MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chilean ex Army chief convicted for complicity in death of 15 people during Pinochet's regime
A Chilean judge on Friday convicted the country's former army chief for complicity in the deaths of 15 people during the early days of Augusto Pinochet's military regime. Juan Emilio Cheyre, 70, was sentenced to three years and a day under house arrest following an enquiry by an investigating magistrate. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThree years and a day sentence for a former Chilean army chief for what the article euphemistically calls cover up (not complicity) of “abuses” looks like a slap in the wrist rather than a real conviction.
Nov 13th, 2018 - 03:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0The process took a while: 20 years! Of course, most of the accused in the crimes save Lapostol and Cheyre died prior to being sentenced.
What's more, Chilean newspapers report the sentence is to “libertad vigilada” or guarded freedom (not house arrest) meaning the former commander must report to a police station every certain number of days as ordered by the judge.
In October 16, 1973, the Caravana de la Muerte made up of military personnel arrived in Arica and murdered 15 opponents to the Pinochet regime without process. Their bodies were thrown in a mass grave and the government later informed they had been killed in a confrontation.
Cheyre is the highest-level officer of the Chilean army to be convicted and even as a small step must be encouraged. The judge also awarded monetary compensation for widows, children and siblings.
Chile lives.
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