MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pinochet's grandson booted from the Army

The grandson of former dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte was booted Wednesday from the Chilean Army for having made a highly political and out of protocol speech during his grandfather's funeral services Tuesday.

The decree was signed by the Commander in Chief of the Army General Oscar Izurieta and Defense minister Vivianne Blanlot who represented President Michelle Bachelet at the ceremony in the military academy where Captain Augusto Pinochet Molina in full uniform and in a surprise move walked to the podium to give a short speech praising the military coup of September 1973 and criticizing the judges who tried to bring the old iron fisted ruler to trial.

President Bachelet and Minister Blanlot described Captain Pinochet Molina's intervention as a "most serious breach of discipline" and demanded immediate disciplinary action.

On the same Tuesday the Chilean Army made an official statement taking distance from the speech, saying that "statements by the mentioned officer do no represent the doctrine or official position of the Army", adding that all "disciplinary actions" will be taken.

In his speech dressed in full military uniform Captain Pinochet praised the former dictator, "as a man who defeated at the height of the Cold War the Marxist model, which tried to impose its totalitarian model not by vote, but more directly by force of arms".

But "the battle was even harder in his old age. It was the enemy which hit him hardest, he was attacked from the emotional side making him feel and watch as his wife and family were abused and humiliated by judges seeking to make a name for themselves rather than seeking justice".