General Pinochet Finally Takes Responsibility for Regime
SANTIAGO DE CHILE (AP) - At a celebration of his 91st birthday,Gen. Augusto Pinochet took some responsibility for the first time Saturday for the actions of his 1973-90 dictatorship, which carried out thousands of political killings and is blamed for widespread torture and illegal imprisonment.
"Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbor no rancor against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all and that I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Chile greater and avoiding its disintegration," he said. Pinochet did not apologize for the excesses of his right wing dictatorship and used cautious language.
"I assume full political responsibility for what happened."
According to an official report, 3,197 people were killed for political reasons under Pinochet, including more than 1,000 who were made to disappear. Trade unionists, leftists and socialists made up the bulk of those executed by the Regime. Thousands more were illegally imprisoned, tortured or forced into exile.
Las Vegas Sun
Oh yeah, the deathbed conversion, real classy. At least maybe his smarmy defenders (Barbara Amiel, Lady Thatcher et al) will stop pretending he's a great guy. I think he did this now since most everyone feels he's too infirm to stand trial.
Posted by
Dan |
10:29 pm, November 27, 2006