gen. Augusto Pinochet

Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (November 25, 1915 – December 10, 2006) was a Chilean military officer and political figure. He was President of the Government Junta of Chile from 1973 to 1974 and President of Chile from 1974 until the return of civilian rule in 1990.

From the beginning of the military regime he implemented measures against his political opponents which included systematic violations of civil liberties and human rights and for which he faced several criminal processes until his death in 2006. His regime is also remembered for its implementation of classically liberal and neo-liberal economic reforms, including the privatization of several state controlled industries, and the rollback of many state welfare institutions. These policies were initially very successful, and are often called el milagro económico ("the economic miracle") of the military regime in Chile.