Hugo Salas Wenzel
Encyclopedia
Hugo Salas Wenzel was a General in the Chilean Army during the Presidency of Augusto Pinochet
. In August 2007 he was the first former senior military official sentenced to life for human rights violations in Chile
during the 1980s.
From 1986 to 1988 Salas was Director of the Central Nacional de Información (CNI), Chile's intelligence service such succeeded the notorious DINA. During this time the organization was involved an anti-subversion campaign known as Operation Albania; the Corpus Christi Massacre
on 15-16 June 1987 was a part of the operation. Twelve members of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front
(FPMR) were murdered.
He was forced into retirement as a result of their direct or indirect involvement in the La Cutufa
-affair.
On 29 October 1999 Chilean authorities charged retired generals Wenzel and Humberto Leiva with the Operation Albania crime. They accused Wenzel, of being an author of the crime, and Leiva, CNI Subdirector in 1987, of covering up the incident.
In January 2005 Wenzel was sentenced to life for his role in the massacre; 14 other CNI agents were each given sentences ranging from three to five years. Following an appeal, in August 2007 the Supreme Court of Chile
upheld the sentence. The families of the victims have financial received compensation from the Chilean government.
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
. In August 2007 he was the first former senior military official sentenced to life for human rights violations in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
during the 1980s.
From 1986 to 1988 Salas was Director of the Central Nacional de Información (CNI), Chile's intelligence service such succeeded the notorious DINA. During this time the organization was involved an anti-subversion campaign known as Operation Albania; the Corpus Christi Massacre
Corpus Christi massacre
The Corpus Christi Massacre, Corpus Christi Thursday Massacre The Corpus Christi Massacre, Corpus Christi Thursday Massacre The Corpus Christi Massacre, Corpus Christi Thursday Massacre (or El Halconazo (The hawk strike) because of the participation of a group of elite Mexican army men known as Los...
on 15-16 June 1987 was a part of the operation. Twelve members of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front
Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front
The Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front , also known as El Frente Patriótico, or simply El Frente, is a left-wing urban guerrilla movement in Chile, named for a figure in Chile's independence movement, Manuel Rodríguez. The group was founded on September 14, 1983 as an armed resistance against the...
(FPMR) were murdered.
He was forced into retirement as a result of their direct or indirect involvement in the La Cutufa
La Cutufa
La Cutufa was an illegal Chilean a clandestine finance syndicate that offered investors, mostly officers of the Chilean army, tax-free interest rates of 20% a month. After a dissatified investor was murdered, 4 generals and 16 officers were cashiered and 200 sanctioned...
-affair.
On 29 October 1999 Chilean authorities charged retired generals Wenzel and Humberto Leiva with the Operation Albania crime. They accused Wenzel, of being an author of the crime, and Leiva, CNI Subdirector in 1987, of covering up the incident.
In January 2005 Wenzel was sentenced to life for his role in the massacre; 14 other CNI agents were each given sentences ranging from three to five years. Following an appeal, in August 2007 the Supreme Court of Chile
Supreme Court of Chile
The Supreme Court of Chile is the highest court in Chile. It also administrates the lower courts in the nation. It is located in the capital Santiago....
upheld the sentence. The families of the victims have financial received compensation from the Chilean government.
See also
- La CutufaLa CutufaLa Cutufa was an illegal Chilean a clandestine finance syndicate that offered investors, mostly officers of the Chilean army, tax-free interest rates of 20% a month. After a dissatified investor was murdered, 4 generals and 16 officers were cashiered and 200 sanctioned...