Chile: 40 years on

40 years ago, day by day, Chilean president Salvador Allende was betrayed by the armed forces that had sworn loyalty to him after he was democratically elected in 1970.

This is a difficult and painful day for most of us, Chileans, that lived for 17 years under the rule of one of the most violent, bloody and brutal military regimes of the 20th century. Thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured, illegally executed, exiled or disappeared, just because they thought differently. Families were shattered, children lost their relatives, and many others witnessed how their beloved ones were horribly slaughtered. To date, there are still thousands of people missing.

Sadly, our legal system (completely restructured by the military) still protects those who were responsible of all the atrocities. More than 1,000 cases are waiting for an answer, and dozens of members of the armed forces that played a role in this awful period walk freely.

I invite you, if you have a moment, to read more about this day (information in English, Spanish and French): http://bit.ly/14KMAIl

And if after reading, you want to help us put an end to the impunity, please sign these petition: http://www.amnistia.cl/web/formulario/40anosGolpeEstado/form.php

Thank you all for reading this.
Barbara