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On September 11, 1973, what is perhaps the most publicized military coup in history took place. It is also one of the bloodiest. 3000 killed, even more tortured. Concentration camps emerged in the wake of the coup. Chile’s democratically elected president was killed and all parties were banned. This happened in Chile, a country that had had an uninterrupted series of democratic elections since 1932.

The coup has been immortalized through films and songs. Some of those killed are almost icons of the coup. Victor Jara was one of them. A Chilean singer. The Norwegian singer Lillebjørn Nilsen wrote a tribute to Victor Jara.

Another person who became immortal after the coup is the American journalist Charles Horman. After a long search, it was confirmed that he had been killed. The film“Missing” from 1982 is about the search made by his father and partner after Charles Horman was taken in for questioning by the junta and then disappeared. “Doing critical journalism has always been risky.

Why a coup in Chile?

Chile had long democratic traditions. Free elections had been held continuously since 1932. In 1970, Salvador Allende was elected president. He was what we might call a socialist and a democrat. Salvador Allende was very popular with the people. The US saw Allende as a problem. This is South America, America’s backyard. The US feared that Allende would have close relations with the Soviet Union. After Chile nationalized a number of businesses, the US began an economic war against Chile. This led to a shortage of some goods

On September 11, 1973 came the military coup. Led by Augusto Pinochet. The coup was directly supported by the USA. The coup was very bloody and Salvador Allende was killed. Read more on Store Norske leksikon

Chileans to Europe

Many fled the military junta in Chile. They fled torture and murder. Many of them were granted political asylum in Europe and elsewhere. Many of the Chileans who came to Europe settled here permanently. They got married, started a family and became part of the country they chose to live in.

The military coup in Chile is a black chapter in history. Killing and torturing people for a different political viewpoint is unacceptable.

It is important that democratic countries provide protection for people fleeing political, religious or ethnic persecution. In Chile, people fled repression, torture and murder.