Operation Colombo

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Operation Colombo was an operation undertaken by the DINA (the Chilean secret police) in 1975 that involved the disappearance of political dissidents. At least 119 people are alleged to have been abducted by state forces and later killed in the 1975 secret operation. The murders were disguised by the DINA as inside-fights, with the creation of two false magazines in Brazil and Argentina, who published the list of 119 dead political opponents.

Chile's former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet, has been placed under house arrest in connection with the kidnapping of at least three dissidents by the former military ruler's security services.

Judge Juan Guzmán Tapia asked the Chilean justice to lift Pinochet's immunity having accumulated proofs that he had ordered the DINA to undertake this operation.

In September 2005, the Chilean Supreme Court decided to lift Pinochet's immunity on this case, charging judge Victor Montiglio of the investigations. In November 2005, prosecutors said that specialists appointed by the court in the Operation Colombo case had concluded that while he suffered from mild dementia, he was fit enough to stand trial. On this occasion, Pinochet met DINA head Manuel Contreras, who held him as responsible of the DINA and, therefore, of operation Colombo, for which both men may be jailed.

In December 2005 it was found that Pinochet was found fit to stand trial.