Chilean air force chief under scrutiny

Pinochet's lawyers say he is too ill to stand trial

By Latin American correspondent Tom Gibb

The Chilean judge who ordered the house arrest of the country's former dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, has now agreed to open a judicial investigation into one of Chile's most senior serving military officers.

Judge Guzman: Another move in the Caravan of Death probe

Judge Juan Guzman will investigate General Hernan Gabrielli, chief of staff of the Chilean air force, who is accused of torturing left-wing prisoners back in 1973.

This is the first time an acting serving officer has been officially investigated.

General Gabrielli is accused of torturing prisoners when he was a lieutenant just after the military coup which brought General Pinochet to power in 1973.

Judge Guzman has agreed to investigate five charges of torture based on the evidence of survivors who say they were tortured by the air force chief in person.

New level

This takes the whole Pinochet case onto a different level.

If the head of the air force can be investigated, then many at the top of the armed forces will not feel safe.

General Gabrielli has already received the support of his colleagues in the high command.

He himself has strenuously denied the accusations and says that he will in turn bring criminal charges against those who have accused him for libel and slander.

US embarrassment

The case may also cause some embarrassment to the United States.

General Gabrielli has been negotiating to buy US F-16 fighter aircraft for the air force.

His case is related to that of General Pinochet, who is accused of ordering the deaths of 75 prisoners in the so-called caravan of death in 1973.

Two of those alleged to have been tortured by General Gabrielli were later executed during the caravan.

General Pinochet himself is under house arrest, awaiting a ruling by the appeals court, probably next week, as to whether he is fit to stand trial.