Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is facing renewed legal challenges as an indictment against him has been issued, marking a significant moment for both Chilean civil society and international law. This development opens the door for potential prosecution related to the 1976 assassination of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt in Washington, D.C. The two were killed in a car bombing on September 21, 1976, a violent act that has been linked to the highest levels of the Chilean government.
Letelier, who had served as the defense minister under the democratically elected President Salvador Allende, was living in exile at the time. Moffitt, his colleague at the Institute for Policy Studies, was also tragically caught in the attack. Investigations by the FBI traced the plot back to Chilean intelligence officials, yet Pinochet’s name was notably absent from the indictments, despite assertions from legal authorities that it was improbable the operation could have occurred without his approval.
After losing a referendum in 1988, Pinochet granted himself amnesty and became a senator for life, using this status to evade prosecution. Despite this, the international community remained vigilant. In 1996, a Spanish court indicted him for crimes against humanity, genocide, and international terrorism, following a commission report that documented the disappearance and assassination of 3,197 people during his regime.
In 1998, while in London, Pinochet was detained under a Spanish warrant, but after a protracted legal battle, he was released due to claims of ill health. Skeptics questioned his fitness for trial, especially after observing him in media interviews. Eventually, Judge Juan Guzman, who was appointed to investigate cases of the disappeared, found Pinochet coherent enough to stand trial. On December 13, 2002, Guzman indicted him for ten specific acts of kidnapping and murder, reviving the pursuit of international justice.
Pinochet’s involvement in the assassination of Letelier and Moffitt is tied to Operation Condor, a covert network of military and intelligence agencies across South America established to eliminate political opponents. With Chile as its operational base, Pinochet emerged as a central figure in this organization, which has been described as one of the most notorious networks of political repression in history.
Currently, an unsigned indictment concerning the Letelier murder remains with the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. The ongoing legal proceedings against Pinochet not only reflect a broader commitment to accountability but also emphasize that political violence cannot be tolerated, whether in Santiago or Washington. The call for justice is clear: the U.S. legal system should move forward with the indictment against Pinochet and ensure he is held accountable for his actions.
This indictment signifies a pivotal step not only for Chile but also for the enforcement of international law, affirming that no one is above the law, regardless of their previous power or status.
