Newswise — Mary Malone, assistant professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire, is available to discuss Chile, the legacy of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, and the short and long-term impact of his policies on the people of Chile.
Pinochet is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006.
According to Malone:
"Despite Pinochet's efforts, Chileans have shown remarkable resiliency in terms of re-establishing democracy in their country. Despite the institutional and cultural obstacles Pinochet left, Chileans have demonstrated that they are more than capable of uniting and compromising to create a more democratic government, one reform at a time."
"While Pinochet has escaped prosecution for his crimes against the people, still it is refreshing to know that he lived long enough to see his legacy discredited. Even those who supported him despite the human rights abuses he committed have started to turn against him as revelations about his corruption and money laundering came to light."
"While his victims and their families of course would have liked to have seen him brought to justice, they can take some comfort in knowing that today Chile is governed by the first woman president, a woman whose father died at Pinochet's hands and who was tortured herself by his forces. She is a member of the Socialist Party and has pledged to use democratic governance to address income inequality and poverty among Chileans -- the very ideals against which Pinochet fought so hard."
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