March 7, 2000, NEW YORK CITY - National Council of Churches General Secretary Dr. Bob Edgar today joined other ecumenical and human rights groups demanding that charges be brought against Chilean General Augusto Pinochet of crimes against humanity.
The full text of his
statement follows.
by
The Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
March 7, 2000
The future of former Chilean President General Augusto Pinochet,
who returned to his homeland on March 2nd following his release from 16 months
of house arrest in London, is of urgent concern to churches and human rights organizations
throughout the world. The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joins the
World Council of Churches, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others in
demanding that charges brought against General Pinochet of crimes against humanity
continue to be vigorously pursued.
A popular judgment has already been rendered by thousands of
Chileans affected by over 2,000 political executions and tens of thousands of tortures and
disappearances under General Pinochet’s rule. There is mounting pressure in Chile and
in the international community to move forward with legal proceedings against Pinochet. A
statement by the World Council of Churches on the eve of General Pinochet’s departure
for Chile speaks for the ecumenical community:
“We are grateful to the governments of the UK, Spain,
Switzerland, France and Belgium for their efforts to achieve justice in the case of
General Pinochet. In the process, an extremely important new precedent has been set - no
dictator again… feels that he can move with impunity. The supporters of Pinochet have
agreed that this matter is now over. But at the World Council of Churches, we do not
believe that the case of General Pinochet is over, and it will not be over until the full
truth is told and heard - about the abuses committed during his regime - in a way that
satisfies his victims and the families of his victims. It is our sincere hope…the
Chilean government will hold to the commitments it gave in its legal arguments in seeking
General Pinochet’s release, and will bring charges against him in the appropriate
Chilean courts.”
For one of the first time in history, gross human rights are
being prosecuted, under international law and across national lines. An international case against General Pinochet is
already underway. The National Council of the Churches of Christ in
the USA, along with the World Council of Churches, urges President Frei and
President-elect Lagos to carry out their promise to prosecute General Pinochet’s case
in accordance domestic criminal law and with international law dealing with crimes against
humanity, so that the cause of justice for the victims of the Pinochet regime and their
families can be fully served.
-end-
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