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Sep 12, 2023 - World

In photos: 50 years since Chile's coup

Astrid Galván

People attend a ceremony on Monday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Chilean dictatorship in front of La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago. A cardboard sign reads: "I have faith: In Chile and its destiny." Photo: Javier Torres/AFP via Getty Images

Chileans on Monday commemorated 50 years since President Salvador Allende was ousted in a coup, ushering in the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who was accused of widespread human rights abuses.

The big picture: Over the 17 years Pinochet was in power, 40,000 people were detained, tortured, killed or forcibly disappeared and up to 20,000 children were kidnapped, according to a truth commission.

A black and white photo shows soldiers lying on their stomaches while aiming weapons at Chile's Moneda palace, which has smoke coming out, after a coup on Sept. 11, 1973
Chilean Army troops are positioned on a rooftop aiming their weapons at La Moneda Palace on Sept. 11, 1973, as the military, led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, overthrew the socialist government of President Salvador Allende, who died that day. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Chile's national palace is seen being engulfed in smoke during a coup on September 11, 1973
La Moneda Palace after the attack on Sept. 11, 1973. The coup launched the 17-year dictatorship of Pinochet, who was accused of widespread human rights abuses. Photo: Getty Images
Protesters hold white signs with the face of Augusto Pinochet in this black and white photo. Police, with their backs to the camera, hold the line back.
Young Pinochet supporters march on Sept. 11, 1980, as the country holds a national plebiscite to approve a new constitution and solidify Pinochet's position as president. Photo: Daniele Darolle/Sygma via Getty Images
Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet sits at a long wooden desk with several microphones in front of him as he speaks during an news conference
Pinochet (center) speaks at a news conference in 1980. Photo: Daniele Darolle/Sygma via Getty Images
a protest in Chile in 1985 shows children jumping in the air with a blaze and giant plume of black smoke behind them
Anti-Pinochet protesters in Chile, September 1985. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
a crowd of protesters in yellow vest, on the right, hold up large signs as Pope John Paul II drives by in the Popemobile
Pope John Paul II passes anti-Pinochet protesters on April 3, 1987, in Santiago, during a trip to the region. Photo: Jose Duran/AFP via Getty Images
a protester in a blue shirt screams angrily at police during anti-government protest in Chile in 1988
An anti-Pinochet protester is seen during a demonstration in Santiago on Oct. 7, 1988. Photo: Rafael Wollmann/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
two women embrace, wearing black shirts and crying, after Augusto Pinochet's trial
Anita Gonzalez (L), who lost her husband, two sons and daughters-in-law during the Pinochet dictatorship, is hugged by her daughter after Britain's House of Lords rejected Pinochet's claim to sovereign immunity for human rights violations in 1998. Pinochet was still commander of Chile's armed forces when he was arrested in London in 1998 on charges of human rights abuses against Spanish citizens. Photo: Cris Bouroncle/AFP via Getty Images
Mothers of persons who disappeared during Chile's military dictatorship demonstrate in downtown Santiago on March 3, 1998. Photo: Ginnette Riquelme/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters carry a large white banner in Spanish letters as a larger yellow banner hangs over them in Chile in 2002
Demonstrators march on Sept. 8, 2002, to remember the people who went missing during Pinochet's dictatorship. Photo: Cris Bouroncle/AFP via Getty Images
a man with white paint covering his hands and forearms places red flowers on the ground next to a photo of a woman who went missing during the Augusto Pinochet regime in Chile
A man in 1993 pays tribute to the people who disappeared during the Pinochet dictatorship. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images
Chilean President Gabriel Boric and several others march on the 50-year mark of the coup that led to the dictatorship of Augustin Pinochet. They are holding a large white banner.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric takes part in Sunday's march commemorating the 50th anniversary of the military coup, in Santiago, Chile. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images
A short person, seen only from behind, throws a stick at a flame after a protest in Chile.
A kid is seen during the clashes against the Chilean police on Sunday at the entrance to the General Cemetery of Santiago de Chile. Protesters participated in the traditional pilgrimage to the general cemetery of Santiago for the commemoration of the 50 years of the coup d'état in Chile. Photo: Cristobal Basaure Araya/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Many people hold their fists in the air while marching in Chile to commemorate the 50-year mark of the coup that overthrew the government. They hold a banner saying "1973-2023: We're still searching"
People gather at the Salvador Allende statue outside of La Moneda palace on Monday with a banner that reads, "1973-2023 'we still looking for them'" during an official event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Santiago, Chile. Photo: Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro/Getty Images

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the 40,000 victims of the Pinochet regime included those detained or tortured, not just those killed or forcibly disappeared.

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