Gustavo Leigh

General Gustavo Leigh Guzmán (September 19, 1920-September 29, 1999) represented the Air Force in the junta that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990 He was born in Santiago, son of Hernán Leigh Bañados and Laura Guzmán Cea.

Related Topics:
September 19 - 1920 - September 29 - 1999 - Chile - 1973 - 1990 - Santiago - Hernán Leigh Bañados - Laura Guzmán Cea

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Salvador Allende named him commander-in-chief of the Air Force on August 17, 1973. However, Leigh was the first to sign a document by José Toribio Merino to depose Allende. He responded to criticisms that his order to bomb the La Moneda palace saying, "It was a hard measure to take, but believe me when I say that it was a meaure that saved many lives, because President Allende had decided to die in La Moneda ."

Related Topics:
Salvador Allende - August 17 - 1973 - José Toribio Merino

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Leigh defended the coup, arguing that a civil war between Chileans was inevitable. When American President Jimmy Carter criticized the military rule in Chile in 1977, Leigh said, "He is a hypocrite. He condemns Chile, but at the same time he wants closer relations with a dictatorship like Castro's in Cuba, that had lead an authoritarian regime for 18 years."

Related Topics:
Jimmy Carter - Chile - 1977

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His disagreements with Augusto Pinochet, the junta chief, over issues like the return to democracy and the secret police led to his destitution July 24, 1978, in a decree signed by all junta members. The junta selected Fernando Matthei to replace him.

Related Topics:
Augusto Pinochet - July 24 - 1978 - Fernando Matthei

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On March 21, 1990, members of the communist Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front entered his office and shot at him. Five bullets hit his body. Other than the loss of an eye, he was able to make a complete recovery, dying of cardiovascular problems in the Air Force Hospital on September 29, 1999.

Related Topics:
March 21 - 1990 - September 29 - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~