MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Inquiry into death of British priest during Pinochet period

Arrest orders have been extended for six Chilean naval officers allegedly involved in the abduction and torture of a British Catholic priest and other political prisoners during the early days of the September 1973 military coup that ousted elected Socialist president Salvador Allende.

The Chilean Appeals Court in Valparaíso resolution signed by Judge Eliana Quezada refers to events which happened on board the naval school training clipper Esmeralda which at the time was used as a military prison. It's the first time Chilean naval officers are charged of involvement in torture, abduction, disappearance and possibly killings, dating back to the military coup which enthroned dictator General Augusto Pinochet. All the officers are currently retired and belonged to naval intelligence reports the Valparaiso press. Father Woodward, 42, who was working for the group Christians for Socialism was arrested September 16 (five days after the coup) for his involvement in community support tasks in the poor areas of Valparaiso. According to witnesses Woodward was detained and kept in the cargo vessel Lebu, and from there was taken to the Naval Hospital because of his terrible physical condition following torture sessions by Chilean navy officers. The last record of his existence dates from September 22, 1973. The case remained in the dark until 2002 when his sister, Patricia Woodward presented a demand against the naval officers in charge of operations in Valparaiso under the military government of the time. Valparaiso is Chile's main naval operations station. The Chilean press reports that the arrest warrants have been received with satisfaction by relatives of the victims since this is the "first blow against the Navy in human rights issues" and could become an "emblematic case". Amnesty International praised the Chilean judge saying it was a positive attitude in the search for truth and justice, and underlined that the "Chilean Navy and Chilean society must not see in the victims' families or the human rights organizations persistence, a revenge spirit".