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10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Camilo Valenzuela.md

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+---
+category: "Military"
+tags:
+  - Person
+  - CamiloValenzuela
+  - Chile
+  - ProjectFUBELT
+  - ReneSchneider
+  - CIA
+  - CoupPlotting
+summary: "Chilean brigadier general to whose group the CIA delivered three submachine guns and pledged 50,000 dollars for the kidnapping of General René Schneider in October 1970."
+location: "Santiago, Chile"
+created: 2026-09-21
+updated: 2026-09-21
+---
+
+Camilo Valenzuela was a brigadier general on active duty in the [[Chile|Chilean]] army in October 1970 and the leader of the second group of officers, with that of General [[Roberto Viaux]], plotting to remove the army commander, General [[Rene Schneider|René Schneider]], and prevent the inauguration of [[Salvador Allende]].[^1]
+
+The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] dealt with him through the American army attaché, [[Paul Wimert]]. On October 18 the [[Santiago]] station asked headquarters for "three .45 calibre machine guns (grease guns) with 500 rounds of ammo each." Headquarters, shipping them by diplomatic pouch, cabled: "Will continue make effort provide them but find our credulity stretched by Navy officer leading his troops with sterile guns. What is special purpose for these guns? We will try send them whether you can provide explanation or not." Tear gas grenades first meant for Viaux were given to the officers instead, because it was "important that the attache credibility with Armed Forces officers be strengthened." A cable of October 19 set out the plan to abduct Schneider and fly him to [[Argentina]] and recorded 50,000 dollars pledged to the group. The station reported: "Military will not admit involvement in Schneider's abduction which is to be blamed on leftists." Headquarters had written three days earlier of "great and continuing interest in the activities of Tirado, Canales, Valenzuela, et al, and we wish them optimum good fortune."[^1][^2][^3]
+
+Schneider was shot on October 22 by Viaux's men with their own handguns. Wimert recovered the guns and the money and dropped the guns in the sea at [[Viña del Mar]]. A Chilean military court found that Valenzuela and Viaux "had been in contact throughout the coup plotting" and sentenced Valenzuela to three years in exile "for taking part in the conspiracy."[^1][^2]
+
+### Footnotes
+
+[^1]: Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, *Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders,* interim report, S. Rept. 94-465, November 20, 1975.
+[^2]: Kornbluh, Peter, ed. "The CIA and Chile: Anatomy of an Assassination," National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 728, October 22, 2020. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/chile/2020-10-22/cia-chile-anatomy-assassination
+[^3]: Central Intelligence Agency, cable to Santiago station, October 16, 1970. National Security Archive document 23596. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/media/23596/ocr