Pinochet offers to pay $US5 million in back taxes

Reuters
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet has offered to pay $US5 million in back taxes in hopes that his assets would be unfrozen, but government officials said the courts would press on with embezzlement and tax evasion investigations.

Courts in this South American nation have frozen $US6.5 million in Pinochet's assets while investigating secret bank accounts that the 89-year-old retired general maintained offshore.

Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973-1990 also faces dozens of criminal complaints filed by human rights lawyers and relatives of people killed, kidnapped or tortured by his agents when he was in power.

He has so far avoided trial on grounds of poor health.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1298161.htm

Government spokesman Patricio Santamaria said all Chilean taxpayers have the right to settle their back taxes but he said "there is not any kind of negotiation," between Pinochet's defence and the government.

Local newspapers reported over the weekend that Pinochet's lawyers met with tax officials to offer to pay the back taxes in order to try to free up his assets.

Acting Finance Minister Mario Marcel said the Internal Tax Service would continue to pursue Pinochet for tax evasion even if he paid his back taxes.

"Internal Taxes is not interested in or able to drop the criminal complaint," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1298161.htm

If he's suffering from "vascular dementia," and as a result is unable to stand trial for his GENOCIDAL CRIMES, then how can he be competent enough to make financial decisions?

Do I see a chink in his defense strategy...


JB

THEY DANCE ALONE

Why are there women here dancing on their own?
Why is there this sadness in their eyes?
Why are the soldiers here
Their faces fixed like stone?
I can’t see what it is that they dispise
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone they dance alone

It’s the only form of protest they’re allowed
I’ve seen their silent faces scream so loud
If they were to speak these words they’d go missing too
Another woman on a torture table what else can they do
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone they dance alone

One day we’ll dance on their graves
One day we’ll sing our freedom
One day we’ll laugh in our joy
And we’ll dance
One day we’ll dance on their graves
One day we’ll sing our freedom
One day we’ll laugh in our joy
And we’ll dance

Ellas danzan con los desaparecidos
Ellas danzan con los muertos
Ellas danzan con amores invisibles
Ellas danzan con silenciosa angustia
Danzan con sus pardres
Danzan con sus hijos
Danzan con sus esposos
Ellas danzan solas
Danzan solas

Hey mr. pinochet
You’ve sown a bitter crop
It’s foreign money that supports you
One day the money’s going to stop
No wages for your torturers
No budget for your guns
Can you think of your own mother
Dancin’ with her invisible son
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
They’re anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone they dance alone

-Sting