Chances are high elderly staff into the Geneva just weren’t fully conscious of what Kozak try doing and, centered on specific introduce group, that they might have been worried had it recognized
F rom the new unappealing earliest days of the fresh new coup, Kozak are determined to do something for those trapped by the Pinochet regimen. The task he was creating ahead of was actually mostly terrifically boring, establishing brief-level migration programmes for all those transferring to South america and you can organising transportation for new arrivals. Kozak realised in the beginning when he was gonna have the ability to assist, however must offer this new interpretation of their obligations having new ICEM.
“He had to behave and never feel couch potato. He consider enterprises such as the ICEM would be to offer safeguards to someone,” Kozak’s widow Silvia said. You to implied to get an energetic fellow member throughout the campaign to simply help those to the finding stop out of Pinochet’s intense crackdown. During the time, the brand new ICEM is a risk-averse organisation, careful of controversy and afraid out-of unpleasant affiliate governing bodies.
“Roberto undertook a good activity however, he did not get it done by yourself,” Silvia stressed. “He was section of a system. However has actually considered it egocentric to claim obligations. The guy thought their activity is crucial however, he never ever got center stage. The guy set good value for the teamwork echat Zaloguj siД™.”
After which have escorted the brand new diplomats about strengthening, Edelstam upcoming returned to bed here you to definitely night, to protect the fresh new Chileans need by routine
Probably one of the most fearless of one’s diplomats, exactly who worked alongside Kozak throughout the immediate aftermath of your own coup, try the fresh new late Swedish ambassador Harald Edelstam. Within the next business battle, Edelstam got helped Jews escape from Norway so you’re able to Sweden. Now, within the Chile, he was trying to cut individuals from Pinochet’s regimen.
In a single recognized incident, Edelstam concerned the latest rescue regarding countless Cuban diplomats and Allende supporters caught up when you look at the Cuban embassy during the Santiago, which was under fire off Chilean tanks and you may soldiers who were preparing to storm the structure. Holding only good Swedish flag, Edelstam went into the embassy and helped discuss secure passing to own this new 147 Cuban diplomats. Before the prevent out-of 1973, Edelstam is stated image non grata and you will expelled off Chile.
Even when Italy got clipped links that have Chile adopting the coup, they remaining diplomats into the Santiago. The latest Italian embassy considering sanctuary to possess 750 individuals leaking out persecution. The usa, at the same time, got a good conflicted approach to Chile: as the CIA backed this new coup, specific people in the state department was in fact appalled of the events that adopted.
Kozak worked with most other diplomats and Catholic human liberties organisations, like the Vicariate out of Solidarity, to talk about listing of men and women arrested by routine. With her, Kozak, the brand new diplomats and the Vicariate rapidly turned a message section to possess anguished friends looking for brand new lost. Kozak do make an effort to visit specific detention centers to track down private inmates. He managed to get towards the some, however, was usually banned regarding those who work in that your interrogations and you will torture had been really raw.
To help you their personnel, Kozak always looked preternaturally calm. “He had been usually written. It was exceptional,” told you Infante. “However started to brand new gorgeous and stuffy third flooring in order to examine the brand new data. We had been the sweat and you may he is in the a sweater and you can wrap, cold as a seafood. He informed all of us the data should be meticulously dealt of, that they were not files, they certainly were peoples lives, worthy of respect.”
Emilio Barbarani, among Italian diplomats into the Santiago at the time, turned alongside Kozak. Centered on Barbarani, that is now 76, Kozak’s fundamental character was befriending older data from the Pinochet program and you can profitable her or him over so you’re able to support the release of detainees. Immediately following a great detainee got create, Kozak upcoming must arrange the travel to safe havens abroad of the persuading foreign embassies to give him or her a charge. The first stage within this procedure possibly on it Kozak picking right on up brand new create prisoner regarding outside of the detention center. So it must be done to prevent them regarding are instantly recaptured or “disappeared”. Upcoming Kozak do protection him or her inside the office or home if you find yourself he attempted to secure their getting away from Chile.