Court votes to strip Pinochet of immunity

SANTIAGO, JUNE 6. A Chilean court confirmed that it would strip Gen. Augusto Pinochet of the immunity he holds as a Senator, paving the way for the former dictator to be put on trial for alleged human rights abuses.

The 13-9 vote against Gen. Pinochet by the 22 judges of a Santiago appeals court was no surprise because it was leaked last month. ``This is a historic ruling that shows the effectiveness of the state's regulatory powers,'' the human rights lawyer, Mr. Hugo Gutierrez, said. ``It seems incredible, but we have achieved it. Augusto Pinochet has been stripped of his immunity. Today, after 26 years, justice is being done,'' said Ms Viviana Diaz, head of the protest group families of the detained/disappeared.

Gen. Pinochet, 84, whose lawyers have said they will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, ruled Chile with an iron hand between 1973-1990 after ousting the elected Socialist President, Salvador Allende, in a bloody coup. His regime was marked by witchhunts for leftists in which at least 3,000 people died or disappeared. Tens of thousands more fled the south American nation.

Despite the loss of his immunity, Gen. Pinochet still may not face a trial because of a law that grants amnesty to those responsible for human rights abuses caused by political violence from 1973 to 1978, which is when most of the abuses allegedly occurred.

In releasing the 55-page decision, the Court President, Mr. Ruben Ballesteros, said the members of the court ``resolved that there are grounds to begin a case''.

His lawyers said the appeal will be based on ``Gen. Pinochet's total innocence.'' The former dictator's defence is also expected to portray him as mentally unfit to understand the charges.

- Reuters, AP

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Section  : International
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