Death of Pinochet is Regrettable

The fact that Augusto Pinochet will now not face a court of law to answer for the murderous activities of his regime is regrettable, the Medical Foundation said following news of his death.

"The men and women still suffering both physically and psychologically from the torture they were forced to endure, and relatives of the many hundreds who were disappeared by his security forces, deserved to see him finally brought to justice," said MF director of policy and external affairs Leanne MacMillan.

"Efforts to hold him accountable for his actions have not, however, been in vain. Prior to his arrest in London, it was widely believed that he was untouchable, as any move against him would have lead to another army coup in Chile. That didn't happen. The fact that his arrest took place at all was a mile stone in international efforts to counter the impunity of those who commit human rights abuses."

Among the thousands whose lives were shattered by the Pinochet regime were a number who sought refuge in Britain. More than 25 of them in subsequent years came to the MF for help.

It was on their behalf, and many like them, that in the late 1990s the charity supported attempts to have Pinochet, who had been arrested while visiting the UK, extradited to face trial in Spain for gross human rights abuses. The MF presented more than 60 cases to the Law Lords in support of his extradition.

That attempt failed after the UK Government decided, following a neuropsychological examination that MF experts say was inadequate in many respects, that Pinochet was not at that stage "mentally capable of meaningful participation in a trial."

Since then, he has been placed under house arrest several times in Chile, where he was recently indicted for murder. Two other human rights cases were also pending against him, as well as a tax evasion charge.