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I did not know my colleague Gustavo Ruz in Chile because he was much younger than me. I came to meet him in Mexico, around 1990 or a little later, I don’t even remember very well anymore.
But here we all knew about Gustavo, we knew about his career, his fame, his courageous life and his proverbial result.
We also knew that he was very close to President Allende, who admired him for his intelligence and his incredible loyalty.
Every time I came to Mexico it was a party, because it brought us all together, there were meetings, discussions, information, shared hopes and dreams.
He liked the idea of handling the Chileans who stayed here, because the outsiders are much more to the left than the insiders. This is happening almost everywhere in the world.
In 1971 he was elected as a member of the Central Committee and Political Commission of the Socialist Party.
After the Military Cup, he decided to stay in Chile, risking his life, and became part of the secret leadership of the Socialist Party. Several of his comrades were murdered by the dictatorship, as was his beloved brother Ricardo.
Gustavo was arrested, he stayed in the war academy, where he faced with courage and dignity the harsh treatments that were applied to him. Finally, thanks to the international initiatives developed in his favor, he was freed and expelled from the country.
From abroad, he traveled the world collaborating with the group of international solidarity with the Chilean people.
He was one of the authors of the writing known as the “March Document,” in which a critical analysis was made of what happened and a number of proposals were put together.
When the dictatorship came to an end, he returned to Chile and continued his hard fight for the good of the people and our country.
He preferred not to join any of the groups in which the Socialist Party was divided and he continued with independent work.
The main concerns were the protection of copper and the holding of a Constituency Assembly.
On that last subject he taught us everything: that the people are the original elector and no one else but the people. And that no power of the Government or the State can give itself proportional functions. The “Constitutional Convention” convened and enacted in 2021/22 was not a true “Constitutional Convention” because its rules of procedure were previously set, when not only the Senate itself must set these rules.
Gustavo was a special companion, not only for his friendship, but for his incomparable kindness and gentleness.
Gustavo, partner, you left too soon, because one bad day death surprised you in the middle of your daily activities.
Your sadness and bitterness has been overwhelming. We have cried for you with tears of sorrow and even anger. But you left an example of life, lessons and a legacy of consistency and loyalty that we will never forget.
Thank you, colleague Gustavo Ruz.
Margarita Labarca Goddard
