Officials left Santiago today to formally notify General Augusto Pinochet of an order to place him under house arrest, for alleged human rights abuses during his 1973-1990 dictatorship.
Judge Juan Guzman reordered Gen Pinochet's arrest and trial on Monday in a landmark move local human rights activists called their most important achievement in their 27-year-old fight to bring him to justice.
|
|
General Augusto Pinochet
|
Detectives and Judge Guzman's secretary left Santiago and were headed to Gen Pinochet's coastal estate in Bucalemu 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Santiago, a court source said.
They will pick up a court official from the port of San Antonio before arriving at Gen Pinochet's home, where they are expected to present the notification at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. Irish time), the source said.
Yesterday, busloads of Gen Pinochet's supporters turned up outside the residence, waving flags and pictures and singing the national anthem.
Judge Guzman, who has been investigating the general for three years, reordered Gen Pinochet's arrest and trial for allegedly organising the murders of 57 leftists and the kidnappings of another 18, who are presumed dead.
The order was a repeat of an attempt in December which was derailed when the Supreme Court ruled Judge Guzman must first interrogate Gen Pinochet and order mental exams for him, a right given to those older than 70 to see if they are mentally fit to stand trial. Those two requirements were completed this month.
Lawyers for Gen Pinochet (85) who ousted Marxist President Salvador Allende in a 1973 coup and who denies charges of human rights abuses, said they will appeal the order on two fronts.
One appeal will argue that Gen Pinochet's old age and ill health impede him from properly defending himself, and the other will claim that Judge Guzman's order to try him is unfounded, said Gen Pinochet's lawyer, Mr Ambrosio Rodriguez.
Gen Pinochet has diabetes and is fitted with a pacemaker. His doctors say he suffered at least two strokes while under house arrest in Britain fighting extradition to Spain. Doctors said he recovered from a bout of pneumonia late last year.
Chilean law lets people escape trial if they are declared insane or demented but does not consider physical ills.
Judge Guzman said that according to the mental tests, Gen Pinochet's health did not make it impossible for him to face trial.
In spite of his physical difficulties, his advanced age and his problems in moving, he understands questions and answers clearly, Judge Guzman said in his court order, adding his mental state reduces his capacity to face trial but does not eliminate it.
Supporters of Gen Pinochet claim the general stopped Chile from turning Marxist when he overthrew Allende. An official 1991 report says more than 3,000 people disappeared or died amid political violence during Pinochet's rule.
Reuters