President Bachelet honors Salvador Allende and his supporters: “Without memory, the present makes no sense and there is no hope in the future.”
President Michelle Bachelet, accompanied by her ministers and former Presidents Ricardo Lagos and Eduardo Frei, engaged in a heartfelt act of remembrance at La Moneda Palace in memory of those who were part of or supported the Popular Unity government. “It is hard to hold back our emotions as we read the names of the 38 compatriots who died or were made to disappear from this building. It is hard, but it is our duty to do so. Because without memory, the present makes no sense and there is no hope in the future,” she said.
The ceremony, which included an interfaith prayer, was marked by a visit by President Bachelet and relatives of former President Allende to the commemorative plaques that are located on the second floor of the Presidential Palace, which now houses the Sociocultural Directorate. “As we commemorate 42 years of a tragedy that tore apart Chile’s soul, we do so knowing that a country that is for everyone can only be built if it is capable of recognizing its own history and having a shared moral judgment. And there can be only one judgment: that the power of death can never return – only that of life,” President Bachelet emphasized.
A special service honoring the 38 Chileans who died defending La Moneda Palace and democracy on September 11, 1973 followed. The President reaffirmed her commitment to institutional strengthening. “All of our actions must be directed towards developing democratic coexistence. Without it, it will not be possible to take on the major tasks that lie ahead. It has certainly not been easy. We have had to heal our wounds and vindicate those who were humiliated. We have had to seek the truth, deliver justice, and soothe pain. And we must patiently and diligently rebuild the institutions of the republic and the culture of peace.”
She also referred to the key role that the Office of the Undersecretary of Human Rights will play in this effort to strengthen the defense of individuals and stated that “this entity will bring coherence and persistence to our actions in this area. The law that will create the entity is close to being approved by Congress, and when it is implemented, it will lead efforts to find truth and justice and provide reparation. It will also promote an effort that is related to the future: defending human rights from new threats and making them part of a culture that permeates all of our relationships.”
In closing, President Bachelet referred to the role of humanitarian work in Chile. “In the past, many hands welcomed Chileans who were persecuted. They saved lives when Chile was under siege. Today we are witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Europe and the Mediterranean, and we will be the ones to reach out our hands and open the doors to our country to aid those who need us. The world did that for Chile, and today Chile will do that for the world.”