http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/10/augusto-pinochet-film-hero
It seems unreal that despite all of the evidence to the contrary, there are groups of people who still believe Pinochet’s version of history. A group called Corporacion 11 de Septiembre has organized an event to debut a documentary about the dictator’s life in the lead up to the coup d’état. The film depicts Pinochet as a national hero that saved the country from communism. Families of the disappeared are obviously upset. Some argue that allowing this group to pay homage to Pinochet is an attempt to rewrite history.
Perhaps the most significant point to come out of this article is the opposing views form within one family. As I have stated on this website, the dictatorships divided families, friends, and neighbours. Connections could not save people from being disappeared. Juan Gonzalez, a retired army officer who leads the pro-Pinochet movement. "We have stoically put up with the lies and cheating and seen how the story has been manipulated." Gonzalez's sister Francisca has said publicly that she was tortured by Pinochet's forces, but Gonzalez disputes that there were human rights abuses during the dictatorship. He says those killed and tortured where casualties of a war against leftist dissidents.
Marta Lagos, head of the Santiago based pollster Mori stated that Chileans have a hard time assessing the past because Pinochet died before the trial. Had he lived long enough to be prosecuted there would be less doubt over his guilt:
"We're facing an ambiguous situation, especially among the younger generations who were not part of the time and who have never voted or are apolitical… The fact that he wasn't judged turns out to be a major point. They see this man who was never convicted and think, well, there must be a reason." - Marta Lagos
It seems unreal that despite all of the evidence to the contrary, there are groups of people who still believe Pinochet’s version of history. A group called Corporacion 11 de Septiembre has organized an event to debut a documentary about the dictator’s life in the lead up to the coup d’état. The film depicts Pinochet as a national hero that saved the country from communism. Families of the disappeared are obviously upset. Some argue that allowing this group to pay homage to Pinochet is an attempt to rewrite history.
Perhaps the most significant point to come out of this article is the opposing views form within one family. As I have stated on this website, the dictatorships divided families, friends, and neighbours. Connections could not save people from being disappeared. Juan Gonzalez, a retired army officer who leads the pro-Pinochet movement. "We have stoically put up with the lies and cheating and seen how the story has been manipulated." Gonzalez's sister Francisca has said publicly that she was tortured by Pinochet's forces, but Gonzalez disputes that there were human rights abuses during the dictatorship. He says those killed and tortured where casualties of a war against leftist dissidents.
Marta Lagos, head of the Santiago based pollster Mori stated that Chileans have a hard time assessing the past because Pinochet died before the trial. Had he lived long enough to be prosecuted there would be less doubt over his guilt:
"We're facing an ambiguous situation, especially among the younger generations who were not part of the time and who have never voted or are apolitical… The fact that he wasn't judged turns out to be a major point. They see this man who was never convicted and think, well, there must be a reason." - Marta Lagos