RIGHTS-CHILE: Letters Prove Allende Did Not Shelter Nazis

By Tito Drago Reprint | | Print |

Tito Drago

MADRID, Jun 20 2000 (IPS) - Salvador Allende, the socialist president of Chile overthrown by General Augusto Pinochet in 1973, never sheltered Nazis, but actually earned the praise of renowned hunter of war criminals Simon Wiesenthal, according to letters presented Tuesday by Chilean parliamentary Deputy Isabel Allende.

The lawmaker, the late president’s daughter, showed IPS in Spain photocopies of correspondence that contradicts allegations by Chilean historian Victor Farías in his book “Los nazis in Chile” (Nazis in Chile), published by Seix Barral, which hit the bookshelves Tuesday in Spain.

Farías’ book alleges that while president, Allende refused to deport German war criminal Walter Rauff, and that he responded in an “arrogant” manner to Wiesenthal — the director of a world- famous centre that documented Adolph Hitler’s persecution of the Jews and tracks down war criminals — who asked him to facilitate the extradition of Rauff, a fugitive wanted by the German courts.

The Nazi war criminal lived in Chile from the end of World War Two to his death, of natural causes, in 1983.

Wiesenthal’s first letter to Allende was addressed Aug 21, 1972. It provided details on Rauff’s whereabouts in Chile, and asked the president to order a review of a 1963 Chilean court decision against the German national’s deportation.

In October 1972, Allende responded that 10 years earlier, the Chilean Supreme Court had denied extradition because the case against Rauff had expired based on the statute of limitations.

However, Allende added that the sentence also issued “the broadest moral condemnation of the appalling crimes” committed by the Nazis.

Allende told Wiesenthal that a new request would have to be filed through diplomatic channels before he could do anything. And in that case, the decision would be “entirely up to the Chilean courts, which based on article 80 of the political constitution are the only (entities) empowered to try civil and criminal cases.

“The president of the republic is prohibited by law to exercise judicial functions, get involved in pending cases or revive closed cases,” wrote Allende. “These are the constitutional and legal provisions in effect in Chile, by which it is my duty to abide.”

“And President Allende always complied with the constitution and democratic laws and standards,” Deputy Isabel Allende stressed in her conversation with IPS.

The letter continues: “the aforementioned certainly does not prevent me, as a citizen and head of state, from fully sharing your sentiments, and condemning once more the appalling crimes committed by Nazism and its servants.

“I have admired, and continue to admire, your tenacity in pursuing the authors of the most horrendous crimes recorded in the history of humanity,” he added, after expressing his regret over his refusal.

“But I also know of your devotion to the rule of law within political regimes and, for that reason, I am sure that you will understand my position as president of the republic,” stated Allende.

Wiesenthal responded on Nov 3, 1972, thanking Allende for his letter, which he described as very humane, and stating that he was able to see and appreciate the president’s noble manner of thinking.

He also said that he understood “perfectly” that Allende’s possibilities in this field were limited, and reported that he had made contact with the German government to emit a new extradition request for Rauff (which was never issued).

In the last paragraph, Wiesenthal thanked Allende once more for his letter, “which proves that you are truly an admirable person.”

Deputy Allende affirmed that the exchange of letters clearly demonstrated her father’s “humanistic, democratic and anti-Nazi” position.

The lawmaker criticised Chile’s state-run National Television Channel of showing “a grave lack of ethics” when it reported that Farías’ book revealed links between certain Chilean figures (including Allende) and the Nazis.