Certainly Kozak’s first motions was to establish rigid doing work relationship with diplomats from sympathetic embassies
It’s likely that elder teams for the Geneva weren’t completely familiar with exactly what Kozak is undertaking and you may, predicated on some present teams, which they might have been worried had it known
F rom the fresh ugly basic days of new coup, Kozak is actually determined to do something of these involved from the Pinochet regime. The work he was carrying out ahead of is mostly mundane, starting small-size migration programmes for all of us moving to South america and organising transport for new arrivals. Kozak realized from the outset that in case he had been gonna be able to assist, however must expand the brand new translation out of their obligations that have the latest ICEM.
“He’d to act and not become inactive. The guy believe organizations such as the ICEM will be offer safeguards so you can people,” Kozak’s widow Silvia said. You to meant become an energetic fellow member on strategy to help people towards the acquiring stop out of Pinochet’s brutal crackdown. During the time, the new ICEM is a risk-averse organisation, wary about debate and you will scared away from offensive representative governing bodies.
“Roberto undertook a good activity however, he did not do it by yourself,” Silvia troubled. “He was part of a system. He would has actually considered it egocentric to help you allege responsibility. The guy experienced their activity try crucial but the guy never ever took heart phase. He lay value toward teamwork.”
Just after with escorted the latest diplomats about building, Edelstam after that gone back to bed around that evening, so you’re able to include brand new Chileans desired of the regime
Probably one of the most courageous of one’s diplomats, whom spent some time working near to Kozak about instantaneous wake of the coup, try the fresh later Swedish ambassador Harald Edelstam. When you look at the 2nd business war, Edelstam got assisted Jews getting away from Norway to help you Sweden. Today, from inside the Chile, he had been trying to help save folks from Pinochet’s techniques.
In one single celebrated event, Edelstam concerned new save your self out-of numerous Cuban diplomats and Allende followers swept up in Cuban embassy in Santiago, that has been below flame out of Chilean tanks and you may soldiers who were getting ready to violent storm the structure. Carrying simply a good Swedish banner, Edelstam ran towards embassy and assisted discuss secure passage to own the fresh new 147 Cuban diplomats. Until the prevent off 1973, Edelstam was declared image non grata and you may expelled regarding Chile.
No matter if Italy had clipped connections with Chile pursuing the coup, they leftover diplomats during the Santiago. Brand new Italian embassy considering retreat to have 750 some body leaking out persecution. The us, at the same time, had a good conflicted method to Chile: due to the fact CIA supported the latest coup, certain members of the official company had been appalled by the incidents you to definitely accompanied.
Kozak caused almost every other diplomats and Catholic peoples liberties organizations, for instance the Vicariate out of Solidarity, to express lists of men and women arrested by program. With her, Kozak, the diplomats and the Vicariate easily turned a contact point having anguished members of the family looking for this new shed. Kozak perform attempt to go to certain detention centres discover private prisoners. He managed to get on the specific, however, are always banned from those who work in that the interrogations and you will torture have been really brutal.
To their staff, Kozak usually checked preternaturally peaceful. “He was usually written. It had been superior,” said Infante. “However visited this new hot and you will stuffy third flooring in order to search the fresh documents. We had been all of the work and you will he’s inside Elite Singles prices the a sweater and you will wrap, cooler because the a seafood. The guy advised you the files should be very carefully looked after from, which they were not data, these people were individual lives, worth admiration.”
Emilio Barbarani, among the many Italian diplomats for the Santiago at that time, turned near to Kozak. Predicated on Barbarani, who’s today 76, Kozak’s head role was befriending senior data on Pinochet program and you may effective her or him more than to help you contain the discharge of detainees. Immediately following good detainee is released, Kozak upcoming was required to arrange the happen to be secure havens abroad from the convincing international embassies to produce him or her a visa. The original phase within procedure sometimes inside it Kozak picking up the latest released prisoner regarding outside of the detention hub. That it needed to be completed to prevent them from getting instantly recaptured otherwise “disappeared”. Up coming Kozak perform cover him or her within his office or home while the guy tried to secure their escape from Chile.