Human Rights Investigation Explores Chile's Dark Past
In part two of her series on Chile's re-examination of its bloody past under former dictator Augusto Pinochet, Elizabeth Farnsworth reports on the families of "the disappeared" and how the ongoing investigation is viewed by different parts of Chilean society. (12/17/04)

Pinochet Indicted on Human Rights Abuses
A Chilean judge on Dec. 13, 2004 indicted former military leader Gen. Augusto Pinochet for the kidnapping of nine opposition activists and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 regime.

Judge Juan Guzman also placed the 89-year old former leader under house arrest.

Guzman, who has been investigating Pinochet for abuses committed during his 17-year rule, also decided that the general was mentally fit to stand trial. The judge said he made the decision after carefully reviewing an interview Pinochet gave to a Spanish language television station in Miami.

Pinochet's attorneys, who had argued he was not mentally competent to face the charges, plan to appeal Guzman's ruling.

The homicide and kidnapping charges filed Monday relate to human rights abuses that occurred in the 1970s as part of "Operation Condor," a covert intelligence-sharing network by six South American rulers to track down and silence suspected left-wing opponents.

Elizabeth Farnsworth takes a look at the case in part one of a two-part series. (12/14/04)

Court Lifts Pinochet's Immunity Protection
Update: A Chilean court on May 28, 2004 stripped former military leader Gen. Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution, opening the possibility he may be tried on charges of human rights abuses during his rule in the 1970s and 1980s.

The appeals court ruled 14-9 to lift the immunity the 88-year-old enjoys as former president, a court clerk told news agencies. The decision may be appealed before Chile's Supreme Court, which has repeatedly found Pinochet physically and mentally unfit to stand trial.

If the Supreme Court upholds the decision to withdraw immunity, Pinochet could be prosecuted in connection with the disappearances of nine left-wing activists as part of "Operation Condor," a covert plan between Chile and other South American nations to eliminate suspected left-wing opponents of those countries' military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s. (5/28/04)

Documents on Chile
Online Special: A look at selected declassified documents from the U.S. government and an interview with then-national security adviser Henry Kissinger about the U.S. role in Chile during Pinochet's regime. (9/10/03)

Pinochet Resigns After Supreme Court Drops Case
Update: General Augusto Pinochet tendered his resignation as senator-for-life on July 5, 2002, just three days after the Chilean Supreme Court ruled him mentally unfit to stand trial. The former dictator was to be tried on charges he ordered political killings during his 16-year regime from 1973 to 1990. The court's final verdict effectively halts all efforts to prosecute Pinochet.

The 86-year-old general said he would resign from the largely honorary senator-for-life position and withdraw from political life "with a clean conscience."

Pinochet was accused of covering up the murders of 75 suspected leftists by military squads in the landmark "Caravan of Death" case. (7/5/02)

Court Halts Trial, Citing Health
    Update: An appeals court in Santiago ruled that General Augusto Pinochet will not be tried on a series of human rights charges because of his deteriorating mental health. (7/9/01)   

Pursuing the Past
Recently released documents shed new light on the relationship between the U.S. and former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. (2/20/01)

Case Against Pinochet Dropped
Update: Chile's Supreme Court says Pinochet must undergo mental tests, interrogation before he can be charged. (12/20/00)
Update: A Chilean appeals court says a judge acted illegally by indicting Pinochet before questioning him. (12/11/00)

Pinochet Indicted on Kidnapping Charges
Update: The former Chilean dictator has been charged with kidnapping and will face trial on the disappearance of 19 prisoners. (12/1/00)
Update: Chile's Supreme Court lifts Augusto Pinochet's immunity, but experts say it could be years before he's brought to trial. (8/8/00)

Pinochet Immunity Case
Lawyers for Augusto Pinochet say they will appeal a Chilean court's immunity ruling (5/25/00).
Pinochet associate Gen. Guillermo Garin on the military's role in Chile's past. (2/23/00)
Human rights lawyer Jose Zalaquett on the search for the "disappeared." (2/26/00)

Human Rights in Chile
Chileans remain divided on how to pursue justice for the torture and disappearance of thousands during Pinochet's rule. (3/13/00)

President-Elect Lagos
Elizabeth Farnsworth discusses politics and Pinochet with Chilean President-elect Ricardo Lagos. (3/2/00)

Britain Releases Ex-Dictator
Flags and fanfare greet Augusto Pinochet as he returns home to Chile. (3/3/00)
Former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet is released by British officials and heads home to Chile. (3/2/00)

Gen. Augusto Pinochet
The extradition battle continues over former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet. (10/8/99)
Pinochet's arrest raises legal questions regarding the prosecution of former heads of state. (12/2/98)
The highest court in Britain rules that Pinochet is not immune from prosecution. (11/25/98)
Former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London. (10/19/98)

The Rebirth of Chile
Will Chile be able to close the gap between rich and poor to maintain its economic stability? (5/26/98)
Chile's growing economic might in the region follows decades of political and social turbulence. Charles Krause reports on the nation's struggles and successes. (4/17/98)