MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New Chilean Air Force Chief

Chilean president Raúl Lagos named this Monday General Osvaldo Sarabia Vilches as the new Commander of the Air Force, replacing General Patricio Ríos who finally resigned last October 13th after a serious confrontation with civilian authorities.

"I'm sure General Sarabia will impose his leadership and continue with the modernization of the Chilean Air Force", said President Lagos during a brief ceremony in Government House when he was photographed next to Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet and the new Commander.

"Circumstances surrounding this event are not absolutely normal for the Air Force", added President Lagos in direct reference to General Ríos forced to resign for having obstructed criminal investigations related to disappeared prisoners under the Pinochet regime.

Apparently General Ríos knowingly named an Air Force general, --directly involved in human rights violations through his wife who was a notorious member of a Joint Command squad--, to collect information on disappeared prisoners and later manipulated the facts before handing them to a "Dialogue Table", a political understanding that includes politicians, military officers and relatives of the disappeared.

After years of frustrations the Dialogue Table is attempting to locate, with military collaboration (and anonymity), the remains of the hundreds of prisoners from Pinochet's time that still remain unaccounted for.

General Ríos not only retained information and threatened journalists but also refused to resign arguing that under the Chilean Constitution only the Armed Forces can demand his job. The confrontation lasted several weeks before the defiant general finally resigned under strong pressure from his fellow services commanders who feared what seemed an inevitable clash with elected authorities.

General Sarabia was chosen by President Lagos from five names delivered by the Air Force, forcing three officers to early retirement.

The new Air Force Commander, 50, has a distinguished career both in active duty as a pilot and as an administrator. Apparently was not involved in repression activities during the Pinochet regime.

Sarabia's name was received with relief both in political circles and the Chilean services, as well as President Lagos patience in overcoming the delicate situation. However the incident is expected to speed constitutional reform to have the military entirely under civilian control.