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Aldo González <aldogon1@...>

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More information is available at: www.juicioapinochet.com/


Give Justice A Chance in Chile!
A Trial for Pinochet Now



On August 26, 2004, a majority of the Supreme Court of Chile upheld
the Santiago Appeals Court decision that stripped former dictator
Augusto Pinochet Ugarte of his immunity from prosecution to stand
trial for his role in Operation Condor. Operation Condor was a
macabre coordinated campaign of the secret services of the Latin
American dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s, whose purpose was to
repress and assassinate political opponents of the dictatorships,
resulting in a dire number of disappearances, murders, tortures,
trafficking of children and destroyed homes.

We, the undersigned men and women from different professions and
activities, express our satisfaction with this judicial ruling that
allows Judge Guzmán Tapia to indict the former Chilean dictator for
his role in the crimes of Operation Condor.

As we see it, this is a unique opportunity to give justice a chance.
We are saddened and worried about the fact that human rights continue
to be transgressed in different parts of the world with impunity.
The systematic violation of human rights in Latin America and, today,
in different countries throughout the world, requires a clear and
resounding response from those who have the responsibility and the
obligation to pursue and judge these abominable crimes against
humanity. For this reason, we demand that the political officials
and the Courts of Justice -responsible for enforcing the law-take a
more active and involved role in the investigation and prosecution of
these denounced acts.

Again, the eyes and hopes of millions of people are upon Chile
because, once more, there is a good opportunity to give Justice a
chance to function and to set an international precedent that gives
notice to those who constantly violate fundamental human rights, as
well as those who might be tempted to do so in the future.

There are moments in the history of humanity when it is possible and
necessary to give justice a chance in order to provide hope for the
victims of the great barbarity and horror which States, agents and
private individuals have committed and continue to commit under the
shelter of absolute impunity. We demand that all parts of the Chilean
Judicial Branch rule clearly and strictly in line with the law in
favor of a trial for General Augusto Pinochet, the man who has been
accused, on several occasions in the courts of different nations, of
being the primary person responsible for the crimes against humanity
committed under his command and authority as dictator of his own
country.

Giving justice a chance is a requirement for democracy, the right to
life and the integrity of all human beings.