Augusto Pinochet RIP 10 December 2006

10 December 2006
On this International Human Rights Day General Augusto Pinochet, former ruler of Chile (1973-1990), died at the Military Hospital in Santiago. A former guest of the United Kingdom Pinochet died after he had lost his immunity from prosecution and cases had been filed against him in the Chilean Courts for torture, assassination, kidnapping and financial irregularities regarding 27 million U.S. dollars.
My theological training within Catholic theology tells me that he professed the Catholic faith and in the past few days he received the sacrament of the sick, thus made his confession and received communion. The following thoughts are pertinent to this occasion:

(1) Pinochet never asked forgiveness from those who suffered due to his regime and in order to receive forgiveness, sorrow and pardon are to be requested from God and due reparation from those harmed by one’s actions is to be sought.
(2) Pinochet in his passage from this life to the next faces –like anybody else- the four last things, as Catholics believe: death, judgement, heaven and hell. We don’t know what will happen to his soul, we leave that to the mercy of God.
(3) Pinochet died before he could face justice for leading a regime that arrested people illegally, tortured them, killed them and made to disappear 1,200 people without respect for human life and without remorse.
(4) Pinochet escaped justice and justice is the foundation for peace.
(5) It is disappointing that Pinochet didn’t confront his accusers and gave information about the fate of the disappeared. He shall not be missed while it is our Christian duty to pray for his family and those who are going through a grieving process – most of them under legal investigation for fraud.
(6) Pinochet had the possibility of preparing for death; those who were killed or disappeared during his government did not have such luxury.
(7) My hope is that with Pinochet gone from Chilean life some of the military would be able to disclose information much needed by the families of the disappeared.
(8) My hope is that without Pinochet the 1978 Amnesty Law is abolished so that truth, justice and peace can be found within Chilean society.
(9) My hope is that never again human beings would have to be the subjects of rulers such as Pinochet.

May God have mercy on him, human history will not be that kind!