Movement of the Revolutionary Left

Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) (Movement of the Revolutionary Left) is a Chilean political party founded on October 12, 1965. The group emerged from various student organziations and established a base of support among the trade unions and shantytowns of Santiago. Andrés Pascal Allende, a nephew of Salvador Allende, president of Chile from 1970 to 1973, was one of its early leaders. Miguel Enríquez Espinosa was the General Secretary of the party between 1967 and his death in 1974.

Related Topics:
Chilean - October 12 - 1965 - Santiago - Salvador Allende - 1970 - 1973 - Miguel Enríquez Espinosa - 1967 - 1974

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MIR considered itself a revolutionary vanguard and advocated a Marxist-Leninist model of revolution in which it would lead the working class to a "dictatorship of the proletariat".

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Although MIR built up small arsenals of light arms, it never undertook violent actions during Allende's term in office. However, the organization did try to infiltrate the Chilean Armed Forces in anticipation of a military coup d'état against Allende. This may explain the vigorous and brutal purges of armed forces personnel who were suspected of being sympathetic to Allende after Augusto Pinochet came to power in September, 1973.

Related Topics:
Coup d'état - Augusto Pinochet

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During Pinochet's rule, the group was responsible for several terrorist attacks on government personnel and buildings, including assassination attempts on the dictator himself. They were unpopular with the majority of Chileans, including the democratic opposition who felt that MIR's actions gave Pinochet an excuse to tighten military control over the country in the name of anti-Communism.

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After Chile's return to democracy in 1990, the party was resurrected.

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