Chile plans register of Pinochet-era torture centers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Chile plans register of Pinochet-era torture centers
20 Jun 2007 22:42:48 GMT
Source: Reuters
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SANTIAGO, June 20 (Reuters) - Chile plans to map places where dissidents of the 17-year reign of former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet were held, tortured and murdered, the national properties minister said on Wednesday.

The project is designed to create a permanent record of the dictatorship, which could shock many Chileans who weren't aware of tortures and killings committed in buildings they pass daily.
(snip)

Schmidt said the new map would be available on the Internet and would show at least 515 government buildings that were used to repress Pinochet's opponents.

Nearly 3,200 people died or disappeared in political violence during the 1973-1990 dictatorship, according to government accounts. The vast majority were killed by Pinochet's forces and by his infamous secret police in clandestine detention centers.

Another 28,000 were tortured, according to official figures.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20304380.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Torture’s Long Reach: Chile 34 Years Later

Torture’s Long Reach: Chile 34 Years Later
by Shepherd Bliss / June 20th, 2007

A summons from a Chilean attorney that arrived a couple of weeks ago opened a dam and painful memories from 34 years ago flooded in: “We are looking for Mr. Shepherd Bliss in order for him to travel to Chile to testify in the case of Frank Teruggi.”

The attorney is gathering testimony in a slow-moving court case against those who kidnapped, tortured and executed my young, idealistic friend Frank and another American, Charles Horman, whom I did not know. He represents survivors of the Teruggi and Horman families and wants me to testify before a judge about what Frank was doing in Chile.

As someone who was raised in the prominent military family that gave its name to Fort Bliss, Texas, and served as a U.S. Army officer myself, I could be a credible witness to counter the generals being tried who seek to justify their atrocities and murders.

Soon after graduating from divinity school and being ordained a United Methodist minister I worked in Chile during 1971-72 on a church-funded mission. Dr. Salvador Allende had recently been democratically elected president. On Sept. 11, 1973, Gen. Augusto Pinochet toppled his government, with the well-documented support of the U. S.

More:
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/tortures-long-reach-chile-34-years-later/

[crud76]

2. Someone

needs to map the ones that * has been using; I imagine a few Americans would be "shocked" when they find out that the exact same thing was being done by their own government (or as * said last week, "...my government.").

[Vidar]

3. Great idea.

[EFerrari]

4. I was thinking the same thing. But since Bush's torture is ongoing

his map will have to remain in progress.