Magonia Supplement - No 50 - 2004 05 19

Magazine Overview

This issue of MAGONIA Supplement, No. 50, dated May 19, 2004, is a special issue focusing on the "The Downfall of Corporal Valdés" case. The article, written by Diego Zúñiga C. and translated by Richard W. Heiden, critically examines one of Chile's most famous UFO stories, which first gained prominence in May 1977.

The Valdés Case: A Critical Examination

The article begins by recounting the initial news report from *La Estrella de Arica* on May 16, 1977, which described an Army corporal disappearing after a visual contact with a UFO while on guard duty near Putre. The report mentioned extraterrestrial vehicles and ships, and suggested a conversation between the "kidnapped" corporal and the UFO's crew. The author notes that this early report already contained elements that would lead to "pro-ETH fantasy" and spectacular embellishments.

The Encounter at Pampa Lluscuma

The narrative then details the events of the early morning of April 25, 1977, at Pampa Lluscuma, near Putre. A patrol of eight soldiers from the Huamachuco Regiment mountain detachment encountered a powerful, oval-shaped, violet light with red points. The object descended slowly, and Corporal Armando Valdés Garrido disappeared for approximately fifteen minutes, reappearing to speak incoherently and exhibiting a several-day growth of beard, which his subordinates had not noticed earlier. His digital watch was also reported to have stopped at 4:30 a.m. on April 30, though it later resumed normal function, or was claimed to be lost.

Immediate Aftermath and Media Involvement

After Valdés recovered, he reportedly rode to the regiment to report the incident. The news quickly reached ufologist Pedro Araneda, who interviewed the soldiers and showed them a book of UFO pictures. The article questions why the news, which made a significant splash, was only published in mid-May, 23 days after the event, despite Araneda being a correspondent for *La Estrella de Arica* and knowing the story on the same day.

Araneda made a 180-minute recording of the testimonies, in which Valdés claimed to remember nothing and felt as if he had fallen into a deep well, indicating his contamination by "extraterrestrial mythology."

*La Estrella de Arica* took pride in its UFO exclusives and continued to use the Valdés case in feature stories. The article notes that the case also appeared in the National Enquirer, which submitted Araneda's tape to a "truth-detecting" device.

The "Virgin Witness" Question

The article questions whether Valdés was a "virgin witness," highlighting that Chile was experiencing a "real UFO effervescence" at the time, with media responding to popular interest. It points out that *La Estrella de Arica* had already attributed "physical effects" to the "craft" in Valdés and his watch by May 17, 1977. Valdés himself had previously expressed interest in UFOs, suggesting he was not entirely new to the subject.

Valdés's statement, "I know that I expose myself to being laughed at.... But I was one of those who thought that I had to 'see to believe' in UFOs... Now the conscripts and I have seen and we believe that behind that light that visited us that night there is 'something' intelligent that comes from another planet," is presented as evidence of his prior beliefs.

Official and Other Reactions

On May 17, 1977, the Provincial Governor of Arica, Colonel Óscar Figueroa, issued a circular to the media requesting approval of articles and moderation in tone, citing Decree Law 12/81. This was within the context of Chile's dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet, where media censorship was common.

The Army issued a bulletin (Box 2) on May 18, stating that the press reports were consistent with the soldiers' accounts but that the Army would not make a statement. The article notes that this was seen by some ufologists as a "historic landmark."

The Valdés Case in Books and Media

The "official" story, with variations, appeared in books by authors like Antonio Ribera and Jenny Randles, and in UFO magazines such as *Flying Saucer Review*. The article notes that the case was also reported in newspapers in Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Canada, and the United States.

The First Signs of Alarm: Psychiatric Evaluation and Later Events

A few weeks after the encounter, Valdés was sent to the Military Hospital in Santiago. Psychiatrist Raúl Molina Bravo, who examined him, declined to comment due to confidentiality but indicated that Valdés suffered from "paranoid schizophrenia," a "psychosis with loss of a sense of reality."

Years later, on February 11, 1980, Valdés, then an instructor in Concepción, reportedly sighted a "triangular UFO." The article suggests this was likely combustion gases from the Cosmos 1164 satellite, according to researcher James Oberg.

In 1983, Valdés, through a letter from the Vice Commander in Chief of the Army, Julio Canessa, expressed a desire not to be interviewed. However, he later granted an interview to reporter Juan Jorge Faundes, stating he wanted to be "simply Armando Valdés" and not "Corporal Valdés who had that experience with a UFO in Putre."

In 1993, as a sergeant, Valdés reappeared in the media, predicting that "extraterrestrials will come back."

Television Appearances and the "Ummite Connection"

On June 16, 1999, Valdés appeared on the Televisión Nacional de Chile program "De pe a pa," stating it was the "moment" to speak about the end of the millennium. He described his experience on the "space ship" as lasting fifteen minutes and involving a "subhuman intelligence." He also spoke of a message from God and his membership in a fundamentalist evangelical sect, the "Unión de Centros Bíblicos."

The article highlights the "Ummite connection" and "men in black" appearing in Valdés's later accounts. He claimed men in black visited him to tell him a secret about the fear of the letter 'H,' which he associated with "The name of a planet" and a symbol on UFOs.

Valdés promised to publish a book by the end of 1999, which never materialized. He also attempted to publish online without success.

Raúl Salinas's Account

Two conscripts, Raúl Salinas and Humberto Rojas, who were present during the original sighting, were interviewed on the program "OVNI." Salinas, a construction worker, claimed to have seen Valdés fall from the sky. He later described having dreams of flying saucers and trips to other planets with a woman named Amalia, who he identified as the queen of a planet. Salinas also reported seeing an "Ummite-like symbol on her breast" and described the UFO ship as being the size of a football stadium. He claimed to be a "messenger" and predicted "something big" in 2004, possibly an atomic bomb explosion.

Attempts at Explanation and Excessive Imagination

Researchers like Argentine psychologist Roberto Banchs considered the beard and watch details as "not amounting to any kind of scientific evidence." The article explores possible explanations, including the presence of Venus and Mars, but dismisses them due to astronomical data. Other ufologists, like Jorge Anfruns, prefer "colourful versions" without seeking explanations.

The article notes that Valdés was allowed to stay in the Army, possibly due to "parapsychological faculties."

Valdés Falls to Pieces: Re-investigation and Context

In 1993, journalist Alejandro Agostinelli spoke with Valdés, who insisted he did not remember the lost fifteen minutes and described the beings as "demonic." Valdés reportedly asked for $3,000 for exclusive rights to a book he was writing.

The article emphasizes the importance of the socio-political context of Chile at the time, which was under a dictatorial regimen with complex relations with neighboring countries. It suggests that UFO phenomena might have served as a distraction from foreign conflicts and domestic problems.

The Role of Pedro Araneda and La Estrella de Arica

The article highlights the vital roles of Pedro Araneda and *La Estrella de Arica* in shaping the narrative. Araneda's actions submerged the soldiers in "saucer imagery," while the newspaper inflated the case to "unsuspected limits."

Conclusion on the Valdés Case

The author concludes that the Valdés case is full of embellishments that have been "forgotten by believing ufologists." The article questions whether the soldiers actually saw something and suggests that the case is not real, or at least, if it is, it does not need such embellishments. The author invites readers to reach their own conclusions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical analysis of UFO cases, the role of media and ufologists in shaping narratives, the questioning of witness credibility, and the influence of socio-political contexts on the reporting of such events. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, aiming to debunk sensationalism and expose inconsistencies in well-known UFO accounts. The article emphasizes the need for critical thinking and evidence-based analysis when examining paranormal phenomena.