Humberto Abarca
Humberto Abarca Cabrera | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 May 1941 – 15 May 1949 | |
| Constituency | 4th Departamental Group |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1909 Pampa Unión, Chile |
| Died | 2 June 1976 (aged 67) |
| Party | Communist Party of Chile |
| Spouse | Olga Elena Díaz Abarca |
| Occupation | Politician; Worker; Welder |
Humberto Abarca Cabrera (14 March 1909 – 2 June 1976) was a Chilean worker, welder, trade-union leader and communist politician who served as Deputy during the 1941–1949 legislative period.[1]
Abarca declared in 1950 that his legal birth year had been altered so he could work earlier; based on his age at that time, his real birth year would have been 1911.[2]
Biography
Abarca Cabrera was born in Pampa Unión on 14 March 1909, the son of José Abarca and Margarita Cabrera. He married Olga Elena Díaz Abarca on 1 August 1943.[1]
He studied in Antofagasta and worked from a young age as a labourer and arc welder. He began at the Chuquicamata mine at age twelve, first as a messenger, staying there until 1930. He later worked at the María Elena nitrate works until 1932.[1]
A member of the Communist Party, he occupied several leadership positions, including secretary general and member of the Political Commission of the Central Committee. He was deported to Isla Mocha during the government of Carlos Dávila. After returning, he led the Communist Youth and later moved to Coquimbo, where he became a prominent labour leader.[1]
He was detained several times and, following the Congress of the Federación Obrera de Chile, was sentenced to five years in prison, later receiving amnesty. He also served as leader of the Federación Industrial de Obreros Metalúrgicos and was a player and director of Club Deportivo Lusitania.[1]
Political career
Abarca Cabrera was elected Deputy for the 4th Departamental Group (“La Serena, Coquimbo, Elqui, Ovalle, Combarbalá and Illapel”) for two periods, 1941–1945 and 1945–1949. He was a member of the Permanent Committee on Finance in his first term and the Permanent Committee on Foreign Relations in his second.[1]
As electoral organiser for the Communist Party during the clandestine period leading to the 1949 parliamentary elections, he oversaw an unsuccessful campaign, losing influence within the party. Forced to abandon clandestinity after losing official functions, he was detained by political police. In 1950 he began working as a bus driver.[3]
He later distanced himself from the Communist Party and aligned with pro-Chinese positions, serving as secretary general of the Chilean-Chinese Institute.[1]
Humberto Abarca Cabrera died in Santiago on 2 June 1976.[1]
References
Bibliography
- Valencia Aravia, Luis (1986). Anales de la República: registros de los ciudadanos que han integrado los Poderes Ejecutivo y Legislativo (2nd ed.). Santiago, Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello.
- Urzúa Valenzuela, Germán (1992). Historia política de Chile y su evolución electoral desde 1810 a 1992 (3rd ed.). Santiago, Chile: Editorial Jurídica de Chile.