Hortencia

HORTENCIA is a monologue written by Rolando Olmedo and acted by Kassie Mcluskie in the opening of the Salvador Allende photography exhibition in the "Far site Gallery" Welligton on 23 August 2000.

Hortencia

Hortencia Bussi de Allende walks slowly to the stage, dressed in black with a scarf wrapped around her head, she looks at the public and says:

"I am Hortencia Bussi de Allende, wife of Salvador Allende, the last President of Chile, democratically elected in 1970. He will never again be by my side, we can no walk hand in hand through the forest, they have killed him. The bombs came from the sky like powerful lightening which rained over the Presidential Palace and destroyed everything".

Pause.

"He committed no crime, he always respected the Constitution and the Law. Many nights we talked about the importance of democracy. and how his popular government would be fully democratic. The people of Chilean wanted change. They wanted a better life without so much poverty and injustice. This was the first socialist government elected by democratic vote. Many countries around the world supported this change. Everyone waited with hope."

"But the weapons, the tanks, and the bombs come and destroyed democracy"

"The foreign capitalists, the big multinational companies came from outside. Together with the government of the United States they created chaos and destroyed the government, the government which had been democratically elected. "All that I am saying is true. Secret documents from the United States have now been published confirming this

The Government Palace was attacked. The Generals of the military coup demanded that Salvador Allende surrender. But he would not surrender. He had been elected by the people, and not by treacherous generals.

He gave his life for Democracy. Some say he was killed by a soldier's bullet,others that he took his own life, but either way, he responded like a true believer in Democracy......

Mi Companero was killed fighting for his beliefs, he worked all his life for the cause of helping the needy. He worked for the children because he believed in their future and the future of their children. His first concerns were Health, education and employment. His Popular Socialist government wanted to bring about these changes through peace and democracy

But they killed him, he had no chance to acomplish all he wanted to, now he is dead.(pause)

But He lives in the heart of all of us! He will always be remembered by all of us.

Around the world he is remembered....Streets in Spain, libraries in Sweden, museums in France, parks in Holland, Art Galleries in Auckland all bear his name and honour his memory. Everywhere he is remembered."

El siempre sera recordado.

Hortencia walk out slowly, while the Chilean people in the background sings Venceremos.