Carlos Forestier

Carlos Forestier Haensgen (1920 – 28 August 2005) was a Chilean military officer and diplomat, who held the rank of lieutenant general in the Chilean Army.

He served as Minister of National Defense between 1980 and 1981, during the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

Biography Forestier was born in Santiago in 1920, the son of Carlos Forestier and Ana Haensgen, both of German descent.

He married Eliana Ebensperger Proessel, with whom he had four daughters: María Angélica, María Isabel, Loreto and Verónica.

After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, Forestier was appointed Intendant of Tarapacá Province, a position he held until the dissolution of the province in 1974. Returning to Chile in December 1980, he was designated Minister of National Defense, a post he held until 15 December 1981.

In March 1982 he was proposed as Ambassador to Switzerland, but after Swiss authorities learned of human rights violations attributed to his command in Tarapacá — including the torture and execution of soldiers who refused to participate in the coup — the Chilean regime withdrew his nomination.

During the 2000s he was prosecuted for human rights violations, including the execution of prisoners in Pisagua, and kidnapping charges. Although his defense requested dismissal due to health problems, the Court of Appeals of Santiago confirmed his prosecution in July 2005.

Forestier died in Santiago on 28 August 2005 from throat cancer, aged 84. His remains were cremated and buried in the Parque del Recuerdo cemetery.