*All of the information below was sourced from the Chilean Museum of Memory and Human Rights audio guide.
First Floor
Truth Commissions are official organizations that help bring out the truth in countries that have gone through dictatorship or armed conflicts. They find the truth regarding any major human rights violations. Relatives and victims of human rights violations erected plaques, sculptures, monuments, etc., to commemorate the violations that occurred in conflicts.
Hundreds of people were killed by the dictatorship and were put in a cemetery. It was declared a historical monument. On January 6th, 2010, some people chose a cross to commemorate the memorial. September 1973 marked a state of social unrest before September 11th. The national crisis was deemed no excuse for the atrocities committed in 1973.
September 11th marked a milestone for Chile. There was a strong military presaence around Santiago when the president was overthrown.
September 11th timeline: At 6:00 am, the first rebellion by the military. At 12:00 pm, government palace workers were forced to leave their offices. Later, planes bombarded and destroyed the government palace. Despite the conflict, the president remained in the palace during the bombardment. He was killed by soldiers later. Objects found allow people to approach the visible violence portrayed in downtown Santiago on the day of the coup.
The military takes control and executes people who resist. Raids begin, and there is a very strong military presence everywhere. Once Congress closed, the press was made to spread the announcements that the military leaders made. A nationwide curfew was put in place, making it so people could not move freely. Hundreds of these laws were issued.
The intervened media celebrates the government and justifies the coup. There were published lists of people who were going to be assassinated. Fear and mistrust were used as a way to control the people.Persecution forced thousands of people to leave the country. People usually had to spend long periods of time waiting for safe passage to another country. In addition, the National Intelligence Directorate, and its successor; the National Intelligence Center, was formed. These are the agencies most responsible for most kidnappings, killings, and human rights violations.
In 1980, the dictatorship called to approve the constitution that they had been working on in secret. They consolidated the final version, but it was loaded with laws to support the dictatorship and had very strict control. The events that took place in the country drew the attention of international countries. There were lots of political asylums granted to refugees. International committees drew up lists of people held in concentration camps, and these were later used to know exactly who was persecuted.
In October 1975, the general summoned the agencies of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia to a meeting. This meeting called Operation Condor was later joined by Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. The agencies agreed to collaborate in surveillance, kidnapping, forced disappearance, and torture of people from these countries. In 1976, as part of Operation Condor, the former ambassador of the Ayinde government; Orlando and his collaborator Ronny Moffet, were assassinated by a bomb placed in their car.
Operation Colombo was used to cover up the accusations of forced disappearance of Chilean men and women through foreign media. Different magazines in different countries were created specifically for this effect. The truth was later uncovered by a Truth Organization.
Dearly 40,000 people were detained, subjected to torture. They suffered human dignity and human rights violations. The method of torture varied from place to place and from time to time. Then, work in prison was a form of physical and emotional survival. Prison handicrafts made from the scarce materials available had the possibility of crossing the borders of confinement and connecting with families. The human rights of children and adolescence were violated during the dictatorship. They experienced violence in various forms, and they were affected by the violation of their own rights and violations of their families.
Carlos Patricio, a 13-year-old student without political militancy, disappeared on October 13, 1973. He was arrested by the military and police officers during a raid in a neighborhood. They seized him from his home and took him to the soccer field in the area.
Second Floor
The churches organized. In October 1973, representatives of the Catholic, Lutheran, even evangelical, orthodox, and Jewish churches created a committee for cooperation for peace in Chile. Known as the Pro-Peace Committee, it opened its doors to provide legal and social support to victims of the dictatorship and their families.
In 1974, a group was formed to find missing relatives. Later, it was organized around the detention center. In 1983, during an event, the Women for Life group was created. They promoted democracy through peaceful demonstrations. Public nonviolent demonstrations began, pointing out human rights violations.
The truth organizations recognize 3,227 victims of human rights violations. Their photos are donated by family members. The ’80s had a lot of protests. In August 1980, thousands of people rejected the proposed new constitution with a protest.
The labor union world was persecuted, repressed, and restricted. There were many restrictions. On July 2nd, 1986, in a protest, the military captured an 18-year-old student and a 19-year-old photographer and sprayed fuel on both of them. Then they set them on fire. Only one survived with 60% of her body burned.
In May 1983, the first national protest against the dictatorship took place. During these events, a large opposition group was formed. The protest went on for a year, with hundreds of people being arrested. On March 28th, 1985, a man was arrested. The following morning, in front of a school, they kidnapped a 36-year-old teacher.
The 1980 constitution established that in 1988, there would be a vote for yes or no to either keep the dictatorship government or have a new person elected. 92% of people over 18 registered to vote. People united around the campaign and around the country.
On October 5, 1988, at 8 AM, the first polling stations were set up at the polling places. By 4 PM, most of the country had voted. After the triumph of the no vote, they wrote a request to reform the 1980 constitution.