On November 25, 2006, former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet issued a prepared statement in which he assumed "full political responsibility" for the actions of his regime between 1973 and 1990. The statement was read aloud by his wife at his ninety-first birthday celebration. It was the first time Pinochet assumed responsibility for the actions of his government, which included numerous allegations of human rights abuses and corruption. Despite being granted immunity from prosecution by the 1980 Chilean constitution, there were numerous attempts to strip him of this protection. The Santiago Court of Appeals stripped him of immunity in human rights cases in October 2006. Pinochet was formally indicted on November 27, 2006 for his involvement with two deaths during the so-called "Caravan of Death." However, he died on December 10, 2006 without ever facing trial.


Chilean coat of arms

Learn more about Augusto Pinochet and the laws governing human rights from the JURIST news archive and read commentary on Pinochet's legacy from JURIST Guest Columnist Chandra Lekha Sriram in Forum.

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