Memory Suppression in Chile

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the politics of memory and the politicization of memory, with particular reference to Chile and the human rights violations inflicted upon the population by the Pinochet regime. The writer believes that the horrific events in Chile's past led to the suppression of memory in an effort to block out and not re-live the horrors. Moreover, the writer explains that the government and leadership of Chile have also chosen a path of memory-loss in order to move on rather than dwell on the ill past of its nation.

From the Paper:

"Let us talk more about the "pact of silence" entered into by the political left of Chile, in terms of guilt. Many on the political left, who governed during the difficult years of transition, from 1970-1972, when there were strikes, and demonstrations, which led to infighting and mistakes being made within the party (the UP, Popular Unity party); many, consequently, feel that had the decisions that led to this situation not been taken, or had the actions been rectified at that point, then none of what followed would have happened (Hite, 2003b). The traumatic events of 1973 would thus lead to feelings of powerlessness, especially as they feel that, in some way, the events were their fault, as they had not recognized the path to the events that would follow, and changed course, as it were."

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