the atrocities committed during the regime, highlighting the vital need for remembrance. She reflected on her experiences of being arrested, observing how denial prevails for some survivors, noting, “One of them is dead, and the other is denying everything. But the truth is, I look at her, and I look at me, I feel sorry because she’s still thinking that she was the only one that suffered.”
Echeverría added that the post-Pinochet government had opted to prioritize progress over confronting the past, inhibiting a thorough reckoning with historical injustices. He remarked, “With the new wave of democracy in Chile, there was a big effort to not remember, to keep moving forward.”
Moreover, Echeverría advocated for the establishment of public memorials as crucial steps to address past atrocities while fostering collective understanding. De Negri reiterated this sentiment, stressing the necessity of memory as a means of prevention against repeating historical errors, declaring, “Memory is something that we cannot forget because we have a responsibility in this world.”
The panel at the Elliott School of International Affairs served as a poignant reminder of the enduring impacts of Augusto Pinochet’s regime on Chilean society. Through the voices of activists, the discussion highlighted the importance of acknowledging past atrocities to prevent their recurrence. The need for public remembrance, accountability, and memorialization emerged as central themes, emphasizing a collective responsibility to confront history and honor the victims of repression. Ultimately, this event reinforced the vital role of dialogue and memory in the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights in Chile.
Original Source: gwhatchet.com
