September 11 2003: As the world marks the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Chileans are remembering their own September 11.
Thirty years ago today, the democratically elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in a US-backed coup headed by the then-head of the Chilean armed forces, General Augusto Pinochet. With Washington's blessing and support, Pinochet set up a military dictatorship that was to last 16 years, and under which thousands of civilians were tortured, murdered or simply disappeared in a manhunt designed to wipe out left-wing politics in Chile for good.
Special report: Chile
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The day democracy died in Chile
The BBC's h2g2 archive relives the events of Chile's September 11, from the capture of Allende's home town of Valparaiso to the aerial bombardment of La Moneda - the presidential palace in the capital Santiago - and Allende's alleged machine gun suicide some seven hours after the coup began.
September 11 1973: the defintive coup: Ewin Martinez (academic)
9.30am: Allende's last speech to the nation: Radio Magellanes (Spanish)
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| | The military on the rampage |
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Painful memories
Radio Netherlands producer Jose Zepeda gives a deeply personal account of his two years in jail under the Pinochet regime. He describes the terrible conditions of fear and degradation under which he was detained, and the torture and murder - four weeks after the coup - of six of his fellow inmates.
Sergio Rueda: the dissident's story: Guardian Weekend
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They couldn't kill his songs
The BBC profiles Victor Jara, one of the founding fathers of Chile's New Song movement which helped elect Allende. On September 11 1973, Jara had been due to perform at Santiago University. Instead he was arrested and taken to the city's boxing stadium, where he was tortured for four days and then executed.
Chileans find solace in Allende concert: International Herald Tribune
A short essay on the New Song movement: Brad Chapman (academic)
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Chile and the United States
Despite acknowledgement, some 25 years after the event, that the US had a role in the toppling of Allende and supporting the Pinochet dictatorship, the extent of the involvement has never been properly established. It can be summed up though, according to Alejandro Reuss of Z Magazine, by Henry Kissinger's famous quote: 'I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people.'
Noam Chomsky interview extracts: thirdworldtraveler.com
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Inside the dictatorship
While Pinochet was detained in Britain in 1998, Colonel Oglanier Benavente gave testimony to Chilean authorities that was deeply damaging to the former dictator and to Sergio Arellano Stark, the leader of the infamous 'Caravan of Death'. The Remember Chile website presents of translation of Col Benavente's evidence, in which he reveals that his subordinates participated in secret missions to eliminate political prisoners.
25.08.03: Hunger strike in Chile: The Transnational Institute
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Back home
ABC News reports on Pinochet's arrival back in Chile after his release from house arrest in Britain. For full coverage of the legal proceedings which kept him in the UK for two years while the Spanish judge, Balthasar Garzon, attempted to secure his extradition to stand trial in Spain, visit the Guardian's Pinochet in London special report.
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Chile pages
Amnesty International provides detailed background information on Chile, the human rights abuses of the Pinochet regime, and the continued efforts to bring the former dictator to trial in his home country. Human Rights Watch also provides extensive coverage on its Pinochet prosecution pages.
The Chile documentation project at the US national security archive attempts to piece together the extent of Washington's involvement in Chile during the 1970s and 80s. The site includes excerpts from CIA activities in Chile, released by the CIA on September 19 2000.
The Memoria Viva (Living Memory) website provides individual archives in Spanish of every single one of Chile's 'disappeared', a record which is both chilling and moving.
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