Luis Antonio Belisario Velasco Baraona signed the Carta de los Trece, a public declaration condemning the 1973 military coup in Chile just two days after the ousting of the elected government. This act of political dissent defined his trajectory as a lifelong member of the Christian Democratic Party and a central figure in the restoration and maintenance of Chilean democracy.
Opposition to Military Rule
Velasco joined the Christian Democratic Party in 1957, eventually becoming National Secretary of the PDC in 1971 under Senator Renán Fuentealba. Following the 1973 coup led by Augusto Pinochet, he utilized his position as managing director of Radio Presidente Balmaceda to document political repression and human rights violations. The station functioned as a critical platform for Catholic Church messaging and information from human rights organizations that faced state censorship elsewhere. In 1976, the military authorities punished this defiance by relegating him to the remote northern town of Putre and shutting down the radio station's operations.
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Upon the return to democratic governance in 1990, President Patricio Aylwin appointed Velasco as Undersecretary of the Interior. Due to specific administrative timing, he occupied the unusual role of being the final official appointed under the dictatorship and the first of the democratic era. He retained this position for nine years under Presidents Patricio Aylwin and Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, managing public order and internal security issues during a delicate political transition that included addressing lingering armed resistance groups.
Ministerial Tenure and Later Public Life
In 2006, President Michelle Bachelet named Velasco Minister of the Interior. His term involved managing significant national challenges, most notably the 2006 student protests. He resigned from the cabinet in January 2008 due to internal disputes regarding the financing of the Transantiago transport system, which he viewed as a constitutional conflict. Outside of his core political work, he served as Ambassador of Chile to Portugal and President of the National Television Council. In 1992, he notably resisted religious attempts to ban the band Iron Maiden from performing in Chile, citing the secular nature of the state.
Death and Legacy
Velasco died on 24 August 2023 at his home in Zapallar, aged 87, following a long period of illness. His passing prompted the Chilean government to declare two days of national mourning to recognize his contributions to civil stability and his long-standing defense of democratic processes. Throughout his career, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru.
Fast facts
- Born: 1936, Santiago, Chile
- Died: 24 August 2023, Zapallar, Chile
- Political Affiliation: Christian Democratic Party
- Minister of the Interior: 2006-2008
- Notable Award: Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
- Key Role: Managing Director of Radio Presidente Balmaceda
- Late Public Appearance: 2022 Constitutional Plebiscite
Questions readers ask
What was the Letter of the Thirteen?
It was a public declaration signed by Velasco and twelve others two days after the 1973 coup, condemning the military overthrow of the elected government.
Why did Velasco resign as Minister of the Interior?
He resigned in January 2008 due to disagreements with the cabinet over the financing of the Transantiago public transport project.
Achievements
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
