Roberto Viaux
Encyclopedia
Roberto Urbano Viaux Marambio (Talca
, May 25, 1917- Santiago, September 5, 2005) was a Chilean Army
General and the primary planner in two failed coup d'état
attempts in Chile
in 1969 and 1970. The first was against President Eduardo Frei Montalva
and the second aimed to prevent Socialist
Salvador Allende
's election.
Prior to his involvement in the René Schneider
case, Viaux was a very well respected and admired military leader. He became famous when he led a small military insurrection (known as Tacnazo
) on October 21, 1969. In that occasion he basically shut himself up with the "Tacna" regiment inside its barracks and went on a strike. He demanded a pay-raise for the Army and the resignation of both the Defense Minister and the Army Commander-in-Chief. After tense negotiations with the government, he deposed his strike when the government promised to study his salary demands and the Commander-in-Chief resigned.
On October 22, 1970 coup-plotters loyal to Viaux attempted to kidnap constitutionalist Chilean Army Commander-in-chief
General René Schneider
, who was adamantly opposed to any prospect of a coup. The official car was ambushed at a street intersection in the capital city of Santiago
, Chile
. When General Schneider drew a gun to defend himself, he was shot point-blank several times. Rushed to a military hospital the wounds proved fatal and he died three days later, on October 25. General Viaux was later convicted of involvement with the plot and imprisoned.
Critics of U.S. policy in Chile at the time, including journalist Christopher Hitchens
, have accused former U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger
of conspiring with Viaux in the murder of General Schneider. As far as Kissinger's role in the coup, declassified U.S. documents show that while the Central Intelligence Agency
had explored the possibility of supporting a Viaux coup, they later decided that his ideology was "far out" and, while maintaining contact with him, did not provide him with direct support. In a declassified October 15 conversation with President Richard Nixon
about the matter, Kissinger said, "This looks hopeless. I turned it off. Nothing could be worse than an abortive coup."
In August 1973, Viaux was released and exiled to Paraguay
. He was not involved in the successful 1973 coup
, and was only allowed to return to Chile in 1990 by President Patricio Aylwin
. He lived quietly in retirement in Santiago
, until his death on September 5, 2005.
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
, May 25, 1917- Santiago, September 5, 2005) was a Chilean Army
Chilean Army
The Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
General and the primary planner in two failed coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
attempts in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1969 and 1970. The first was against President Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...
and the second aimed to prevent Socialist
Socialist Party of Chile
The Socialist Party of Chile is a political party, that is part of the center-left Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. Its historical leader was the late President of Chile Salvador Allende Gossens, who was deposed by General Pinochet in 1973...
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
's election.
Prior to his involvement in the René Schneider
René Schneider
General René Schneider Chereau was the commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army at the time of the 1970 Chilean presidential election, when he was assassinated during a botched kidnapping attempt. His murder virtually assured Salvador Allende's eventual overthrow and death in a coup three years later...
case, Viaux was a very well respected and admired military leader. He became famous when he led a small military insurrection (known as Tacnazo
Tacnazo insurrection
Tacnazo insurrection was a brief revolt of the Tacna artillery regiment, led by General Roberto Viaux, in what turned out to be a non-violent demonstration against the government of Chilean President Eduardo Frei Montalva.-Background:...
) on October 21, 1969. In that occasion he basically shut himself up with the "Tacna" regiment inside its barracks and went on a strike. He demanded a pay-raise for the Army and the resignation of both the Defense Minister and the Army Commander-in-Chief. After tense negotiations with the government, he deposed his strike when the government promised to study his salary demands and the Commander-in-Chief resigned.
On October 22, 1970 coup-plotters loyal to Viaux attempted to kidnap constitutionalist Chilean Army Commander-in-chief
Chilean Army
The Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
General René Schneider
René Schneider
General René Schneider Chereau was the commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army at the time of the 1970 Chilean presidential election, when he was assassinated during a botched kidnapping attempt. His murder virtually assured Salvador Allende's eventual overthrow and death in a coup three years later...
, who was adamantly opposed to any prospect of a coup. The official car was ambushed at a street intersection in the capital city of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. When General Schneider drew a gun to defend himself, he was shot point-blank several times. Rushed to a military hospital the wounds proved fatal and he died three days later, on October 25. General Viaux was later convicted of involvement with the plot and imprisoned.
Critics of U.S. policy in Chile at the time, including journalist Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
, have accused former U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
of conspiring with Viaux in the murder of General Schneider. As far as Kissinger's role in the coup, declassified U.S. documents show that while the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
had explored the possibility of supporting a Viaux coup, they later decided that his ideology was "far out" and, while maintaining contact with him, did not provide him with direct support. In a declassified October 15 conversation with President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
about the matter, Kissinger said, "This looks hopeless. I turned it off. Nothing could be worse than an abortive coup."
In August 1973, Viaux was released and exiled to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. He was not involved in the successful 1973 coup
Chilean coup of 1973
The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was a watershed event of the Cold War and the history of Chile. Following an extended period of political unrest between the conservative-dominated Congress of Chile and the socialist-leaning President Salvador Allende, discontent culminated in the latter's downfall in...
, and was only allowed to return to Chile in 1990 by President Patricio Aylwin
Patricio Aylwin
Patricio Aylwin Azócar was the first president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.- Early life :...
. He lived quietly in retirement in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, until his death on September 5, 2005.
External links
- More information on El Tacnazo
- CIA, Cable Transmissions on Coup Plotting, October 18, 1970
- information on the plot
- Obituary
- El Mercurio Obituary