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Chile colonels jailed for torturing President Bachelet's father | Chile colonels jailed for torturing President Bachelet's father |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Two retired Chilean colonels have been jailed for repeatedly torturing the father of President Michelle Bachelet in 1973. | Two retired Chilean colonels have been jailed for repeatedly torturing the father of President Michelle Bachelet in 1973. |
General Alberto Bachelet was arrested and tortured for opposing the military coup led by Gen Augusto Pinochet. | General Alberto Bachelet was arrested and tortured for opposing the military coup led by Gen Augusto Pinochet. |
He died in 1974 of a heart attack caused by the torture inflicted on him. | He died in 1974 of a heart attack caused by the torture inflicted on him. |
The former air force colonels - Ramon Caceres Jorquera and Edgar Ceballos Jones - were given three and two years in prison respectively. | The former air force colonels - Ramon Caceres Jorquera and Edgar Ceballos Jones - were given three and two years in prison respectively. |
They "repeatedly committed the crime of applying torture" to their former superior, judge Mario Carroza said in the Chilean capital, Santiago. | They "repeatedly committed the crime of applying torture" to their former superior, judge Mario Carroza said in the Chilean capital, Santiago. |
Chilean government spokesman Alvaro Elizalde said the ruling was "one more step" to address the truth and justice that the country needed. | Chilean government spokesman Alvaro Elizalde said the ruling was "one more step" to address the truth and justice that the country needed. |
But a man who was tortured by Ceballos, Sergio Santos, told the AP news agency that the sentences were too lenient. | But a man who was tortured by Ceballos, Sergio Santos, told the AP news agency that the sentences were too lenient. |
"I think it seems a bit ridiculous, that after all the years of repression, torture against hundreds of people from different organisations, they get three years," he said. | "I think it seems a bit ridiculous, that after all the years of repression, torture against hundreds of people from different organisations, they get three years," he said. |
More than 3,000 people were killed and up to 40,000 tortured during General Pinochet's 17-year rule. | |
'Solitary confinement' | 'Solitary confinement' |
The two retired colonels had been charged in July 2012, after the conclusion of a forensic report into the death in prison of Gen Bachelet. | The two retired colonels had been charged in July 2012, after the conclusion of a forensic report into the death in prison of Gen Bachelet. |
Investigators said that Gen Bachelet had died of heart problems aggravated by torture sessions after his arrest. | Investigators said that Gen Bachelet had died of heart problems aggravated by torture sessions after his arrest. |
He had remained loyal to socialist President Salvador Allende, who was deposed in a military coup in 1973. | He had remained loyal to socialist President Salvador Allende, who was deposed in a military coup in 1973. |
Gen Bachelet was held in a military academy for six months and tortured by members of the same air force he had led before the coup. | Gen Bachelet was held in a military academy for six months and tortured by members of the same air force he had led before the coup. |
"I was detained in solitary confinement for 26 days," he later wrote to his family. "I was subjected to torture for 30 hours. They broke me inside." | "I was detained in solitary confinement for 26 days," he later wrote to his family. "I was subjected to torture for 30 hours. They broke me inside." |
Gen Bachelet died on 12 March 1974, aged 50, after a night of interrogation. He was serving a sentence for treason in the capital, Santiago. | Gen Bachelet died on 12 March 1974, aged 50, after a night of interrogation. He was serving a sentence for treason in the capital, Santiago. |
His wife, Angela Jeria, and his daughter Michelle were also held and tortured before fleeing to Australia and East Germany. | His wife, Angela Jeria, and his daughter Michelle were also held and tortured before fleeing to Australia and East Germany. |
Ms Bachelet became Chile's first woman president in 2006. | Ms Bachelet became Chile's first woman president in 2006. |
As the Chilean constitution bans re-election, she stood down at the end of her term in 2010. She was then elected head of the UN women's agency before returning to Chilean politics. | As the Chilean constitution bans re-election, she stood down at the end of her term in 2010. She was then elected head of the UN women's agency before returning to Chilean politics. |
Last year, Ms Bachelet ran for president again and was elected to a new four-year term. | Last year, Ms Bachelet ran for president again and was elected to a new four-year term. |
She and her family have been seeking justice for her father's death for some time, said the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago. | She and her family have been seeking justice for her father's death for some time, said the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago. |