Museum stirs up Chile's troubled past

[Judi Lynn]

Museum stirs up Chile's troubled past Published: 4:30
PM Tuesday January 12, 2010
Source: Reuters

Chile has inaugurated a museum to thousands murdered, "disappeared" and tortured during General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, stirring up bitter memories just days before a presidential vote that is expected to pave the way for a new rightist government.

Chile's current centre-left government says 3,195 people were killed or "disappeared" during Pinochet's 1973-1990 rule and about 28,000 people, including President Michelle Bachelet, were tortured.

"The inauguration of this museum is a powerful sign of the strength of a united country, a union based on a shared commitment that we will never again suffer a tragedy like that which this place will always remind us of," Bachelet told an audience of about 1,000 guests.

"In democracy, justice is done, and there will be justice ... which we never had in those years."

The guests included three former presidents from the centre-left coalition that has governed Chile since Pinochet's dictatorship ended two decades ago.

But the event has revived raw sensitivities and anger.

Some in the crowd heckled visiting Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, a prominent supporter of conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera, who is expected to win a presidential run-off on Sunday and end the centre-left's rule.

"He should leave!" people chanted, referring to Vargas Llosa.

"There are many people, important men like this writer, who don't know the story and have no right to give lessons to our people," said 84-year-old Ana Gonzales, whose two sons, husband and pregnant daughter-in-law all "disappeared" during Pinochet's rule.

More:
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/museum-stirs-up-chile-s-troubled-past-3328626

[Judi Lynn]

1. Chile opens Museum of Memory to commemorate victims of Pinochet dictatorship

Chile opens Museum of Memory to commemorate victims of Pinochet dictatorship
EVA VERGARA
Associated Press Writer
11:24 p.m. EST, January 11, 2010

http://snsimages.tribune.com.nyud.net:8090/media/photo/2010-01/51584973.jpg

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile inaugurated the Museum of Memory on Monday to make sure the tens of thousands of people who were imprisoned, killed or disappeared during Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship are not forgotten.

President Michelle Bachelet, who was herself detained and tortured during Chile's 1973-1990 military regime, said the museum sends a powerful signal of the country's "desire to never again suffer a tragedy like the one we are remembering here."

"A tragedy that from the first day brought together denial and concealment, and the pain of captivity or death," Bachelet said at the opening of the $22 million Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile's capital, Santiago.

The inauguration stirred angry memories days before Chile's presidential runoff election in which the ruling center-left coalition could lose power to the right for the first time since the restoration of democracy.

Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who is in charge of creating a similar museum in his homeland, was booed as he gave his speech because of his support for conservative candidate Sebastian Pinera. Pinera's presidential candidacy is backed by conservative parties, including two that at the time supported the dictatorship.

More:
http://www.courant.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-lt-chile-memory-museum,0,2134465.story

[Peace Patriot]

2. Thanks for posting! I greatly fear for Chile and South American unity, if the rightwing wins. nt

[Judi Lynn]

3. There has been a fascist element in South America since before the 2nd World War,

making those areas look hospitable to the nazis fleeing Europe via the ratline after their vicious war ended.

Hoping the countries are well enough prepared this time to avoid another seizure of power and a whole new hell opened up again.

It's murder waiting for the next moves...