MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Torturers of Pinochet era still on Chilean government payroll

Defence minister Francisco Vidal in the middle of a major scandal legacy of the Pinochet years

Chilean Defence Minister Fransisco Vidal confirmed Monday that the Military still employs people accused or convicted of human rights abuses under Chile’s military dictatorship (1973-1990). The state employees receive monthly salaries of up to 2,200 US dollars.

In 2002 President Michelle Bachelet ordered the military to dismiss anyone linked to human rights abuses during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. A report published Sunday by the daily La Nacion revealed that despite this law, the military continued to employ or rehire some of those awaiting trial either directly or through private subcontracts.

The list includes the names of former secret police, a doctor who tortured prisoners, and a prosecutor who falsified documents to cover up the murder of Spanish diplomat Carmelo Soria, who was kidnapped and murdered in 1976.

Vidal defended the military, stating that of the 14 military personnel in question, only six are employed directly by the military. The rest, he said, were contracted out.

He dismissed the case of ex-Colonel Pedro Teyssedre, as he retired after being convicted of human rights violations.

He also claimed the case of a Navy officer charged with the 1973 murder of British/Chilean priest Michael Woodward did not fall under the Armed Force’s jurisdiction.

“This ex-officer conducts expeditions from a channel leading from the south of the country. To do so requires permission from the Navy, but he is hired by a private company,” said Vidal.

The information comes from lists compiled by Chile’s Armed Forces of current full time and temporary employees on the payroll. Some are known officers of Pinochet’s secret intelligence units (DINA and CNI). Vidal has ordered a further audit of Civil and National Police Force records due within the next seven to 10 days.

The results have led to a public outcry from human rights groups and the families of the thousands of victims who disappeared or died during the Pinochet regime. Several members of the governing centre-left Concertación coalition have also expressed concern.

Vidal defended the government policy of “innocent until proven guilty” for the accused who have yet to be convicted. He criticized the public attitude saying, “Should we just shoot them in the public square?”

Meanwhile, parliamentarians dissatisfied with Vidal’s responses have called for President Bachelet to intervene. They have asked for a formal investigation led by the Chamber of Deputies’ Human Rights Commission (DDHH) to make cases and military records pertaining to the dictatorship more transparent.

DDHH President Sergio Ojeda has asked to meet with Vidal and the head of the Armed Forces, Oscar Izurieta, to explain the irregularities of a “strange and troubling” situation that he “never thought could happen.”

Fellow DDHH member Gabriel Silber of the Christian Democratic Party said the incidents were “extremely serious” and an embarrassment to the country. ”We cannot have the State funding people who are directly linked to a black episode in our history and repeated human rights violations” he said.

By Hannah McNeish - Santiago Times