Now that Gen. Augusto Pinochet is safely back in Chile, the world is left to speculate on England’s decision to spring him on questionable grounds of failing health rather than let justice play out in open trial in Spain. Were concealed interests served?
Pinochet’s most avid English defenders are its Tories (arch conservatives), personified by ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who defines him in heroic terms, especially for backing England’s Falklands war with Argentina, but was mute about his ’60s crimes–3,000 Chileans and other nationals “disappeared,” some were tortured, all likely murdered without formal charges or open trials. Also unmentioned: that Pinochet staged an armed coup causing the overthrow and death of democratically elected President Salvador Allende.
Did political loyalty alone sway Britain? As a resurrected ’60s theme might suggest, “the times they are a-changin.”
The world no longer lets national sovereignty justify such crimes. Other Third World despots suspected of similar acts are now reluctant to leave home, fearing possible arrest and prosecution.
Seeing footage of his Chilean homecoming, Pinochet certainly looks spry and competent enough now to be tried for the first time, which would bring closure to a divided nation, especially to more than 3,000 Chilean families who otherwise may never know the fate of their “disappeared” loved ones.
Whether justice can be salvaged via the 60-odd lawsuits pending against him in Chile remains to be seen. Defense counsel may simply assert Britain’s finding using sympathetic Chilean doctors, foiling even Chile’s circumscribed attempts to find truth and justice.
On the other hand, if Britain correctly diagnosed Pinochet’s infirmities after all, death may yet cheat the world out of its only chance to put Chile’s troubled past to rest.
