u Former Chilean dictator could face trial, house arrest
By ANDREW THAGARD
News Writer
The socialist Chilean ambassador to the United States spoke about the house arrest and possible trial of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in a lecture Thursday night.
"Human rights violations was a characteristic of the Pinochet regime. I don't think that there is anybody in Chile that didn't feel a deep sense of satisfaction when Pinochet was detained. Arrogance was being punished," explained Juan Gabriel Valdés to a nearly full auditorium of professors, students and members of the community.
Valdés offered his views on recent news surrounding the former dictator and lifelong senator as well as his nation's transition to democracy.
"Extraordinary events have taken place in the last few weeks," Valdés said in reference to Pinochet's house arrest and possibility of standing trial on charges of homicide and kidnapping.
Valdés attributes the current progress in addressing past human rights violations to institutional and political changes that have taken place within the government.
"The military dictatorship left a structure that inhibited a move toward democracy. Legislative policies prohibited passing laws and the armed forces had the same input as the other three branches of government," Valdés said.
Additionally, Pinochet remained commander-in-chief of the army for another seven years and became a senator for life. The justices he appointed to the supreme court continued to retain their positions throughout the 1990's.
"We thought that democracy would become the `only game in town' if only we could eliminate the constitution. We have now been able to change the institutions of Pinochet [instead]," said Valdés.
Now, the government is able to move on with the passage of laws replacing many of Pinochet's judges with a group of human rights enthusiasts, and the former dictator's retirement from the armed forces has brought the first accusations against him by the military.
Despite these advances, however, Valdés would still like to see the establishment of a new constitution.
"I believe that we should face the task of a new constitution. I also have to accept that these institutions [remaining from the Pinochet era] do not threaten the democratic government," Valdés said.
Valdés also addressed the concern among many outsiders that Chile's democratic government is inefficient and the nation's decision to try Pinochet in Chile instead of by an international court for human rights violations.
Most outsiders "have never understood the power of the Chilean right. This has led many people abroad to blame vacillations on democracy rather than the [far] right. They could never understand what it was like to govern a country where businesses and the media were against you because you were against Pinochet," Valdés said.
Valdés also defended his nation's decision to pursue legal action against Pinochet domestically rather than on an international level in Madrid.
"We were concerned that a trial in Madrid would have been an international justice but not a Chilean justice," Valdés said.
He emphasized that it is important for Chile not only to work toward the future, but also come to grips with their past.
"The right looks at Pinochet as a hero from Marxism while the left is upset about injustices under him," Valdés said.
He is confidant that justice against human rights violations will be achieved but said that achieving it would take time, citing that some investigations have taken up to six years.
"Justice is very slow. I think it's not only slow in Chile but everywhere," Valdés said.
The unanticipated crowd that gathered to hear Valdés speak forced organizers to relocate the lecture from a Hesburgh Center conference room to the building's main auditorium.
All News Stories for Friday, February 2, 2001
