Augusto Pinochet
The quintessential South American dictator
Biography of a Dictator
The next three years were terror. On the day he took power, the Eleventh of September, he bombed Santiago. He abolished the legislature, established military control of the universities, eliminated press freedom, established martial law, and killed, and exiled hundreds of thousands for disagreeing with him. His reign is infamous for the rounding up hundreds of dissidents into soccer stadiums, who were then shot on the spot, and for his carnivals of death, which traversed the country, and killed thousands of dissidents.
Pinochet enacted dated free market principles, which put the country into a drastic depression. By 1984, the economy was decimated, with 30% unemployment, and staggering foreign debt.
Soon, there would be disagreements within his Junta, and Pinochet, thinking he had the country's love, and support, called for a referendum on his rule. The result was that 55% said no. As commander in chief, he still had enormous power until he stepped down, and was granted a seat as Senator for life, which also made him untouchable in court.
In the late 1990s, and early 2000s, Pinochet dodged his way out of court by appearing to be mentally incompetent, until 2004, when he took an interview, looking perfectly healthy. He died in 2006, under house arrest in his mansion during trial.
Creative Piece -- 1973 Speech in Responce
There will be no elections in 1976. It is more efficient for everyone to agree that I am great. The Junta will manage the country indefinitely. That is all.