- Title: SPAIN: Pinochet died besieged by lawyers, Allende says
- Date: 12th December 2006
- Summary: JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, GREETING SALVADOR ALLENDE'S DAUGHTER ISABEL ALLENDE VARIOUS OF ZAPATERO MEETING ALLENDE
- Embargoed: 27th December 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA3FG9MOBPNP2THGZC4S6BG217Z
- Story Text: The daughter of Chile's late President Salvador Allende, who was ousted by Augusto Pinochet, said on Monday (December 11) she was comforted by the fact the former dictator died pursued by the courts even though he was never sentenced.
"We still have a lot of work to do, justice will have to continue working, legal processes should continue," Isabel Allende told a news conference in Madrid, after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid.
Salvador Allende, a Socialist, shot himself during the military coup led by Pinochet, who went on to head a bloody 1973-1990 dictatorship in which more than 3,000 people were killed or disappeared and another 28,000 tortured.
Isabel Allende, a cousin of the well-known novelist of the same name, went into exile in Mexico after the coup but is now a member of Chile's parliament for the Socialist Party, which once again governs the country.
"The relatives of many detained and missing people are still searching for their loved ones remains," Allende told reporters.
Allende said the dictator's death would not change her country as he had long ago lost his political power.
But she said Pinochet had been left Chile with "an open wound" that would only be healed when he was condemned by the country's justice system.
More than 3,000 people were killed or disappeared and 28,000 were tortured during Pinochet's rule.
The dictator's opponents claim his personal fortune, estimated at $30 million, is made up of stolen public funds.
Chile's courts must stop Pinochet's family inheriting his wealth and make sure it is returned to the state, Allende said.
"It's obviously embezzled money, I know of no military commander or chief that can save $30 million," she said.
Pinochet, who polarised Chile during his 1973-1990 dictatorship and spent his old age fighting human rights, fraud and corruption charges, died on Sunday (December 10).
He suffered a heart attack a week ago and, just when he appeared to be recovering, his health suddenly deteriorated, doctors said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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