September 11, 1973: A Look Through the Archives

Compiled by the editorial team of Rebel Youth – Jeunesse militante

On September 11th, 2020, Rebel Youth – Jeunesse militante presents a sobering look back on the 1973 Chilean coup d’état. Today marks 47 years since the bloody coup that overthrew Salvador Allende, the democratically-elected socialist president, and which saw the US install a neoliberal military junta which oversaw the deaths and forced disappearances of thousands, the internment of nearly 80,000 people, and mass torture of Chilean citizens. RY-JM hopes to bring insight into the bloodthirsty and murderous coup through archival materials from then-current issues of the Young Worker, our predecessor. Below are unedited digitizations of articles, interviews, and statements from our 1973-1974 issues.

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Call of the Chilean Youth: “Your solidarity is the bread and water that our country needs”

By Gladys Marín, General Secretary, Communist Youth of Chile

Friends and brothers throughout the world!

The most sinister and reactionary forces are butchering Chile today. The fascist coup of September against the legitimate government of Salvador Allende was staged by a group of treacherous army officers with the backing — financial and otherwise — of U.S. monopolies and the CIA. They sold out to U.S. Big Business, to the local oligarchy, to the most anti-Chilean interests.

With unprecedented hatred, vengeance and barbarity, they are striking at the people who gave Chile’s workers and peasants their dignity as human beings, who gave youth wide scope to play their role in society, who took the country’s resources out of the hands of foreign interests, who made Chile free to Chileans and foreign nationals, who fought hard, raised working class consciousness and organization to a high level and formed a Popular Government.

This people, however great their suffering today, will never give in. A new phase has started in our fight for freedom.

Bring down the dictatorship! Build the broadest possible patriotic unity against the dictatorship! Mass organization! Mass resistance! Mass struggle!

These are the slogans of our present historic struggle, which we are waging with courage, determination and responsibility. Democrats, progressives, men, women and youth the world over! In the name of justice, democracy and freedom, heed our appeal! Take action!

Chile is being drowned in blood. Thousands and thousands of patriots have been murdered, summarily executed. Tens of thousands have been locked up in prisons and concentration camps. A manhunt is going on for leaders of the Left and a price has been put on their heads — dead or alive!

Mankind has experienced before the awful tragedy of fascism; it knows the horror of its crimes. People who did not condemn it then, claimed ignorance of it. Let there be no mistake now: Fascism has fastened its claws on Chile today! With unbridled violence it is attempting to restore the property and privileges of the upper class.

President Allende was murdered, a state of siege declared and all democratic guarantees quashed. Political parties, trade unions and student organizations no longer exist; Parliament has been dissolved.

The fascists have shown unbounded hatred for foreign nationals residing in Chile; many foreign youths have been murdered or imprisoned.

Stay the hand of the fascist murderers! Progressive mankind has this power! The terror can and must be stopped!

Every day and every night whole districts, hospitals, schools and even cemeteries are being destroyed. Innocent children are living a nightmare of dread. Working-class districts are being demolished one by one, the workers’ few possessions smashed and destroyed. Some areas are destined to disappear altogether, as the LA LEGUA district which was bombed and its inhabitants hunted and machine-gunned. La Legua and other districts are the “Lidices” of Chile.

The universities have been taken over by the military. Progressive academics and students have been “eliminated,” killed or forced to flee for their lives. Secondary schools have been placed under police control.

These measures are total: democrats and also those who helped the traitor generals to topple President Allende’s government are being treated the same. The Junta must be isolated. It can only rely on U.S. imperialism, on the Brazilian dictatorship, the big banks and monopolies, on the big landowners, on the National Party. And above all on total repression.

Trades people and professional workers whose leaders coaxed them to support the Junta are beginning to feel the effects of the first economic measures by the regime: big national and foreign monopolies are the only ones to benefit. No pay increases will be granted this year. Prices have been made “free,” workers may not shift their jobs. Factories and land are being returned to their former owners, and U.S. companies are preparing to move in again and exploit our nation’s wealth.

But in the midst of all this cruel repression, the people are regrouping their forces and organizing. Chilean men and women are performing great deeds of heroism: leaflets (some handwritten) are being passed round from hand to hand, lightning meetings (3 to 5 minutes) are taking place in some Universities.

The Junta is feeling the impact of international condemnation. Delegations from the United Nations, from the International Red Cross, a group of parliamentarians from West Germany who were allowed into Chile, saw only what the Junta wanted them to See. But they did contribute to some extent — although only temporarily — to easing the conditions of some detainees. The American Senate’s approval of Senator Edward Kennedy’s motion on Chile has caused the Junta serious concern.

We, in Chile, are facing up to the dictatorship. But we need all-out international solidarity. Now! Without delay!

The lives of thousands of patriots are in jeopardy. Luis Corvalán is in the hands of the fascists! He faces a charge of treason and subversion. But his only crime was to have devoted his life to the cause of freedom and democracy, to the cause of the working class, to the cause of human brotherhood.

The life of Luis Corvalán, schoolteacher, journalist, general secretary of the Chilean Communist Party, Senator, a man of great intelligence, whose theoretical writings have made a great contribution to the international working class and progressive movement, a good, simple, devoted man who has stood the test of many battles, must be saved!

Young people all over the world! International youth organizations! Send delegations to the United Nations! Lobby its leading representatives! Speak to representatives of the U.S. Senate! Get statesmen from leading personalities and PMs of your country condemning the Junta and calling for an end to the terror and slaughter! Youth and students of Latin America! Raise your voices! Rally to the aid of your Chilean brothers! The triumphant voice of youth at the 10th World Festival in Berlin still rings in our ears.

Let world youth reaffirm their solidarity now in Chile’s great hour of need! We took with us to Berlin a message from Chile’s great poet, Pablo Neruda. Neruda has now left our midst, but his words ring out more clearly than ever: “Youth of the world: your solidarity is the bread and water our country needs.”

Friends, we remember your generous response to our call for solidarity with Chile, in Berlin. We remember the warmth and friendship that surrounded us in the GDR capital. We remember your pledges of solidarity with our Unidad Popular, your greetings to our president, Salvador Allende. We remember our meetings with young Communists, Socialists, Radicals, Christian-Democrats, Liberals from all parts of the world. We remember particularly our young friends from France’s CGT, from the Renault car works, from the CFDT. We remember our talks with the youth of all shades of opinion, including young Catholics.

And we ask them to call on the Church to condemn the calvary of the Chilean people, to condemn the slaughter of Chileans of all creeds and political persuasions by the fascist Junta that has seized power from our legally elected government.

Youth, church leaders, statesmen, politicians, men of good will, join in the Crusade to defend this small, far-off land of Chile, the home of a worthy and militant people! With your help, the struggle of our people will make true the dream of so many good, honest citizens of Chile for freedom, independence, justice and equality!

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The people of Chile will win!

Central Executive, Young Communist League of Canada, Sept. 1973

Democratic people of the entire world were shocked at the right-wing coup which overthrew the democratically elected people’s government of Chile. The world was equally shocked by the vicious murder of President Salvador Allende who died heroically defending the Popular Unity Government and the future of the Chilean People.

The anti-imperialist Popular Unity government was built and elected within the confines of the Chilean Constitution. Popular Unity was, step by step, implementing policy to rid Chile of foreign monopoly capitalist domination; fighting to secure the freedom and independence of Chile.

The overthrow of the people’s government by right-wing and fascist elements in the army is proof of how the ruling class chokes on bourgeois democracy, proof that the capitalists cannot allow any democracy to exist which does not give them the right to control and exploit the people.

The trail of blood from Allende’s murder and the mass murders of thousands of the finest sons and daughters of the Chilean people leads directly to U.S. imperialism in the White House, the CIA, and the giant monopolies — ITT, Kennecott, Anaconda — who inspired and financed the disruptive strikes by truck owners and shop keepers which served to throw the government into one crisis after another.

But democracy is not dead in Chile! It lives on, nurtured in the hearts of the Chilean people. Smashing one government can never smash the aspirations and will of the Chilean people; it can never smash an idea whose time has come.

The time to mourn is past. Now it is the time to act. A mighty protest movement is already growing in Canada.

The Young Communist League calls on all democratic and freedom loving youth in Canada to join this protest movement. Raise the demands which will assist the overthrow of the reactionary military junta and insure the restoration of the people’s government in Chile:

Demand the Canadian government condemn the junta, refuse to recognize it and strongly affirm support for the Popular Unity government as the legitimate government of Chile.

Demand the Canadian government use all its power and influence to force a halt to atrocities and reprisals being carried out against the Chilean people.

Demand the Canadian government call for release of all political prisoners held by the junta and assist all who desire it to take refuge in Canada.

Demand the restoration of the right to organize political parties, labor unions and people’s democratic organizations and restore the full freedom of the press.

The Young Communist League calls on the youth of Canada to act. Our cry is solidarity! The people of Chile will win!

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Chilean junta imposes a “barrier of silence” on terror against the people

By Virginia Thomson

Hortensia Allende, wife of the murdered Chilean President, Salvador Allende, was given a thundering applause by an audience of fifteen hundred when she spoke at Convocation Hall in Toronto recently.

The meeting was called to protest continuing repression against progressive Chileans, and to call for the release of thousands of political prisoners. They include Luis Corvalán, general-secretary of the Communist Party of Chile and a senator in the Popular Unity government; Pedro Felipe Ramirez, former minister of mines; Anselmo Sula, president of the Radical Party; and Camilo Salvo, former socialist deputy.

She accused the junta that seized power in Chile of setting up a “barrier of silence”, and said that it is our duty to inform people of the realities that the fascist junta and right forces have attempted to hide.

From the beginning, there were conspiracies by ITT and Kennecott to prevent Allende from being elected, said Mrs. Allende. After taking office he inherited a debt of four thousand million dollars, high inflation, high unemployment, and vast inequalities in the population.

Allende, a Marxist president, worked with a government composed mainly of Christian-Democrats who supported the interest of the military and middle classes. The CIA conducted strikes among professionals, doctors, and shopkeepers, creating chaos in the country. Allende’s land reforms were counter-acted by the middle class which hoarded seeds.

The Popular Unity government also had to deal with external difficulties. When they nationalized copper, the United States froze all international credit to Chile. This is crucial in a country like Chile since copper accounts for 80 percent of its income.

These actions culminated in the coup of September 11. Since then the country has been under a reign of terror. The extent of the terror demonstrates the amount of resistance against the junta. Allende has become a symbol of this resistance because of his actions and words at the time of his death. “Only death,” he said, “could prevent me from carrying out the will of the people.”

Mrs. Allende denounced the complicity of the Christian-Democrat party of Chile, which did nothing to prevent this overthrow of the democratically elected government, opposed every law that benefited the people, and finally called on the armed forces to stop the chaos it had helped to create. Madame Allende denounced the many countries, Canada included, who did not give credit to Chile when the Popular Unity government was in power, and who are so generously helping the fascist junta.

The people of Canada should fight for the right of refugees to come to Canada without identification papers. They should not recognize the junta, or receive into Canada the political mission which is visiting countries in an attempt to justify the junta.

Madame Allende asked workers to strike when they had cargo from Chile to load or unload. She asked that Canadians pressure their government to stop all credits, loans, and armaments to Chile.

The Chilean people against fascism have received support from progressive countries and peoples around the world. It is still possible to save the lives of thousands of people being persecuted because they were in sympathy with the Popular Unity government.

“Salvador Allende has not died,” said Hortensia Allende. “He is a heroic symbol to the struggles of people for freedom and social progress.”

The meeting was chaired by John Harney, New Democratic Party Member of Parliament from Scarboro West, who brought messages of solidarity from the Hamilton and District Labor Council, and the Arab Student and Palestinian organization. Also president were Professor Richard Roach, a priest who worked in Chile, David Archer, president of the Ontario Federation of Labor, and Toronto Alderman Dan Heap. There was a message of solidarity from the Canadian Committee for Solidarity with Democratic Chile.

Also on the platform was Margaret Papandreou, representing the Greek organization PAK. She pointed out the similarities between what happened in Chile and what had happened in Greece. The master-minds behind both coups were the same: multi-national corporations such as ITT, ESSO, and Kennecott. Also, the reason for the coup was the same: popular forces were beginning to gain more control.

In Greece, we see again the role of the young people. The students at the Poly-technical school of Athens, joined by workers and people at large, rose up to face the tyrants, in spite of repression. Tanks destroyed the school, killing and injuring hundreds.

“But there is one thing that cannot be destroyed by bombs, tanks, and money,” said Madame Papandreou, “and that is the soul of the people.”

Over $2,200 was raised in the collection at the end of the meeting. Half of this was given to Madame Allende to use at her own discretion, while the other half went to the Toronto Refugee Committee.

The meeting was sponsored by a broad committee consisting of labor, church, academic, and various other progressive groups. These included the Communist Party and the Young Communist League.

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Chile and Middle East: Prime Areas for Concern

Interview with Jean Vautour, Executive Secretary, Canadian Peace Congress

Q: What were the most important developments in the struggle for peace during the past year?

A: Most important was the victory of the Vietnamese people over the U.S.A. The fact that they were able to force the Americans to withdraw was a major victory for the peoples of the world.

Prospects for peace have been improved since the victory of the Vietnamese people. When they proved that they American military can be defeated, it opened the way to the peoples of the world extending the struggle against aggression.

Q: What areas are potential “hot spots” where conflicts could flare up in the near future?

A: Most serious is the Middle East. Although as a result of the agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States, there is presently a cessation of hostilities, it is still a serious situation. There is also likelihood of further serious conflict in Chile as a result of the junta’s takeover there. The development of the liberation movements in Africa certainly indicate that there are hostilities there that require a great deal of support from the peace forces around the world.

Q: What are the fundamental obstacles to world peace today?

A: The fundamental obstacle is the drive of imperialism to extend control over the peoples and riches of the world. Also, attempts on the part of the remaining colonial powers, such as Portugal, to maintain control of their colonies.

The continuing military action in Indochina on the part of the United States is a great danger. The fact that they are still fighting and bombing in Cambodia threatens to extend hostilities there.

Peace forces of the world are giving all-out support to Cambodia, in fact, a special conference will be held in Paris, France, in December on the problem in Vietnam and how to get more support for the Cambodian people. This would indicate the chances of the United States extending hostilities in Indochina are dwindling.

The tremendous resistance that the south Vietnamese have given to the Saigon regime, which is armed, supplied and trained by the United States, has prevented Thieu’s regime from firmly establishing its position in South Vietnam. The Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam is a well-established functioning government controlling a very large section of South Vietnam in spite of everything the United States has been able to do.

Q: How have recent developments in the arms race affected the outlook for peace?

A: In the final analysis, arms are not necessarily the deciding factor, as indicated by the fact that in spite of the drive by the United States to develop the most highly sophisticated weaponry, they’ve had to come to an agreement with the Soviet Union on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. This indicated that detente is becoming the predominant factor in international relations.

Q: What position should the peace forces be taking on Canada’s involvement in NATO and Norad?

A: Peace forces in Canada have always said that Canada should quit NATO and withdraw from Norad. When the question of the renewal of the Norad agreement came up last spring there was an extensive campaign widely supported by the Canadian people, calling on the government not to renew the agreement. As a result of that, the Norad agreement was renewed only for a limited time.

Q: What influence is the coup in Chile having on peace forces?

A: It is increasing the understanding of people all over the world to what is behind these fascist movements. It isn’t just a question of political differences in Chile. It’s the question of who’s behind the power of the junta: the United States corporations and the international cartels led by big monopolies in the United States. Very few people are not aware of the fact that what has happened in Chile was brought about largely by support from such cartels as ITT, Kennecott, and the other big American corporations that are determined to maintain their control over the riches of Chile.

Q: How are the peace forces in Canada presently shaping up?

A: The World Congress of Peace Forces could never have taken place if it hadn’t been for the fact that thousands, millions more now recognize that the decision as to whether we have a peaceful world or the world is destroyed by war is in the hands of the people and they have to see that peace is forced upon those forces that want to use military might to win control of the world. If the delegation to the World Congress of Peace forces is any indication, involvement of trade unions is certainly growing. Of the delegation of 60, 17 were trade unionists. For the first time labor councils and even a federation of labor officially elected delegates. There have been more financial contributions from trade unions to the Canadian Peace Congress than there has been for many years and more trade unionists have been participating in peace councils across the country.

Q: What about the involvement of young people? Is their participation in the organized peace movement increasing?

A: Anyone who had been at the meeting at the University of Toronto where Mrs. Allende spoke on Chile would certainly be impressed by the role young people are playing. I would say that the big majority of the people attending that great meeting were young. I’m not so sure that this is much of a change. Over the years young people have been very active in the peace struggle. Certainly, in the ban the bomb campaign after WWII and ever since. Perhaps it is increasing and extending now and more young people from different parts of the country and from different areas of work are participating.

This is probably because they are very much inspired by the struggle of the young people in Indochina, where it was the young people who mounted the guns and made up the Vietnamese armies that were successful in stopping United States’ imperialist attempts to take over their country.

Q: Are people becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between the struggle for peace abroad and the fight against exploitation and injustice at home?

A: Chile has opened the eyes of a great many people, because the same imperialist corporations behind the fascist junta are the ones pushing up living costs here. We’re all familiar with what ITT does here: almost every year Bell Telephone gets a large increase. The same with the impending increase in the cost of oil that is going to be imposed on the Canadian people by the big international corporations. People are becoming more aware that it’s the international corporations behind the drive for war and also the cause of the increasing cost of living in our country.

Q: What are the immediate plans of the Canadian Peace Congress?

A: One of the important things is the campaign on disarmament. With detente, the doors are open to increase pressure for negotiations on disarmament, and we feel that now is the time when an intense, active campaign on disarmament should be started.

We also feel that we must do all we possibly can to press our government to take a position in the conference on European security for the dissolution of the NATO and Warsaw pacts, and for the securing of the present borders there. This would be a tremendous step toward insuring that there will be peace and security continuing in the future in Europe.

The Canadian Peace Congress will always support campaigns for a cessation of hostilities, for the rights of the people in the Middle East, and in support of the liberation movements in Africa, and for securing peace in any area of the world. The Peace Congress will continue to give all-out support to the committees which are working to support the rights of the chilean people to their own democratic government.

At the moment, the most important thing is to see that the Canadian government opens the doors of Canada to the refugees of Chile.

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These articles were originally published in the Young Worker, 1973-1974.