Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Other Hispanic Lawmakers, Call On US Government To Declassify Involvement in 1973 Chile Coup

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has traveled to Chile with other Hispanic lawmakers as the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Chile Coup approaches. She urged the US government to declassify documents that could shed light on Washington's involvement in that coup.

"The transparency of the United States could present an opportunity for a new phase in our relationship between the United States and Chile," said the New York Democrat in Spanish.

She posted a video of her statement as she appeared alongside Camila Vallejo, the spokesperson for Chile's President Gabriel Boric.

The delegation included Texas Democrat Reps. Greg Casar and Joaquin Castro, both of whom are also Hispanic. The delegation of these Latino Democrats first traveled to Brazil before heading to Chile. They will head to Colombia next, according to the Associated Press.

The Chile coup was launched against President Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973. It led to one of South America's most brutal dictatorships led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled from 1973 to 1990.

AOC talked about the historic impact of the Pinochet dictatorship, saying, "It's very important to frame the history of what happened here in Chile with Pinochet's dictatorship. And also to acknowledge and reflect on the role of the United States in those events."

Meanwhile, Vallejo added, "In Chile as well, a similar request was made... that aims to declassify documents from the Nixon administration, particularly certain testimonies from the CIA director. This is to attain a clearer understanding of what transpired and how the United States was involved in the planning of the civil and military coup, and the subsequent years that followed."

She stressed that doing so "is very important for our history."

Cesar and Castro also spoke in Spanish and echoed the calls to declassify information about Nixon's involvement in the coup that installed Pinochet as leader.

For Chile, 1973 Coup Still Bears Fresh Wounds

While the Pinochet dictatorship ended over 30 years ago, many still bear fresh wounds from that era. It was marred by 17 years of systematic human rights violations and the disappearance of around 1,500 Chileans.

The atrocities committed after that coup remain fresh in the minds of those who survived that dark time in Chile's history, according to Al Jazeera News. As the 50^th anniversary of the Chile Coup that installed the Pinochet dictatorship approaches, Chile has been calling on the US government to reveal the Nixon administration's involvement in such a dark part of its modern history.

What Happened in Chile During 1973?

The Allende administration that was kicked out by the coup was an ambitious coalition that tried to create a socialist country with plentiful consumer pleasures and modern technology. The government was very popular at that time, though, as The Guardian reported, it also happened because of this popularity.

Conservatives in the US were unsettled by this, with Republicans trying to undermine Allende. Under Nixon, the CIA covertly funded his enemies, including the Chilean conservatives that helped Pinochet in his coup.

Thousands fled the country, with around 2,500 refugees fleeing to the UK, with more fleeing to the US. Like most dictatorships, dissent was criminalized and human rights violations done by the military were rife.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: 1973 Chilean Coup | 3 Minute History - Jabzy