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Subject: Manuel Rodríguez - Coalition for the "No" Author: Daniel Feldman [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 01:34:32 05/20/02 Mon Hi! I'm pretty sure these are the IDs that I'm doing. If not, I'd be happy to do others: Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front: a.k.a. Frente Patriótico de Manuel Rodríguez (FPMR). Founded in 1983 as the militant, armed wing of the Chilean Communist Party, this group named itself after a Chilean hero who fought against Spain in the war for independence. On Sept. 7, 1986, the FPMR executed the only serious assassination attempt on Pinochet during his regime. Using machine guns and rocket launchers, the FPMR was nearly successful, killing 5 bodyguards, but Pinochet's driver was skillful and avoided the attack. After the assassination attempt, Pinochet predictably retaliated with blind ferocity, declaring a state of siege and directing the CNI (formerly the DINA) to conduct numerous raids and arrests. Four documented deaths result. The FPMR is the only extant terrorist organization that still exists in Chile today. Chilean Plebiscite of 1978: In a calculated power play designed to consolidate his rule both within the Junta and around Chile, Pinochet conducts the first "democratic" consultation since the 1973 coup. He conducts a plebiscite which asks the voter if he "supports the president in his defense of the dignity of Chile and reaffirms the legitimacy of the government of the republic... or whether, to the contrary, he supports the resolution of the United Nations and its intention to impose our future destiny on us from abroad." A "yes" vote had a Chilean flag next to it while a "no" vote had a black square next to it. Extreme voting irregularities occur as the voting registries were burned during the coup. Even groups in the armed forces objected to widespread fraud. Pinochet won the plebiscite with 75% of the vote and thus consolidated much power. Chilean plebiscite of 1988: (note year, plebiscite occurred in 1988, not 1989 as listed on ID list) As mandated by the 1980 constitution, Chile would hold a plebiscite every 8 years to decide if the president was to remain in power. After winning the last plebiscite so handily and being feared as a monstrous dictator by friends and opponents alike, Pinochet expected an easy victory. However, economic woes and a gradual political rapprochement allowed the opposition to make substantial gains. With the support of free and fair elections on the part of the Navy and the Air Force, opposition forces defeated Pinochet with 55% in the plebiscite and obliged him to accept the results. A year after the election, Patricio Aylwin takes over. Chilean Constitution of 1980: Approved in a fraudulent plebiscite that was ironically held on September 11, 1980 (the anniversary of the coup) by 67% of the voters. As with the plebiscite of 1978, there are no voter registration lists and political parties are still "in recess." If one is generous, one could say that Constitution created a very lopsided instance of democracy, giving disproportionate power to conservative factions, providing for the appointment, rather than election, of certain representatives, and allowing the president an eight-year term. Not surprisingly, the Constitution on the surface is worded such that it seems to provide for a real democracy, but in fact perpetuated and gave legitimacy to Pinochet's authoritarian regime. Chile still operates under this document, but in a less authoritarian manner. Coalition for the “No”: Despite skepticism in the regularity of the 1988 Chilean plebiscite, the Christian Democrats and a loose coalition of left-center parties joined forces in opposition to Pinochet's reappointment for another 8 years. Most importantly, the ultra-left including the Communists and Socialists, agreed not to interrupt the elections with violence to avoid any chance at a further crackdown by Pinochet. With only limited resources and airtime, the opposition capitalized on the inherent unpopularity of the regime and convinced 55% of the voting population to register "no" to Pinochet in the plebiscite, defeating the dictator resoundingly. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]