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Augusto Pinochet was born on November 25, 1915. He was born in Valparaíso, Chile. His parents were Augusto Pinochet Vera and Avelina Ugarte Martínez.
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Pinochet graduated from the military academy in Santiago in 1936
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A career army officer, he led the military coup overthrowing the Allende Government in 1973 establishing himself at th head of the ensuing military regime.
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Pinochet was the head of Chile's military Government (1974-1990).
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After stepping down he became senator for life, a post granted to former presidents under the 1981 constitution
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In 1980 he enacted a constitution giving himself an 8 year presidential term. (1981-1989)
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As commander of the armed forces until 1998, Pinochet frequently thwarted human rights prosecutions against members of the security forces
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Later in 2000 Pinochet was stripped of his immunity from prosecution which he had enjoyed as former president and was ordered to stand trial on charges of human rights abuses.
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The charges were dropped in 2002, however, after Chile's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that he was mentally incapable of defending himself in court.
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In January 2002 Pinochet was allowed to return home after a british court ruled that he wa unfit to stand trial
