DINA (Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional)

DINA (Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional) was Chile's national intelligence agency during the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990. Its primary role was to gather intelligence and suppress opposition to the regime, often through surveillance, censorship, and the use of violence. The agency became notorious for human rights violations, including torture and enforced disappearances. DINA's actions contributed significantly to the climate of fear in Chile during that period and have had lasting impacts on the country’s history and collective memory regarding human rights.