October 27, 2006

Justice For Pinochet Takes the Weekend Off

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A Chilean judge ordered the arrest of General Augusto Pinochet today, charging the former dictator with 36 kidnappings, 23 counts of torture, and a murder. As part of an ongoing investigation, Judge Alejandro Solis met with Pinochet at his home earlier this month. The 90-year-old reportedly denied involvement in the torture and disappearance of political prisoners during his 17-year dictatorship. But Solis came away doubting Pinochet’s claim that he suffers from dementia, saying he did not observe any symptoms of mental illness during his visit.

Judge Solis’ announcement is the most recent development in what has seemed like an endless series of court proceedings aimed at prosecuting Pinochet for human rights abuses. But the saga isn’t quite over yet. The arrest isn’t expected to take place until Monday.

In the meantime, check out some of Mother Jones recent stories about the quest to bring Pinochet to justice, including this recent profile of torture survivor and crusader Hector Salgado and this 2004 profile of Baltasar Garzón, the Spanish judge who tried to extradite Pinochet in 1998.

—Celia Perry

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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