Among Kozak’s first moves would be to establish strict working relationship having diplomats out of sympathetic embassies

Odds are senior personnel in the Geneva just weren’t totally familiar with exactly what Kozak is actually carrying out and you may, according to particular establish group, which they would-have-been alarmed had they understood

F rom the brand new unappealing basic days of this new coup, Kozak is calculated to do something for those caught up from the Pinochet program. The work he had been performing ahead of had been largely fantastically dull, establishing brief-scale migration courses for all of us thinking of moving South usa and organising transport for new arrivals. Kozak realised at the start that if he was gonna be able to assist, however need offer new interpretation regarding their commitments that have new ICEM.

“He previously to behave rather than getting couch potato. The guy consider organizations like the ICEM is to provide safeguards so you can someone,” Kozak’s widow Silvia told you. One intended getting a working participant in the strategy to greatly help the individuals towards the researching prevent out of Pinochet’s intense crackdown. At that time, the fresh new ICEM are a threat-averse organisation, cautious with controversy and you may afraid out of unpleasant representative governments.

“Roberto undertook good activity however, he failed to do it by yourself,” Silvia stressed. “He was part of a network. However enjoys believed they egocentric to claim duty. The guy thought his task try essential but the guy never ever took centre stage. He put excellent value toward teamwork.”

Once having escorted the latest diplomats throughout the building, Edelstam upcoming returned to sleep indeed there you to evening, so escort girl Denver you can manage brand new Chileans wanted because of the program

One of the most fearless of your diplomats, whom worked alongside Kozak in the instantaneous aftermath of your own coup, try the late Swedish ambassador Harald Edelstam. When you look at the next world combat, Edelstam got helped Jews getting away from Norway so you’re able to Sweden. Now, inside the Chile, he was working to help save folks from Pinochet’s routine.

In one single recognized event, Edelstam involved brand new rescue out-of numerous Cuban diplomats and you may Allende supporters swept up inside Cuban embassy inside Santiago, that was less than fire out-of Chilean tanks and you can troops who were getting ready to storm the building. Holding just an excellent Swedish banner, Edelstam ran to your embassy and helped discuss safe passing having the fresh 147 Cuban diplomats. Until the avoid regarding 1973, Edelstam is declared image non grata and you will expelled from Chile.

In the event Italy had reduce ties that have Chile following the coup, it remaining diplomats within the Santiago. The Italian embassy offered refuge to own 750 some body leaking out persecution. The united states, at the same time, got an effective conflicted method of Chile: since the CIA supported the latest coup, some people in the official company was appalled of the incidents one accompanied.

Kozak caused almost every other diplomats and you will Catholic peoples rights organisations, such as the Vicariate regarding Solidarity, to share directories of men and women detained by the techniques. Together with her, Kozak, this new diplomats as well as the Vicariate rapidly turned a contact part to have anguished family relations searching for brand new destroyed. Kozak create try to head to certain detention centers to track down personal inmates. The guy managed to make it into specific, however, try usually banned out of those in that the interrogations and you may torture was basically most raw.

In order to his staff, Kozak constantly searched preternaturally calm. “He had been constantly authored. It was exceptional,” said Infante. “He would started to the fresh new sexy and rigid 3rd floor to help you check this new files. We had been all the sweating and he could be within the a sweater and you can link, cool while the a seafood. He told all of us that data files need to be meticulously looked after out-of, that they weren’t files, these people were person existence, well worth esteem.”

Emilio Barbarani, one of many Italian diplomats within the Santiago at that time, turned alongside Kozak. Predicated on Barbarani, who’s today 76, Kozak’s fundamental role are befriending older rates on the Pinochet program and you may effective them more so you can secure the discharge of detainees. Immediately after a great detainee was put out, Kozak after that must manage its visit safer havens overseas by convincing international embassies to present her or him a charge. The original phase contained in this processes either inside it Kozak picking right up the fresh new put-out prisoner off away from detention hub. It needed to be completed to prevent them out-of are immediately recaptured or “disappeared”. Next Kozak do safety them within his house or office if you’re he made an effort to safe its escape from Chile.