Court clears way for Pinochet trial

Chile’s Supreme Court upheld the indictment and house arrest of General Augusto Pinochet for nine kidnappings and one murder during his dictatorship.

The court’s 3-2 vote today cleared the way for Pinochet to be tried on the latest charges of human rights abuses during his 1973-90 regime.

“The sentence that has been appealed has been confirmed,” court secretary Carlos Meneses said, referring to Pinochet’s appeal.

As the ruling was announced, Pinochet remained at his countryside residence west of Santiago, where he will have to serve house arrest during the trial. He has been there recovering from a stroke that forced him into hospital for five days in December.

In the courtroom, relatives of the dictatorship’s victims cheered and applauded the ruling.

“We are happy, the entire world is happy,” said Lorena Pizarro, president of an association of relatives of dissidents who were killed. “Pinochet cannot continue to live in impunity.”

A small group of Pinochet supporters shouted slogans interrupting Meneses’ announcement and were removed from the court by guards.