Chile Judges Apologize To Pinochet Regime Victims Who Suffered Abuse 40 Years Ago

The Chilean Judges Association issued an apology on Wednesday to the family members of people that went missing during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Almost 5,000 missing persons cases were brought to the attention of the Chilean courts while Pinochet was in power. The courts dismissed most of the cases without a second glance leaving the loved ones of those missing devastated they would never see their family members again. Augusto Pinochet took over the government in Chile on September 11, 1973.

In a coup that ousted the country's elected leader Salvador Allende, Pinochet was in power from 1973 to 1990. "To those who were victims of state abuse...the time has come to ask for forgiveness of victims and of Chilean society," said the Judges Association in a statement. "It must be said and recognized clearly and completely: the court system and especially the Supreme Court at that time, failed in their roles as safeguards of basic human rights, and to protest those who were victims of state abuse."

The apology comes one week before the 40^th anniversary of Pinochet's rise to power. When family members of those who had "disappeared" would go to the courts to ask for information about their loved ones, it is said that the judges would respond by saying they had no information at that time. The official apology comes after conservative senator and former president of the Independent Democratic Union, Hernan Larrin made his own apology for the actions of his party. "I ask for forgiveness," Larrin said, "This is my voice for reconciliation."

Last month Chile's president, Sebastian Pinera agreed to officially recognized the anniversary of the coup that brought Pinochet to power. In the past the day has been officially over looked by the government, but Pinera feels the day should be recognized as a "time of reflection." Authorities believe that during the cold war era of Pinochet's regime the dictator's government was responsible for the deaths of 3,200 people and 38,000 cases of torture.

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