Augusto Pinochet

General **Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte** (November 25, 1915 – December 10, 2006) was a Chilean army general who led Chile from 1973 to 1990, he came to power after he overthrew Salvador Allende, a socialist president.

## Early life

Pinochet was born in Valparaíso, Chile.

## Career

Pinochet was a high ranking general in the Chilean Army in the early 1970s. In 1970, Allende was narrowly elected in a close three-way race. Western countries like the United States were concerned about Allende. There was discontent in Chile in 1973, with some groups trying to destabilize the government of Allende.

On September 11th, 1973, the Chilean military led a coup d'état against Allende in which they attacked the Presidential Palace in Santiago. Allende committed suicide, and Pinochet took power as the leader of a military council known as a junta. The junta began cracking down on Allende supporters.

About 3,000 Chilean people died because of Pinochet's rule and many other people were tortured. The first days of his rule saw the most deaths, and in the weeks after the coup, Allende supporters were arrested and locked in a football stadium in Santiago. Many were released a few months later, but some were imprisoned and mistreated for years.

Pinochet introduced many neoliberal free market policies bringing growth and great economic progress to Chile, but also increased inequality and poverty among the people. In economic affairs, Pinochet's rule was influenced by the ideas of Milton Friedman. In 1980, a plebiscite (without electoral registries) was held and Pinochet was kept in power.

The coup d'état that was launched to overthrow Allende and put Pinochet in power was supported by the United States, as was Pinochet's regime. The US government has never admitted being involved, but they did support Pinochet while he was in power. The government of the United Kingdom was also pro-Pinochet.

In 1988, there was a plebiscite in Chile. The people were asked whether Pinochet should rule for another eight and a half years. About 56% of the people did not want that. Pinochet, under pressure from other countries was forced to accept the results, and stepped down from power in 1990. Patricio Aylwin became the next president. Pinochet kept his responsibilities as head of the military until 1998. After this, he became a senator for life, but had to leave senate in 2002. He was not arrested because the Supreme Court of Chile said he suffered from dementia. In May 2004, judges said that was not true. On December 13 he was placed under house arrest. Judges in Spain tried to put him on trial for the many crimes against the human rights he committed while leader of Chile.

## Death

Pinochet died from congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema on December 10, 2006 in Santiago, Chile, a week after a heart attack, aged 91. His remains were later cremated (Pinochet's request) to avoid vandalism on his tomb.

## Other websites

- Extensive bio by Fundación CIDOB  (in Spanish)
- Augusto Pinochet (1915–2006) – A Biography
- France 24 coverage – Augusto Pinochet's Necrology on France 24
- BBC coverage (special report)
- Documentary Film on Chilean Concentration Camp from Pinochet's Regime: Chacabuco
- CIA Acknowledges Ties to Pinochet’s Repression from The National Security Archive
- Chile under Allende and Pinochet
- Human rights violation under Pinochet
- The Times obituary
- Analysis of economic pol

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Augusto Pinochet
- **image**: Pinochet de Civil.jpg
- **imagesize**: 200px
- **caption**: Augusto Pinochet in 1990
- **order**: 30th
- **office**: President of Chile
- **term start**: 17 December 1974
- **term end**: 11 March 1990
- **primeminister**: José Toribio Merino
- **predecessor**: Salvador Allende
- **successor**: Patricio Aylwin
- **office2**: President of the
Government Junta of Chile (1973), Government Junta of Chile
- **term start2**: 11 September 1973
- **term end2**: 11 March 1981
- **predecessor2**: _Office established_
- **successor2**: José Toribio Merino
- **office3**: 58th List of commanders-in-chief of the Chilean Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army
- **term start3**: 23 August 1973
- **term end3**: 11 March 1998
- **predecessor3**: Carlos Prats
- **successor3**: Ricardo Izurieta
- **birth place**: Valparaíso, Chile
- **death place**: Santiago, Chile
- **birthname**: Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte
- **nationality**: Chilean
- **spouse**: Lucía Hiriart <small>(1943-2006)</small>
- **children**: Lucía Pinochet, Inés Lucía Pinochet
María Verónica Pinochet
Jacqueline Marie Pinochet
Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet
Marco Antonio Pinochet
- **alma mater**: Chilean War Academy
- **occupation**: Politician
- **profession**: Soldier
- **signature**: Signature of Augusto Pinochet.svg
- **branch**: Chilean Army
- **serviceyears**: 1931 - 1998
- **rank**: Captain General
- **unit**: "Chacabuco" Regiment
"Maipo" Regiment
"Carampangue" Regiment
"Rancagua" Regiment
1st Army Division
- **commands**: "Esmeralda" Regiment
2nd Army Division
6th Army Division
Santiago Army Garrison
Chilean Army
- **battles**: 1973 Chilean coup d'état