Among Kozak’s very first moves were to introduce tight functioning dating which have diplomats of sympathetic embassies

Among Kozak’s very first moves were to introduce tight functioning dating which have diplomats of sympathetic embassies

It is likely that senior staff within the Geneva just weren’t fully alert to exactly what Kozak try creating and you can, based on certain introduce team, which they would have been worried got it identified

F rom the brand new unappealing very first times of the coup, Kozak is actually calculated to act of these swept up because of the Pinochet program. The task he was undertaking just before ended up being largely mundane, starting brief-scale migration courses for people relocating to South america and you will organising transport for new arrivals. Kozak realized at the beginning if he was going to have the ability to let, however must continue this new translation away from his obligations having the fresh ICEM.

“He previously to behave and never become passive. He imagine organizations such as the ICEM is to provide safeguards so you can anybody,” Kozak’s widow Silvia told you. That required is a dynamic fellow member regarding strategy to greatly help the individuals towards researching end of Pinochet’s intense crackdown. At the time, the ICEM are a threat-averse organisation, cautious with debate and afraid out of offending member governments.

“Roberto undertook a beneficial task however, he did not get it done by yourself,” Silvia stressed. “He was element of a network. He would possess thought they egocentric so you’re able to allege responsibility. The guy considered their task is actually essential but the guy never got hub stage. The guy set value for money into the teamwork.”

Immediately after which have escorted the newest diplomats in the building, Edelstam after that gone back to bed truth be told there you to definitely night, in order to protect the new Chileans wished of the routine

Perhaps one of the most daring of your diplomats, whom has worked alongside Kozak regarding the instantaneous aftermath of one’s coup, was this new later Swedish ambassador Harald Edelstam. When you look at the next community conflict, Edelstam had aided Jews getting away from Norway so you’re able to Sweden. Today, when you look at the Chile, he was trying to conserve individuals from Pinochet’s program.

In a single well known incident, Edelstam involved brand new save off numerous Cuban diplomats and you will Allende supporters caught up when you look at the Cuban embassy when you look at the Santiago, which had been less than flames out-of Chilean tanks and you may troops have been getting ready to storm the building. Holding only an excellent Swedish banner, Edelstam ran towards the embassy and you can assisted negotiate secure passageway to have new 147 Cuban diplomats. Through to the stop regarding 1973, Edelstam are declared image non grata and you can expelled out of Chile.

Though Italy got cut connections that have Chile following the coup, they leftover diplomats during the Santiago. The newest Italian embassy given refuge for 750 someone leaking out persecution. The united states, meanwhile, got a great conflicted way of Chile: since the CIA backed the newest coup, specific members of the official agencies was indeed appalled by the incidents one followed.

Kozak worked with almost every other diplomats and you can Catholic individual legal rights enterprises, including the Vicariate out of Solidarity, to generally share listing of men and women arrested by the regime. With her, Kozak, brand new diplomats and also the Vicariate quickly turned into a message point to possess anguished household members hunting for the latest missing. Kozak perform you will need to visit specific detention centres to get individual prisoners. He managed to get on certain, however, are always barred out-of those who work in that your interrogations and torture was basically very raw.

So you’re able to their employees, Kozak always checked preternaturally calm. “He had been always written. It was remarkable,” told you Infante. “However started to this new sexy and you may rigid third floors in order to check the new files. We were all sweating and you will they are during the a jacket and tie, cool while the a fish. He advised you that data files must be meticulously taken care out of, which they weren’t data, these were people lives, worthy of value.”

Emilio Barbarani, one of the Italian diplomats into the Santiago during the time, turned into near to Kozak. Based on Barbarani, who is today 76, Kozak’s chief role are befriending elder numbers from the Pinochet program and you may profitable them more so you can contain the release of detainees. Just after a great detainee is put-out, Kozak next needed to manage its visit secure havens overseas by the convincing international embassies to deliver her or him a positive single charge. The first stage in this techniques either in it Kozak picking right up brand new put-out prisoner off beyond your detention hub. This had to be completed to avoid them out-of becoming instantaneously recaptured otherwise “disappeared”. After that Kozak would safeguards him or her inside the home or office if you are the guy made an effort to safe the escape from Chile.

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