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A CASE STUDY ON THEEVOLUTION OF DEMOCRACY IN CHILE

Chile once boasted a longer history of stable democratic rule than most of its neighbors in South America and much of Western Europe. It was ruled by Salvador Allende, but soon the democratic rule was overthrown by a military dictatorship, Pinochet's rule in September 11, 1973. General Pinochet became president of the republic for an 8-year term. Under Pinochet's rule the people suffered a lot as he did not allow any fundamental right for them. The military government of Chile (1973-90) was characterized by the systematic suppression of political parties and the persecution of dissidents to an extent that was unprecedented in the history of Chile. Pinochet was proclaimed the president in 1974.The military continued to exercise a great influence on politics through deterrence. In the late 1980s, the government gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly,speech, and association, to include trade union and political activity.Chileans elected a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress on December 14, 1989. Christian DemocratPatricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called theConcertacin, received an absolute majority of votes (55%). President Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994, in what was considered a transition period. In February 1991 Aylwin created theNational Commission for Truth and Reconciliation, which released in February 1991 theRettig Reporton human rights violations committed during the military rule. It was an eight-membered commission. President Eduardo Frei, a Christian Democrat and son of the president who preceded Aylwin, began his six-year term in 1994.On March 11, 1998, in the National Congress in Valparaiso, the former dictator, Pinochet was sworn in as a lifetime senator -- a condition of the transition to democracy - and sat down in the body he had closed down 25 years before, among leaders he had persecuted and exiled. In October 1998, the 83-year-old Pinochet traveled to England for back surgery. He was arrested on a warrant issued by Spanish prosecutors Manuel Garcia Castellon and Balthazar Garzon investigating the deaths of Spanish nationals at the hands of the Chilean security forces. The Chilean government immediately asked for his release, saying that the foreign courts had no jurisdiction over actions taken on Chilean soil. The Spanish prosecutors persisted, saying that Pinochet's actions constituted crimes against humanity. By 2010, the center- rightSebastian Pinera,won theChilean presidential election. --------

Civics Assignment

A CASE STUDY ON THE EVOLUTION OF DEMOCRACY IN CHILE

Submitted byM. M. PreetiClass 9 B, Yuvabharathi Public SchoolCoimbatore.

2013