Augusto Pinochet

25 November 1915 – 10 December 2006

Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean army officer who led the military coup of 11 September 1973 that overthrew President Salvador Allende, and then headed the government of Chile until 1990. His government banned political parties, and state agents carried out killings, disappearances and torture documented by later Chilean truth commissions. He remained commander-in-chief of the army until 1998 and faced legal proceedings in Spain, Britain and Chile until his death in 2006.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Augusto Pinochet.

Life events

Born in Valparaíso, Chile
25 November 1915

Born in the port city of Valparaíso.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Entered the Chilean military academy
1933 – 1937

Enrolled at the Escuela Militar in Santiago and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the later 1930s.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army
23 August 1973

Named to the post by President Salvador Allende weeks before the coup.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led the coup d'état against President Allende
11 September 1973

Armed forces seized power, the presidential palace was bombed and Allende died during the assault; a four-man military junta took control with Pinochet as its head.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Assumed the title of President of Chile
1974

Formalised his position as head of state; Congress remained dissolved and political parties banned.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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A new constitution was approved in a plebiscite
11 September 1980

The 1980 constitution extended his presidency for a further eight-year term and set out a later vote on continuation.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Lost the national plebiscite on continuing in office
5 October 1988

Voters rejected a further term, leading to competitive presidential elections the following year.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Left the presidency and remained army commander
11 March 1990

Handed the presidency to Patricio Aylwin while staying on as commander-in-chief of the army until 1998, when he became a senator for life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Arrested in London on a Spanish extradition warrant
16 October 1998 – March 2000

Detained in the United Kingdom over human rights charges brought by a Spanish judge; he was held until March 2000, when he was allowed to return to Chile on medical grounds.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Santiago
10 December 2006

Died at the Military Hospital in Santiago with criminal cases against him still unresolved.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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