HIGH RANKING GENERAL FACES “CARAVAN OF DEATH” INQUIRY

[Judi Lynn]

HIGH RANKING GENERAL FACES “CARAVAN OF DEATH” INQUIRY
Friday, 03 October 2008
Chile Takes Takes Strides In Ending Impunity for Human Rights Violators

A Chilean court this week presented evidence against a senior active duty Army general accused of participating in the infamous “Caravan of Death” - a mobile military death squad that traveled through Chile executing political prisoners in the months following the 1973 military coup.

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The news of General Fuente-Alba’s alleged involvement comes amidst a recent controversy concerning Arica (Region XV) mayor candidate Nino Baltolu’s appearance with Luis Carrera Bravo, a convicted conspirator in the “Caravan of Death.” Bravo was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2007 for his role in a triple homicide in Arica on October 19, 1973. Baltolu is a close ally of conservative National Renovation (RN) presidential candidate Sebastián Piñera.

The “Caravan of Death” left more than 70 people dead. It began when former dictator General Augusto Pinochet ordered a military entourage to visit Chile’s northern regions “to expedite war tribunals” following the September 11th military coup.

Pinochet’s entourage ordered the shooting of the 26 individuals and their bodies were then buried secretly by military authorities. It has since been determined that many of the bodies were dug up in the late 1970’s and thrown into the open sea in an effort to erase all physical evidence of the crimes.

Investigators discovered Pinochet’s written order creating the “Caravan of Death” entourage and subsequent correspondence he had with a northern military commander who protested the killing of prisoners held under his jurisdiction. Analysts theorize that Pinochet sought to set and example and to “bloody the hands” of his regional generals by ordering the killings in areas where they held authority.

More:
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/santiagotimes/news/business-news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14786&Itemid=1