CHILE: Miracleman Pinochet

Carlos Lopez ended his eulogy of Pinochet saying "The question for future Chileans historians is: was the enormous progress achieved worth the violations of human rights?" Adriana de Pena replies; "Well, to Carlos Lopez, the answer is, as quite often it is, it was worth it provided the violations of human rights happened to someone else. As fpr those people who are grateful for the progress, and think that the cost was worth it, what do they do when they run across a former victim? Do they fall on their knees and kiss his/her feet since what they now enjoy was paid by this person's suffering? And if they do not, what excuse do they give? Ah, if only those victims of torture were to magically disappear. Or if you could make them say that it was done in a good cause, and that they are glad that they suffered..."

Carmen Negrín writes: "My father-in-law spent three months "desaparecido" in the Estadio, my husband's cousin was Allende's personal doctor, my husband was a student leader working on housing projects for the poor. I have been to Chile during Pinochet and after and have also been to Cuba! Needless to say, we have many friends who are refugees who could give many details on how they were tortured, etc... Obviously, I don't think the "progress" achieved is worth the violations of human rights, all the more so that there would probably be just as much progress if Allende had remained. Perhaps we aren't talking about the same kind of "progress"!

Ronald Hilton - 8/1/03