A celebration of Chilean music and culture in Machynlleth saw three former prisoners of a concentration camp reunited after 50 years.
The 2023 El Sueño Existe Festival, held last month, saw three men who were prisoners together reunited.
They described their reunion as “extraordinary”.
Renaldo Salgado, Sergio Vasquez and Rafael were imprisoned shortly after the 1973 Chilean coup, among thousands of people who were detained under the regime of dictator August Pinochet, and placed in a prison camp in Melinka.
At the festival, which was commemorating 50 years since the coup, the three men unexpectedly bumped into each other, having come to the festival with their respective families.
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Describing the experience, Sergio, said: “Historic memory has a unique power to evoke deep and unexpected emotions.
“At the festival El Sueño Existe, dedicated this year to Chile 50 years of Solidarity and Resistance, I unexpectedly bumped into Reynaldo and Rafael, with our respective families and grandchildren - two compañeros who have endured Pinochet's oppressive dictatorship.
“Our shared experience of being prisoners in Puchuncavi, Melinka concentration camp, seems to have forged an unbreakable bond.
“Now, decades later, in Machynlleth, we witnessed the innocence and laughter of our grandchildren. It is extraordinary to sense how the strength of our collective history transcends generations. The younger ones connected as if they had known each other for years.
“It appears as if our historic memory of resilience and survival has become a bridge that spans the generational gap.
“In the midst of joy and laughter of our grandchildren, we witnessed the enduring strength of human connection and the healing capacity of shared historic memory."
The festival was first held in Machynlleth in 2005 as a celebration of Latin American music and culture, founded by resident Tony Corden.
Mr Corden described the most recent El Sueño Existe Festival as “moving and commemorative” but also “celebratory”.
As well as commemorating the 50 years since the coup, the 2023 festival played host to a wide variety of musical performances, poetry, art and discussions.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a longstanding supporter of the event, was also present for the 2023 festival.
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