Alejandro Chelén Rojas

Alejandro Chelén Rojas (21 September 1912 – 16 May 1990) was a Chilean worker, farmer, journalist and politician. A member of the Socialist Party of Chile, the Popular Socialist Party, and briefly of the Communist Party of Chile, he served as Deputy (1949–1957) and Senator (1957–1965).

Early life and education Chelén was born in Chañaral Alto, commune of Monte Patria, Coquimbo Region, the son of José Chelén, of Arab origin, and Deidamia Rojas. He completed primary studies at the Liceo de Hombres de Ovalle (today Liceo Bicentenario Alejandro Álvarez Jofré), but left school at 15 to work in the nitrate pampas of Tarapacá and Antofagasta between 1927 and 1930.

He married Magda Franulic and had five children.

Professional and public career In 1935 he moved to Atacama Province, working for nearly ten years in copper, silver and gold mines. A year later, he joined the Socialist Party, founding the "Inca de Oro" section. In 1937 he was elected councillor of Chañaral, and founded the local newspaper Avance.

He also pursued history courses at the University of Chile in Santiago, influenced by historian Julio César Jobet and professor Eugenio González Rojas.

Chelén combined agriculture, mining and journalism. He published in several regional and national outlets, founded El Arado (Combarbalá, 1946) and Crónica (La Serena, 1947), and collaborated in Hoy and other Santiago journals. In 1948, he was elected councillor of Combarbalá.

Parliamentary career In the 1949 election he was elected Deputy for the 4th Departmental Group (La Serena, Coquimbo, Elqui, Ovalle, Combarbalá and Illapel), serving until 1957. He sat on the Permanent Commissions of Public Works, Internal Police and Regulations, and Economy and Trade.

In 1957 he was elected Senator for the 2nd Provincial Group (Atacama and Coquimbo), serving until 1965. He integrated the Permanent Commissions of Public Works and Mining.

Later life and exile After the 1973 coup, Chelén went into exile in Mexico, returning to Chile in 1985. He was active in writers’ associations and teaching, becoming honorary professor at the University of Chile. He also served as manager of Quimantú publishing house until September 1973.

He died in Santiago on 16 May 1990. Law No. 20.147 (2006) authorized the erection of a monument in his honor at the school bearing his name in Chañaral Alto.