Pinochet

[poliphilo]

Ever since the news came in I've been going round singing Holly Near's "Hay una Muhjer Desaparecida" to myself.

Pinochet got away with what Saddam Hussein is going to be hanged for. He was a fascist dictator, a mass murderer, a torturer and- as is now coming to light- a thief. I guess it all depends on who your friends are.

Reagan's CIA put him in power. Mrs Thatcher feted him. The Spanish wanted to put him on trial but Jack Straw (afraid of what- Mrs T's handbag?) sent him home to the bosom of his family.

The news channels had looped film of him as a dim, smiling, balloon-man being helped in and out of wheelchairs and armchairs and taking tea (or was it whisky?) with Mrs T. Nothing about his demeanour suggests that he ever spent a sleepless night in his life. What a pity he didn't die in jail.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

As soon as I heard the news I gave thanks, though it would have indeed been more fitting for the cabrón to die in prison. One less "hijo puta" in the world as my husband said but of course his death won´t undo the horror. I have always been so ashamed of the US role in putting him in power. Spain, at least, tried to bring him to justice. He was conscienceless for sure.

Just as you began singing "Hay una mujer desaparecida" when you heard the news I began humming "Te recuerdo Amanda" by Victor Jara, whose fingers Pinochet ordered cut off so he would never play a guitar again...before silencing him forever.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I didn't believe it when I heard it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The bastard lived to be 91, which is more than most of us will manage. At least he got a bit of harrassment towards the end.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's a comforting thought that (in the words of Walter de la Mare) "Time ties down even dictators to their dates".

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

It's so surreal. He's dead but it's not any better. It's not changed a goddamn thing.