News & Politics - Ex-Chilean dictator Pinochet dies at 91

Lexis · 12-10-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Gen.
Augusto Pinochet, who overthrew Chile's democratically elected Marxist president in a bloody coup and ruled this Andean nation for 17 years, died Sunday, dashing hopes among many that he would see justice for his regime's abuses. He was 91.
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Dr. Juan Ignacio Vergara, spokesman for the medical team that had been treating Pinochet, said relatives where by his side when he died at Santiago Military Hospital, where he had been treated for a heart attack suffered on Dec. 3.

Hundreds of supporters of the former dictator, some weeping, gathered in front of the hospital chanting "Pinochet! Pinochet! Long Live Pinochet!"

Anti-Pinochet motorists shouted insults at them and celebrations broke out in several parts of the Chilean capital.

Hugo Gutierrez, a human rights lawyer involved in several lawsuits against Pinochet, lamented that "this criminal has departed without ever being sentenced for all the acts he was responsible for during his dictatorship."

Lorena Pizarro, president of an association of relatives of the dictatorship's victims, noted ironically that Pinochet had died "on Dec. 10, the international day of human rights."

But the office of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who had been a close ally of Pinochet, said she was "greatly saddened" by his death.

Chile's government says at least 3,197 people were killed for political reasons during his rule and thousands more disappeared, but after leaving the presidency in 1990 Pinochet escaped hundreds of criminal complaints because of his declining physical and mental health.

President Michelle Bachelet, who was imprisoned and mistreated during the dictatorship, recently said it would be "a violation of my conscience" to attend a state funeral for him.

Pinochet's son Marco Antonio has said that his father asked to be cremated to avoid desecration of his tomb by "people who always hated him." A military funeral was likely.

Pinochet took power on Sept. 11, 1973, demanding an unconditional surrender from President Salvador Allende as warplanes bombed the presidential palace in downtown Santiago. Instead, Allende committed suicide with a submachine gun he had received as a gift from
Fidel Castro.

As the mustachioed Pinochet crushed dissent during his 1973-90 rule, he left little doubt about who was in charge. "Not a leaf moves in this country if I'm not moving it," he once said.

But when it came to his regime's abuses, Pinochet refused for years to take responsibility, saying any murders of political prisoners were the work of subordinates.

Then on his 91st birthday — less than a month before his death — he took "full political responsibility for everything that happened" during his long reign. The statement read by his wife, however, made no reference to the rights abuses.

Ex-Chilean dictator Pinochet dies at 91 - Yahoo! News

Its a shame he won't face justice but I imagine that some people are just glad he is dead.

**sunnykerr** · 12-11-2006, 07:19 AM

Cremation to avoid desecration of the body by "people who always hated him."

That makes it sound like some people had some sort of irrational dislike for the man. Nevermind the torture and rape he oversaw in order to remove any and all opposition.

It's sad that he won't see justice, but, on the other hand, I'm not sure there's ever any fit justice for monsters such him.

ceilirose · 12-11-2006, 08:33 AM

He was able to die with his family around him which is more than the people his government tortured and killed had. Anyway I can't really get to sad about him. He got away with his crimes by just living to be an old man and havng mercy shown on him - something he never did.

Jacob1983 · 12-11-2006, 10:28 AM

I never even heard of this guy but I'm sure God laid the smack down on him.

elisheva · 12-11-2006, 05:18 PM

Jacob: Pinochet led a military coup against Salvador Allende in Chile in 1973. he was a pretty awful person - I've read some of the accounts of the torture that went on during the coup and they made me feel really ill. You can read a little about it here and here on Wikipedia, if you're interested.

I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for being happy he's dead - but it's a shame there won't be any legal justice.

S.A.S.H.A. · 12-11-2006, 05:23 PM

I remember learning all about this bastard in my Spanish History & Literature college courses.

If there's a Hell I'm sure Hitler is giving him the grand tour right about now.

Sasha

**sunnykerr** · 12-12-2006, 07:22 AM

Two of my friends in high school were refugees from Chile. Their parents had fled the country under Pinochet because their father was a university professor, and that's one of the areas targeted by Pinochet. Some of their father's colleages were "disappeared," you know.

chicah · 12-14-2006, 12:40 PM

You know what the worst thing about it all is? He was supported by America.


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