Chilean dictator Pinochet arrested

October 28, 1998
Issue 

Chilean dictator Pinochet arrested

By Roberto Jorquera

The dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile for more than 16 years, was arrested in a London hospital on October 19.

The arrest by Interpol came on a request from Spanish magistrate Baltasar Garzon. Garzon has been investigating kidnapping, torture and murder under Argentine and military regimes in the 1970s and 1980s and has accused Pinochet of being part of an organised plan of repression.

The arrest warrant includes charges of genocide, torture and terrorism of 94 people, mainly Spanish citizens.

Warrants have also been issued for other senior Pinochet collaborators and for Leopoldo Galtiere, a member of the military junta that ruled Argentina.

Ever since the "transition to democracy" began in 1990, numerous human rights groups have called for trials to be held over the disappearance, torture and/or murder of people immediately after the bloody military coup of 1973 that toppled elected President Salvador Allende.

The French government stated that Pinochet's arrest was a case of "moral justice". Earlier this month it refused Pinochet a visa.

Spanish prosecutors have stated that Spanish courts have no jurisdiction for crimes outside Spanish soil. However, Garzon has invoked laws that allow for prosecution of genocide no matter where it is committed.

Before proceedings go any further, the Spanish Ministry of Justice must approve Garzon's decision within 40 days of the arrest.

Though the Spanish government has not been enthusiastic about giving such approval, its signature (together with the British government's) on a European Union Convention against Torture and Terrorism puts some pressure on it to follow through.

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