The New York Times
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
Pinochet Arrest Order Suspended for Court Review of Indictment
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec. 5 - An appeals court suspended the order for Gen. Augusto Pinochet's house arrest today while it studied a judge's reasons for indicting the former dictator on charges of homicide and kidnapping.
The three-member appeals panel decided unanimously to suspend the arrest, which Judge Juan Guzm n ordered on Friday, until it had ruled on the indictment. Judge Guzm n submitted his explanation today in response to the court request on Monday. Its contents were not announced. The court is to reconvene on Wednesday or Thursday for arguments from both sides.
The appeals panel also blocked other rulings, including a ban on General Pinochet's traveling abroad. The general remained at his country house southwest of Santiago, the capital.
In his indictment, Judge Guzm n held General Pinochet responsible for the actions by a military campaign called the Caravan of Death that killed 73 political prisoners shortly after General Pinochet led the coup in 1973 that overthrew President Salvador Allende. The general was charged in the homicides of 55 victims whose bodies were recovered and kidnapping for 18 who are missing.
General Pinochet's supporters want Judge Guzm n removed from the case, saying he has acted arbitrarily and irregularly, violating the general's rights.
The main complaint against Judge Guzm n is that he indicted General Pinochet before questioning him, as the law requires. The indictment said General Pinochet answered two questionnaires sent to him while under house arrest in London, until last March. The judge has said those questionnaires have to be regarded as mandatory interrogation.
The defense says Judge Guzm n indicted General Pinochet without first permitting the mental and neurological tests that he had ordered to determine fitness for trial. The judge said today that he had acted under the law. The appeals hearing may take two or three days.
