Lawyers seeking trial of Pinochet open arguments SANTIAGO: Security was tight around a Santiago court Thursday as lawyers seeking to lift Gen. Augusto Pinochet's immunity - and pave the way for a trial on human rights charges - prepared to present their opening arguments. Proceedings a day earlier began amid clashes in the streets between foes and followers of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The former dictator's defense hopes his failing health will spare him from legal difficulties. On Wednesday however, the 22 judges of the Santiago Court of Appeals did not immediately rule on a request by the defense to consider Pinochet's health before hearing opening arguments from both sides. Instead, the court gave the green light to the continuation of legal proceedings Thursday. Pinochet's chief attorney, Ricardo Rivadeneira, said that he still hopes the judges will eventually order new medical tests for the 84-year-old former ruler that will show he is unfit to stand trial. Pinochet returned home in February after being held for 16 months in London, where he beat efforts to have him extradited to Spain for trial. He was released by Britain after doctors there determined he was physically and mentally unfit for trial, a conclusion supported by his doctors in Chile. At the opening of Thursday's session, justices were to hear the final part of a lengthy report on an investigation by Juan Guzman, the judge seeking to lift Pinochet's immunity - a result of his position as senator-for-life, a post he created for himself during his 1973-90 regime. Guzman is probing 92 criminal complaints against Pinochet for human rights abuses during his 17-year regime. Guzman chose one of the most notorious cases, known as "the caravan of death," to seek the trial of Pinochet. The caravan was a group of military officers who toured several Chilean cities by helicopter, soon after the 1973 coup led by Pinochet, and dragged political prisoners from jail and executed them. Seventy-five people were killed then. Seven members of the caravan have been indicted in the case, including a general once close to Pinochet. The plaintiffs claim the members of the caravan acted on Pinochet's orders. The arguments in court are expected to last until early this week, as seven lawyers will speak on behalf of seven different plaintiffs. As the court began its deliberation Wednesday, police sealed off the building in downtown Santiago with crowd control fences and tried to keep opposition sides apart but sporadic clashes still occurred. (AP)
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