New charges filed against Pinochet for human rights violations

Four new charges were filed against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet on Monday for his presumed involvement in executing four left-wing militants in 1973.

The charges were filed at the Santiago Court of Appeals by lawyer Hiram Villagra on behalf of the relatives of the victims, who were executed in December 1973 in the Magallanes region.

Villagra said one of the victims, Jorge Parra, was shot inside a regiment barracks and later died on the way to hospital.

With these new charges, Pinochet now faces nearly 300 accusations of assassinations, disappearances, kidnappings, illegal burials and exhumations, as well as torture during his military rule between 1973 and 1990.

Pinochet is currently awaiting ruling from 25 judges of the Court of Appeals on whether to remove his immunity as requested by Judge Sergio Munoz, who is investigating Pinochet's alleged secret bank accounts in the United States. The ruling is expected in coming days.

In each individual case against the former strongman, the Supreme Court has to rule on the immunity issue. Pinochet, as a former president and senator, enjoys immunity from prosecution.

The Supreme Court has stripped Pinochet of immunity in two human rights cases but the cases have been delayed because of his poor health claimed by his defense.

Pinochet, 89, took power in a bloody coup toppling elected President Salvador Allende in 1973. According to official figures, 3,197 people died or disappeared under his rule until 1990.

Source: Agencies