Pinochet Takes 'Political Responsibility' for Actions of Chilean Dictatorship
Supporters celebrate Pinochet's birthday outside his residence. Pinochet, who has long avoided prosecution, now faces a variety of criminal charges.
(Santiago Llanquin - AP)
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Sunday, November 26, 2006
SANTIAGO, Chile, Nov. 25 -- Gen. Augusto Pinochet took full responsibility for the first time Saturday for the actions of his 1973-90 dictatorship, which carried out thousands of political killings and is blamed for widespread torture and illegal imprisonment.
At a celebration of his 91st birthday, Pinochet also defended the bloody military coup that toppled President Salvador Allende, a freely elected Socialist.
"Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbor no rancor against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all and that I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Chile greater and avoiding its disintegration," he said in a statement read aloud by his wife as he sat by her side. "I assume full political responsibility for what happened."
According to an official report, 3,197 people were killed or disappeared for political reasons under Pinochet. Thousands more were illegally imprisoned, tortured or forced into exile.
Pinochet rarely speaks in public and has not made such extensive comments for several years.
The former dictator, whom Allende had appointed to head the army, asserted in his statement that the military had to act against the government because the social and political convulsions at the time were threatening the country's integrity.
He also sent "a message of support to my comrades in arms, many of whom are imprisoned, suffering persecution and revenge," a clear reference to the scores of military officers facing trials, initiated since the restoration of democratic rule, for human rights abuses.
"It is not fair to demand punishment for those who prevented the continuation and worsening of the worst political and economic crisis that one can remember," he added.
Pinochet is currently under indictment in two human rights abuse cases and for tax evasion, and has scores of others criminal cases pending, filed by abuse victims or their relatives. Until recently, courts had dropped charges against him, citing his poor health.
