US warned Chile dictator over plebiscite
US warned Chile dictator over plebiscite
The Associated Press
Posted: 02/23/2013 09:58:17 AM PST
February 23, 2013 5:59 PM GMT Updated: 02/23/2013 09:58:17 AM PST
SANTIAGO, Chile—Newly declassified U.S. documents indicate that Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet planned to use violence to annul the referendum that ended his brutal regime.
The formerly secret documents posted by the independent U.S. National Security Archive on Friday showed U.S. officials warning Chilean leaders against violence if Pinochet tried to use force to stay in power if people voted against eight more years of his rule.
They also show U.S. officials and agencies backed the anti-Pinochet campaign portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film "No," even though the U.S. government also had tried to undermine the socialist government Pinochet had overthrown.
The documents also portray Pinochet as furious after the vote results, saying he pleaded with his generals to let him use extraordinary powers to crush dissent.
http://www.times-standard.com/entertainment/ci_22654056/us-warned-chile-dictator-over-plebiscite
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