Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has visited Chile many times over the past 35 years. But yesterday Chile came to him. And it came bearing gifts.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet arrived at the Kennedy family compound yesterday afternoon to honor Kennedy for his longtime support of human rights and democracy in the South American country.
Kennedy has fought to support Chile's democratic government since 1973, when he pushed Congress to cut off military support for the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Yesterday, Bachelet, elected president in 2006, offered her country's gratitude, presenting Kennedy with the Order to the Merit of Chile, the government's highest civilian award.
"You, Senator Kennedy, were such a friend to Chile in our hour of need," Bachelet told Kennedy and several of his family members and friends who gathered outside at the compound.
"You were there for us when human rights were being massively and systematically violated," she said. "You ... Kennedy understood what was happening from the very beginning ... and you acted accordingly."
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet arrived at the Kennedy family compound yesterday afternoon to honor Kennedy for his longtime support of human rights and democracy in the South American country.
Kennedy has fought to support Chile's democratic government since 1973, when he pushed Congress to cut off military support for the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Yesterday, Bachelet, elected president in 2006, offered her country's gratitude, presenting Kennedy with the Order to the Merit of Chile, the government's highest civilian award.
"You, Senator Kennedy, were such a friend to Chile in our hour of need," Bachelet told Kennedy and several of his family members and friends who gathered outside at the compound.
"You were there for us when human rights were being massively and systematically violated," she said. "You ... Kennedy understood what was happening from the very beginning ... and you acted accordingly."
Kennedy became involved in Chile's human rights struggle in 1973, after Pinochet had toppled the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in a military coup. Kennedy lobbied hard for support for tortured, captured and displaced civilians, and in 1974 he pushed "the Kennedy amendment," which cut off support for the Pinochet regime.
In the years since, Kennedy has returned to Chile on several occasions, including in 1990 to witness the inauguration of President Patricio Aylwin, the first democratically elected leader after Pinochet left office.
"All of us are very mindful of the extraordinary struggle that Chile made in its battle for freedom and democracy," Kennedy said, as American and Chilean flags snapped in the wind.
"This was not an easy time, and it took great suffering and great courage of the Chilean people."
(...)
In the years since, Kennedy has returned to Chile on several occasions, including in 1990 to witness the inauguration of President Patricio Aylwin, the first democratically elected leader after Pinochet left office.
"All of us are very mindful of the extraordinary struggle that Chile made in its battle for freedom and democracy," Kennedy said, as American and Chilean flags snapped in the wind.
"This was not an easy time, and it took great suffering and great courage of the Chilean people."
(...)
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