Reexamining Pinochet

The Chilean author Isabel Allende has penned a number of novels describing, in striking detail, the horrors of former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet's regime. From hidden mass graves to public executions of dissidents, these atrocities can fill volumes. Yet Allende only refers to Pinochet as the man in sunglasses and a beret. Her reluctance to explicitly name Pinochet underscores the terrifying influence the former dictator still holds over many Chileans.

Recently, the British Interior Ministry deemed Pinochet unfit to stand trial, citing numerous health ailments. Claiming patient confidentiality, the Ministry has refused to release the medical records to Belgium and human rights groups who have brought a suit against Pinochet for the torture he ordered during his dictatorship. While putting a sick man on trial is a breach of justice, allowing a second opinion on the diagnosis is only fair.

The suit represents a legitimate claim of the many Chilean citizens who were the victims of undeserved violence and coercion. Thousands of Chileans still search for family members who "disappeared" and thousands more nurse the scars, both physical and emotional, incurred during Pinochet's 17-year rein.

The British government has already set a strong precedent by upholding the Spanish judge's extradition order and arresting the former dictator in October of 1998 while he was in London for back surgery. This sent a message to totalitarian rulers worldwide that they would be held accountable for their appalling actions. No longer could they hide behind titles or claim immunity as heads of state, as Pinochet attempted to do.

Whether Pinochet stands trial will clearly impact the future actions of the global community. In their dealings with him, the British have shown some reluctance in dismissing Pinochet's claims of sovereign immunity. If he is to be released on medical grounds, it must be with absolute certainty of his inability to stand trial. It is therefore in the public interest to allow reexamination of Pinochet's medical condition by another party in light of the importance of this case.

The arrest of Pinochet has reminded the world that the atrocities of dictators are not confined to one nation, but are a worldwide threat to fundamental human rights. If attempts to re-examine Pinochet's medical condition fail, he may still face prosecution in Chile, but his conviction there would be unlikely. Although the wounds from Pinochet's regime will never completely heal, Isabel Allende and many other Chilean citizens would be able to rest a little easier knowing that justice is finally being served.