Colonia Dignidad

=== Democratic transition ===
Chile turned to democracy in 1990 after 17 years of dictatorship, but ''Colonia Dignidad'' remained unchanged. Allegations of abuses and humiliations that occurred inside the colony increased. National and international pressure intensified, but each time the police tried to conduct an investigation at the site they were greeted with a wall of silence. ''Colonia Dignidad'' authorities remained powerful and also had allies in the army and among the Chilean far right, who would warn them in advance when the police were preparing to visit the site.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Mostrador |first=El |date=2014-06-12 |title=Colonia Dignidad: los políticos de derecha y amigos del enclave que Paul Schäfer mandó a fichar |url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2014/06/12/colonia-dignidad-los-politicos-de-derecha-y-amigos-del-enclave-que-paul-schafer-mando-a-fichar/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=El Mostrador |language=es}}</ref>

Slowly, Chilean public awareness began to change, creating a growing feeling of resentment towards the place, which many began to perceive as an [[independent state]], or an [[enclave]] within Chile.<ref name=":6" />