Chile: Pinochet Ruling Hailed As 'Opening Door' To Justice

Amnesty International said:

'The new judicial process against Augusto Pinochet in Chile is one further step on a long journey to justice. It has opened a door that many governments have been eager to keep closed.

'Justice for all the survivors and victims of human rights violations in Chile has been a long time coming. It must not take any longer to ensure justice for the victims of ‘Operation Condor.''

Augusto Pinochet will be the first person to be brought to justice on charges of human rights violations committed in the context of the 'Condor Operation' - a well-elaborated strategy agreed between the military governments ruling in Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Bolivia during the 1970s and 80s - with the aim of combining forces to persecute, arrest and torture political opponents, many of whom continue to be 'disappeared.'

Amnesty International believes that the efforts made by the judicial system in Chile must now be translated into further concrete results ending impunity on the cases of all human rights violations committed in Latin-America during that period. Governments in countries that were involved in ‘Operation Condor’ must act without delay to bring those responsible to justice.