Editing Fatherland and Liberty Nationalist Front (section)

==Overview==
The Fatherland and Liberty Nationalist Front (Spanish: Frente Nacionalista Patria y Libertad, PyL) was a Chilean authoritarian paramilitary and political group active from 1970 to 1973. Formed by lawyer Pablo Rodríguez Grez, with Roberto Thieme as secretary general, PyL aimed to oppose the democratically elected socialist government of [[Salvador Allende]]’s Popular Unity coalition. The group, rooted in anti-communist ideology, drew support primarily from upper- and middle-class students at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and engaged in violent street clashes, sabotage, and propaganda against leftist movements. PyL is notably remembered for its role in the failed Tanquetazo coup attempt in June 1973 and its collaboration with the Chilean military leading up to the successful 1973 coup that installed [[Augusto Pinochet]]’s dictatorship. The group was officially disbanded on September 12, 1973, the day after the coup, though some former members continued to collaborate with Pinochet’s regime, including the Chilean secret police (DINA).

===Key Activities===
	•	Formation and Ideology: Founded in 1970 shortly after Allende’s election, PyL promoted a nationalist, anti-communist, and anti-liberal agenda, drawing inspiration from fascist movements like Spain’s Falange. It sought to prevent socialism in Chile through a combination of street violence (using nunchucks and Molotov cocktails) and political agitation.

	•	Tanquetazo (June 1973): PyL attempted a coup against Allende, known as the Tanquetazo, which failed but heightened political instability.

	•	Sabotage Operations: In July 1973, PyL received orders from the Chilean Navy, which opposed the military’s constitutional adherence (Schneider Doctrine), to sabotage infrastructure such as bridges, oil pipelines, and energy towers, contributing to the destabilization of Allende’s government.

	•	CIA Funding: The CIA provided at least $7 million to destabilize Chilean society, including direct funding to PyL through the Agency’s Track II program during Allende’s first year in office. This support facilitated PyL’s violent and subversive activities.

	•	Post-Coup Involvement: Although PyL dissolved after the 1973 coup, former members, including those linked to DINA agent Michael Townley (e.g., Mariana Callejas, Francisco Oyarzún, Gustavo Etchepare, and Eugenio Berríos), received payments from the CNI (DINA’s successor) between 1978 and 1990, indicating continued ties to Pinochet’s regime.