…but not that long

December 10th, 2006 | by aobaoill |

So much for my prediction on Wednesday

Former prime minister Baroness Thatcher is “greatly saddened” by the death of Augusto Pinochet, said a spokesman. 

So we are told by a BBC News story. A separate article, meanwhile, puts all of this into context:

Gen Pinochet seized power in a coup against an elected government in 1973. More than 3,000 people were killed or “disappeared” over the next 17 years. 

He has, largely, managed to escape unpunished for his crimes:

“What saddens me is that this criminal has died without having been sentenced and I believe the responsibility the state bears in this has to be considered”, human rights lawyer Hugo Gutierrez told La Tercera Online. 

Though the judgement of history will doubtless be clear, the fact that he has managed to avoid personal punishment is, to say the least, regrettable.

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