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Augusto Pinochet

"Sometimes democracy must be bathed in blood."

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A general in the Chilean army, Pinochet took power in a military coup in 1973. Under Pinochet, approximately 40,000 critics and suspected communists were imprisoned, tortured or killed. Besides political oppression, Pinochet introduced free-market reforms influenced by Milton Friedman. Facing international pressure and a lost referendum, Pinochet handed over power to his democratically elected successor in 1990. However, Pinochet maintained immunity from prosecution.

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Additional Information

Picture Of Augusto Pinochet: No Changes Were Made. Source / Author: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Augusto_Pinochet_foto_oficial_(cropped)(4).jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.de Picture of the Bombing of La Moneda: No Changes Were Made. Source / Author: Chas Gerretsen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sylvain_Julienne_durant_le_coup_d%E2%80%99%C3%A9tat_au_Chili_en_septembre_1973.jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en Picture of Protest: No Changes Were Made. Source / Author: Fotografía de Kena Lorenzini donada al Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agrupaci%C3%B3n_de_Familiares_de_Detenidos_Desaparecidos_de_Chile_(de_Kena_Lorenzini).jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

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Cite this brief
Groenheijde, S. (2023). Augusto Pinochet. EPIS Insight · Human Rights & Humanitarian Aid.
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