Court backs Pinochet murder trial : BBC breaking

[emad]

Court backs Pinochet murder trial

Chile's Supreme Court has ruled that former President Augusto Pinochet is fit to stand trial on murder and kidnapping charges.

It upheld a lower court move to throw out a defence motion arguing that Gen Pinochet, 89, was not mentally able to defend himself.

The ruling brings the former military ruler one step closer to trial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4146303.stm

[emad]

1. Pinochet secret police investigated: Sydney Morning Herald

Pinochet secret police investigated
January 5, 2005

Santiago: A Chilean judge is investigating 10 secret police who worked under the former dictator Augusto Pinochet on a disinformation scheme.

Judge Juan Guzman Tapia, who has brought charges against Pinochet, has opened investigations of 10 agents of the feared DINA secret police, including the retired general Manuel Contreras, founder of DINA during Pinochet's rule from 1973 to 1990.

They are charged with conspiracy in the deaths of the filmmaker Jorge Muller Silva and seven others also missing following their arrests between August 1974 and February 1975.

The group, last seen alive at Villa Grimaldi detention centre, are among 1198 people who went missing during Pinochet's military regime and are feared dead.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Pinochet-secret-police-investigated/2005/01/04/1104832106696.html?oneclick=true

[struggle4progress]

2. Yippie! eom

[Old and In the Way]

3. I wonder where this story will lead to?

Is it really all about Pinochet or also about his US enablers? While the Chileans deserve to see him brought to justice, I hope this also re-exposes the people here that made his reign of terror possible.

[emad]

6. Downfall of Bush Sr, Kissinger, Thatcher and maybe even Putin

Here's hopin'

[bluestateguy]

8. It will lead to Pinochet having another "stroke"

I could never understand the logic of delaying justice just because someone's brain goes a little haywire.

[emad]

10. Exit like Arafat: see DU's recent:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1038608

[The Magistrate]

4. This Is Excellent News, Ma'am

"The mills of God grinf slow, but exceedingly fine."

[Benhurst]

5. Henry Kissinger ought to be sent down to hold Pinochet's hand --

and stand in the dock next to him as a co-defendant.

[emad]

7. Some would say these two have been holding something other

than eachother's hands for a long long time....
Edit: good taste alone precludes posting of a pic to illustrate this position...

[Canuckistanian]

12. Are you kidding?

Kissinger would run screaming from any more association with that thug. Far from the cozy relationship he had back in the '70's.
'Ol Hank doesn't want his spotless human rights legacy ruined by the truth. I hope HK's name comes up early and often in this trial.

[emad]

13. This may be news to his potential biographers, the last four

candidates having turned down the task on grounds of too much useless documentation to wade through and not enough verifiable lifestory lines.

Even UK's ex-Telegraph editor Charles Moore backed away...

[emad]

9. Reuters' update: Major Pinochet human rights cases

04 Jan 2005 16:11:15 GMT

Source: Reuters
Most important cases include:

OPERATION CONDOR -- In the 1970s, military leaders in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay devised a cross-border plan to help each other eliminate political opponents.

The Supreme Court in 2004 stripped Pinochet of immunity from prosecution in this case and later a judge charged Pinochet with nine kidnappings and one murder under Operation Condor. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court threw out a defense motion against the charges, giving the green light to a trial.

CARAVAN OF DEATH - Shortly after the 1973 military coup that launched Pinochet to power, prosecutors say a group of army officers toured Chile in a helicopter and executed dozens of opponents. In 2000, the Supreme Court stripped Pinochet of immunity for the first time, in this case. He was charged with 75 murders and kidnappings in the case, but in 2002 the Supreme Court threw out the charges, agreeing with his defense that he was too ill to stand trial.

PRATS ASSASSINATION - In 1974 Pinochet political foe Gen. Carlos Prats was killed by a car bomb in Buenos Aires. The appeals court stripped Pinochet of immunity from prosecution in this case but the defense has appealed to the Supreme Court.

SECRET BANK ACCOUNTS - In July 2004, Pinochet lost credibility even among his strongest supporters after the discovery of secret offshore accounts holding up to $8 million. A judge is investigating accusations of fraud and tax evasion. Pinochet has not been stripped of immunity in this case but he has given testimony to a judge, who has not yet filed charges.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04415781.htm

[Old and In the Way]

11. Can't steal a country's resources if the natives are in control.

We should have taken the bastards down completely when we had the chance back in the 80s.

[emad]

14. Supreme court blow for Pinochet: Reuters today

Supreme court blow for Pinochet

AP in Santiago
Wednesday January 5, 2005
The Guardian

Chile's supreme court yesterday upheld the indictment and house arrest of General Augusto Pinochet for nine kidnappings and one homicide allegedly committed during his long dictatorship.
The court's 3-2 vote cleared the way for Pinochet to be tried on the latest charges of human rights abuses during his 1973-90 regime.

"The sentence ... has been confirmed," the court secretary, Carlos Meneses, said, referring to Pinochet's appeal.

Gen Pinochet remained at his countryside residence west of Santiago, where he will remain under house arrest during the trial. He has been there recovering from a stroke he suffered in December.

The ruling prompted applause and cheers from relatives of victims of Gen Pinochet's regime. "We are happy, the entire world is happy," said Lorena Pizarro, president of an association of relatives of dissidents who were killed. "Pinochet cannot continue to live in impunity."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/chile/story/0,13755,1383376,00.html