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Chile orders arrest of former officers for singer's murder

2012-12-30 39 Dailymotion

This is Victor Jara - the Chilean singer and political activist who was murdered in 1973, shortly after a bloody military coup led by Augusto Pinochet.

Jara's body was discovered in the street with more than 40 bullet wounds and signs of torture.

Now, almost 40 years after his death, a Chilean judge has issued an international arrest warrant for eight ex-army officers implicated in the killing.

A former lieutenant and a retired colonel are among those accused of leading the death squad which murdered Jara.

Speaking in Santiago after the ruling, human rights lawyer Nelson Caucoto said the decision was historic.

He said all victims of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet now have the possibility of reaching army officials responsible for crimes.

In 2009 Jara's body was exhumed to confirm the cause of death and to help prosecute those responsible.

He was later reburied with thousands turning out to pay their respects.