The entity was the coordinator of a wake where candles were lit, photographs were shown and the memory of disappeared, detained and executed journalists was honored. | Photo: Colegio de Periodistas de Chile

Santiago de Chile, September 10 (RHC)-- The Chilean Journalists Association paid tribute this Saturday to the radio broadcasters who transmitted the last words of President Salvador Allende during the coup d'état of September 11, 1973.

The entity was the coordinator of a wake where candles were lit, photographs were shown and the memory of the journalists disappeared, detained and executed during the military coup led by Augusto Pinochet was honored.

During the Popular Unity years, it was Radio Magallanes that assumed the role of official spokesperson of the Communist Party of Chile.   It was the head of the network "La Voz de la Patria" (The Voice of the Homeland) together with other radio stations attached to President Allende's government such as Corporación, Nacional, Portales, among others.

On September 11, 1973, together with Corporación and Radio Portales, Radio Magallanes had a direct line to the Palacio de la Moneda. 

The station began its transmissions with the National Anthem, and then moved on to Allende's messages broadcast by Radio Corporación, until the radio station was silenced when its antennas were blown up as part of Operation Silence carried out by the Armed Forces.
 
Thus, Magallanes was the only radio station that continued transmitting Allende's last message to the Chilean people. 

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"Surely Radio Magallanes will be silenced and my voice will not reach you.  It does not matter.  You will continue to hear it.  I will always be with you.  At least, my memory will be that of a worthy man who was loyal to the workers," said the Chilean leader during his speech. 

After being silenced, the plant of the Renca-based radio station was raided by army troops.  There were the journalists Jesús Díaz and Carmen Torres and one of the announcers, Agustín "Cucho" Fernández and the radio controller, Sergio Contreras.

The raid resulted in the arrest and kidnapping of those present, who were taken to the Banco del Estado de Chile on Bandera and Alameda, together with other detained journalists.

Thanks to the sacrifice of these heroes, the words of President Allende passed to posterity as one of the great symbols of the resistance and the Latin American and world left.

"These are my last words and I am certain that my sacrifice will not be in vain. I am certain that, at least, there will be a moral lesson that will punish felony, cowardice and betrayal," said the Chilean president in his last speech.  Neither his sacrifice, nor that of Radio Magallanes, nor that of many other brave people was in vain.