Calama Women: Desert Search & Stories
Journey into the stark Chilean Atacama desert where the courageous women of Calama relentlessly searched for their disappeared loved ones after the 1973 coup—a powerful story of resilience. For two decades, these women, driven by hope, navigated the harsh landscape in a desperate search for justice, demanding answers about what happened to their husbands, fathers, and sons. Their unwavering commitment and the revelation of remains underscored the atrocities of the pinochet regime. Discover the harrowing details of their fight, the challenges thay faced, and the lasting impact of political violence. This story from News Directory 3 highlights the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss. What’s the current status of their pursuit? Find out more and discover what’s next in their fight.
Women of Calama Seek Justice in Chilean Desert
Updated May 27, 2025
For nearly 20 years, the women of Calama, Chile, embarked on daily journeys into the Atacama Desert, driven by the hope of finding their loved ones.These men—husbands, fathers and sons—had been forcibly disappeared following the U.S.-backed coup in September 1973. Their relentless search for truth and justice highlights the enduring impact of political violence and the power of collective memory.
Violeta Berríos, one of the women, recalled the intensity of their mission. “For us there was no wind,there was no cold,there was no heat,there was no hunger,” Berríos said,emphasizing their unwavering focus.
Among the disappeared was Mario Argüelles Toro, Berríos’ partner, a taxi driver and local Socialist Party leader. Weeks after Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s coup,Argüelles Toro was detained,tortured,and on Oct. 19, 1973, executed along with 25 others for supporting former President Salvador Allende. This act was part of what became known as the Chilean army’s “Caravan of Death.”
In response, the women formed the Group of Family Members of the Politically Executed and disappeared Detainees of Calama.they tirelessly combed the desert, demanding it reveal its secrets. Their perseverance eventually lead to a breakthrough.
In 1990,at quebrada del Buitre,or Vultures gorge,they discovered fragments of bones and teeth. This confirmed their loved ones had been buried there for 17 years. However, their struggle was far from over. Pinochet had ordered the remains exhumed and reburied elsewhere, turning their search into a cruel game.
Between 1990 and 2003, the women recovered partial remains of 21 victims. Today, a memorial stands on a hillside off highway 23, east of Calama, a testament to their unwavering determination. The memorial, shaped like an amphitheater, features pink concrete columns, each inscribed with the name of a victim. It marks the site of the mass grave where the women found the first tangible proof of their loved ones’ fate.
The memorial serves as a sentinel in the desert, a beacon of memory, honoring the lives lost and the women’s resistance. It stands as a reminder of the horror and pain of the past, and the ongoing need for justice and accountability in Chile.
What’s next
The women of Calama continue their fight for justice, seeking closure and demanding accountability for the crimes committed during the pinochet regime. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of memory, resistance, and the pursuit of truth in the face of political repression. The search for justice and the fight against impunity remains a central focus for human rights advocates in Chile and around the world.