Letter of the Second Liberator of Chile, Captain General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte to the Senate

Santiago, July 4th of 2002

Honorable Senate:

Civilian contendencies absolutely alien to the duties of the Army of Chile, pushed me to act, in September of 1973, in defense of our sovereignity, national security and the peace of our people.

Without any other reason than to stop the disintegration and fall of our nationality, I was at the supreme comand of the nation during 16 years and a half, putting my office at the disposition of the people when Chile had a solid institutionality and a social and economical organization that assured the jurisdictional continuity and the integral development of the nation. Thus, reconstruction took place, not without the suffering of all sectors of society, to a democratic regime and the right to choose their own destiny was returned to the people.

Since then I have contributed with all my energies so that institutions are not once again destroyed and our country can continue to progress in harmony, by hard unconditional effort of all the sons of this nation, with no exclusions.

The legacy and works of my government will be judged by history. There are still too many passions between our citizens to expect from them an unbiased, serene, and above all, just veredict. For the same reason, I have my conscience calm and clear and the hope that someday tomorrow my soldier's sacrifice will be recognized that what I did at the front of the Armed Forces of Law and Order had no other end than of the greatness and well being of Chile.

Insuperable health problems and the passing of the years impose on me the duty of leaving my office of Senator for life as estipulate din our constitution, aproved by the great majority of the Chilean people in 1980. It would not be consistent with my conduct and ideals, if I maintained said dignity, imposibilitated, as I find myself, to carry out the job with the responsability and eficiency that this requires. I believe, for the same reasons, that Chile's interests are demanding me to resing, all the more if with this I can add my contribution to political and social peace of the nation.

Honorable Senate: I only aspire that the last days of my life continue to be clear testimony to my unconditional love for Chile, to which I have given all my energies and to give more than all personal sacrifice, continuing only for the well being and happiness of the nations' children (people). By leaving public citizen activity, I dont have any other feeling than that of great gratitude towards our people, towards my comrades in arms and, above all, to the will of God, who, in the middle of a historic crusade, gave me the opportunity of giving myself entirely towards the reconstruction of a destiny for a better Chile.

May God guard your excellencies.

Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, Ex President of the Republic.