Who killed Pablo Neruda?

Allende and Neruda

An investigation is to be opened into the death of Pablo Neruda, one of Latin America´s greatest ever poets. Neruda died just twelve days after the military coup of 1973 which saw his close friend, President Salvador Allende, die in the violent bombardment and storming of the Presidential Palace La Moneda. As a communist and committed supporter of the Popular Unity government of Allende, Neruda would have been a prominent opponent of the regime and in the short time between the coup and his death he was openly critical of what was occurring in his beloved Chile. It has been alleged that poison was injected into his stomach as he lay in hospital with cancer.

As one of the greatest figures in Chilean history, alongside the likes of O'Higgins, Prat and Allende, any findings of foul play over Neruda's death, certainly within the realms of possibility, would be likely to trigger a wave of emotion. But it doesn't come as much of a surprise that many people believe he was murdered. The military dictatorship wiped out vast numbers of people who were supporters of the Popular Unity or other leftist political parties, regardless of their stature. Journalists, priests, academics, musicians (including, of course, Victor Jara), and other people in high profile positions were among those disappeared. But Neruda's international fame and recognition thanks to decades of poems culminating in the Nobel Prize in 1973 would have made it impossible for the forces of Pinochet to imprison him or murder him. It would have provoked an international outcry.

Although Neruda was terminally ill with cancer, he had been a strong and visible supporter of Allende's government. His presence had galvanised many Chileans in support of Allende and raised the Popular Unity's profile internationally. Neruda was in poor health but witnesses have claimed that the day before his death he was in good spirits and seemed like he was still holding off the cancer. His death from heart failure came suddenly.

It is absolutely certain that Neruda's death would have been in the best interests of the military junta which had just grasped control of the country and was governing with an unrelenting iron fist. The poet's praise of such Latin American leftist heroes such as Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Allende made him an enemy of the military, now operating as a totalitarian regime that showed no compassion towards its opponents. As Neruda lay in hospital, it would have been simple for military agents to end his life and make it seem like natural causes.

In the ensuing years, Pinochet and his minions did their best to undermine the influence of Neruda and erase his legacy. The concerted effort made by the Pinochet forces certainly suggests that, had he lived, he would have been a serious adversary. History shows us that the dictatorship's answer to such matters was swift and merciless. An investigation into the poet's death is definitely warranted.

Here is the Guardian's report:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/01/chile-pinochet-murder-pablo-neruda

And from the Chilean newspaper La Tercera (in Spanish):

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2011/06/680-370235-9-ministro-carroza-acepta-investigar-la-muerte-de-pablo-neruda.shtml

The exhumation of Allende - a necessary indignity?

Thirty seven years after his death, President Salvador Allende remains a symbol of hope and liberation to the Latin American left and reserves his place in history as a socialist martyr. Yet the various doubts over his death during the military coup of 11th September 1973, which saw General Pinochet take power of Chile, have resulted in today's exhumation of the ex-president's body in the hope that light will finally be shed on whether he committed suicide, as the official story goes, or was in fact murdered by the military. There are many theories over the death of Allende, with supporters and opponents alike debating over the circumstances.

After decades of uncertainty over Allende's death, a second autopsy has been ordered from which it is hoped new evidence will emerge that will establish the truth. There was only one known witness to Allende shooting himself with an AK47 and his version of events is not universally believed. The day after the coup, Allende was buried in Viña del Mar, without proper autopsy, while his widow was prevented from seeing his body. This has fueled the flames of scepticism over the official line.

In addition, while various Allendistas claim that his death was a final act of honour and nobility, others believe that he would have chosen to lead the resistance to the military coup and never would have killed himself. Others argue that he died fighting, defending Chilean sovereignty and the rights of the people to his last breath, as the bombs and bullets rained down on his presidency and the socialist democracy he had created.

The mystery of his death has remained an open wound in the rehabilitation of Chile in the twenty one years since the end of the dictatorship. It is hoped the establishment of the truth will bring closure to this dark and traumatic chapter in Chilean history. Yet it seems to me sad that this visionary and dedicated leader once again must suffer the indignity of being removed from his resting place. In 1990, he was exhumed and relocated from Viña del Mar to Santiago, where he was buried in a full state ceremony. Hopefully, after this new investigation, he will finally be allowed to rest in peace.

The story has been picked up by the international media. In the States, the Los Angeles Times has this to say:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-cooper-chile-allende-20110523,0,3651616.story

And here's the CBS take on things:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/21/ap/latinamerica/main20065084.shtml

and Time Magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2073316,00.html#ixzz1NCF5ObBS

The British media is acting with its usual ambivalence towards Latin America but here's the Independent's piece:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/chile-presidents-corpse-exhumed-to-finally-settle-suicide-claims-2288173.html