GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN

February 23, 2000
		General Guillermo Garin was the second-in-command of Chile's army from 1994 to 1997 and was a close associate of Chilean President Augusto Pinochet. Editor's Note: This interview was conducted in Spanish Feb. 23, 2000, shortly before the decision was announced in London to return Augusto Pinochet to his home in Santiago on the grounds of ill health. Brackets indicate editor's clarifications to place questions in context.

Online Special Part 1 Differing sides of the story Part 2 Chile's past and its future Extended Interview: A discussion with human rights lawyer Jose Zalaquett Online Forum: Should Britain have released Pinochet? March 13, 2000: A look at the state of human rights in Chile. March 2, 2000: An interview with President-elect Ricardo Lagos.     Oct. 8, 1999: Should Pinochet stand trial? Dec. 2, 1998: A background report on the Pinochet case. Oct. 12, 1998: Former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London. May 26, 1998: A look at Chile's free market economic system. April 17, 1998: Chile's struggle to renew itself. Feb. 26, 1997: A look at Chile's newfound democracy and economic growth Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Latin America.     Chilean Embassy in Washington Chile's Executive Branch (in Spanish) Spotlight on Chile Pinochet Decision from Human Rights Watch	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Do you believe there are records somewhere that could help locate the disappeared? GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: I worked for many years in important positions. I became Vice-commander in Chief of the Army, and I positively know that the armed forces, at least the Army of Chile, have no records anywhere like that. It was not their task. I don't believe any organization had such records.
	A changing political landscape?
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: How has the situation here changed because of the arrest of General Pinochet [in England]. GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: Up until that moment I saw with much optimism how national harmony was evolving, how the political sectors were relating to each other. The arrest occurred -- we consider it a kidnapping -- of General Pinochet in London; and the attitude of many Chileans changed. Hatred surfaced in ways that were surprising for me. And very negative, I believe. Because wounds have been opened that I thought had been healed well. That makes me think that in the future it will take a lot to return to what we had before the arrest of General Pinochet, and to retake the correct path to forgive each other and for Chileans to live in peace and harmony. I recognize that the mothers and children who lost someone in this traumatic period of national life have a full right to feel all possible pain and grief; but we must go on, we must find the formula that will allow us to continue living in harmony in Chile. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Should General Pinochet be tried here? GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: If there are complaints or suits against him, court proceedings must go forward. But that does not mean that he should be convicted. I am convinced he cannot be convicted. Now there is something that is very important to me. This should not be affected by what happened outside of the country. Whatever happened to him outside Chile should not affect what happens here. They stepped over our national dignity they violated our institutions and our jurisdiction. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: What does the election of President Lagos mean to you? [Ricardo Lagos, of the Socialist Party, was elected president in January and inaugurated March 11. His opponent was center-right candidate Joaquin Lavin.] GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: It simply means our democracy is working perfectly well; and I am happy for having participated in the struggle to restore democracy because it was General Pinochet and the military government who recovered democracy. It has been presented to the world that we were the ones who destroyed democracy in Chile. But in Chile, national harmony had been destroyed by 1973, and intervention was needed to restore the liberties which are inherent to all democracies. I believe the election was additional evidence that the democracy restored during the military government is working perfectly well, within the framework of and protected by the 1980 Constitution, promoted by the military government. I have no doubts as to how our democracy will work in the future.
	Looking back
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: What are you most proud of accomplishing after 1973? GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: This country is totally different from the one of 1973. I think that the changes, even with the errors we may have committed, have been for the well-being of Chileans. In every aspect of real life, every sector went through a big change. There was effectively a revolution here. A revolution in the sense that virtually every sector in the country changed in terms of modernization and real benefit for the majority of Chileans. This country advanced significantly in every aspect and has the possibility of becoming a more developed country because those changes were carried out in areas beyond just the economic part. Although it is true that the economic changes are the most tangible, there were changes in every aspect of life -- in labor and educational reform for example -- and from that the country has kept evolving, growing. I am not saying this democratic government has done nothing -- on the contrary -- but it was the solid foundation which meant profound changes in the country that allowed construction and growth to continue and I hope it goes on. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Which things do you regret the most after 1973? GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: Precisely what we have talked about before, that mistakes were made in the area of human rights. I am aware that perhaps it was unavoidable, but there were mistakes and that is a negative. But in the final analysis, the positive work, especially considering what the country was like when we took over -- what we did is absolutely beneficial for the majority of Chileans. I do not wish to take away any rights from those who were affected directly. I am very sorry. I hope there is a way we can compensate them for the pain they have endured, but I believe the damage can be repaired only through material means.
	Finding the "disappeared"
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: What do you think of the "Mesa de Dialogo" -- the round-table of representatives from the military, religious and human rights community which is trying to come up with a way to find the "disappeared." GEN. GUILLERMO GARIN: If there is someone who knows the whereabouts of the "disappeared", that person will possibly deliver that information if there is legal protection for doing so. And if it can be delivered to an organization of the army, there could be collaboration that way too. I am not very optimistic in that regard. I think it won't happen because the information must be very precise. I think it is very difficult, but the effort must be made. That is what the "Mesa de Dialogo" is supposed to figure out. I am convinced that it is logical to think that if there is no protection for the one with information, that person will never deliver it. If it exists and there is legal protection maybe some truth can be found.