Augusto Pinochet

While September 11 may symbolize something quite different to the rest of the world, it will always be associated with General Augusto Pinochet's bloody military coup against Chilean democracy in 1973, which the US supported. Pinochet's regime would go on to become a precedent for authoritarian, neo-fascist, CIA-backed regimes in South America during the Cold War era. He was voted as the Commander-in-Chief by the democratically elected, socialist government of Salvador Allende just 19 days before the coup.

The regime would be remembered for its torture and murder of tens of thousands of political opponents during his tenure as President from 1974 to 1990 - even if he continued as the top commander until as late as 1998. These included trade unionists, leaders of socialist organizations at home and abroad, student organizations, and really just anyone who openly opposed his authoritarian, militaristic style of governance.

The fiercely free-market, neoliberal policies that are still written in the Chilean constitution represent Pinochet's lasting legacy. However, the administration decided to rewrite it as a result of the large demonstrations in 2019 and the subsequent popular referendum in 2020; this was a decision that was universally applauded across the nation.

Born: Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, 25 November 1915Valparaíso, Chile
Died: 10 December 2006 (aged 91)Santiago, Chile