Ariel Dorfman and Augusto Pinochet

Posted by Coral Andrews Dec 15, 2006

Many from that horrific time know well "The Disappeared" and the National Stadium.

The National Stadium in Santiago and the Caravan of Death were daily descriptions that still turn blood to ice. It an arena of horror reminiscent of Hitler’s Final Solution the atrocities performed under Pinochet’s rule were unspeakable - tortures, mutilation, rapes, hideous faceless crimes in unmarked graves found much too late. Random arrests, random beatings, random death.

Ariel Dorfman lived in U.S exile during the murderous reign of Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet. In 1990, Dorfman returned to his battered homeland. Today he remains undaunted in his efforts to inform the world about crimes against humanity. Dorfman has written volumes about the political turmoil forced upon his own people, during the 17-year Chilean military coup that ironically began Sept 11, 1973.

In 2003, my good friend Chilean actor / writer Isabel Cisterna of Neruda Productions presented Dorfman's Death and the Maiden (playing tortured protagonist Pauline Salas) to mark the 30th anniversary after Pinochet's murderous reign.

Cistena found a kindred spirit in Dorfman and the playwright offered his assistance in the production of his play.

Pinochet was never properly brought to justice for his heinous crimes as he was declared mentally unfit for trial, but near his death he did take responsibility for what he had done. For Cisterna, and thousands more, it’s still not enough. Cisterna still lives with vivid memories which she describes in her performance piece The Letter.

.... The streets became narrow… I lost my faith looking for you… no one would give me your whereabouts, go to pajaritos, go to estacion central.. no one would tell me where they took you and why ….I got this letter today.. isn’t it funny Pablo? I waited for twelve years to get an answer and now I don’t rush to open it… the body of Pablo Morales Diaz was recovered in an unmarked grave together with 342 more …. a single gun shot to the head … you can claim the remains…

When Cisterna heard the news of Pinochet’s passing, she said "Yesterday was a bitter sweet day, part of me was happy and another very nostalgic, I wish I could go home to experience this monumental time in history, one chapter closed and I wasn't there"..

With Pinochet gone, hopefully the souls of The Disappeared can finally rest in peace. She may not have been in her homeland when Pinochet passed, but here in Canada, Isabel Cisterna, like Ariel Dorfman, did her part to make sure the world does not forget.