Twenty-seven years ago today, on October 17, 1998 (August 27, 1998), the detention of Chilean President Augusto Pinochet caused turmoil in Anglo-Chilean relations. Pinochet On October 17, 1998, the British police announced that at the request of the Spanish judicial authorities, the police had detained former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet in a private hospital in London earlier in the day. The Chilean government reacted strongly after learning the news. The Chilean Foreign Ministry issued a communiqué protesting the action taken by the British side. The British side has rejected the protest of the Chilean government. Pinochet is 82 years old. On September 11, 1973, a military coup was launched, which overthrew the democratically elected president Allende and appointed the chairperson of the Military Governing Council, establishing a military regime in Chile. In June of the following year, Pinochet became the head of state of Chile, and on December 17 of the same year, he became the president and commander-in-chief of the army. In March 1990, Pinochet was forced to step down from the presidency, but he continued to serve as the commander-in-chief of the army and held power in Chile for eight years. During the 17-year rule of the military government, more than 2,200 people were reported missing or killed, and more than 100,000 people were forced into exile. Especially during the early days of the military government, the Congress was dissolved, and all opposition activities were banned for a long time. At that time, the army often arrested people at random, lynched, and even killed without trial. Many Chileans still have lingering fears about military rule, which they regard as the most terrifying period in Chile's history. On October 9, Pinochet was treated in strict secrecy at an expensive private hospital in London, where he was recuperating when he was detained on the 17th. After Pinochet's detention, some Chileans who had fled to Spain during the military government held a rally in front of the British embassy in Spain to support the action taken by the British police. They believe that even if the extradition is unsuccessful, the detention of Pinochet is a victory for justice. The application for Pinochet's extradition to the British police was made by the judges of the Spanish National High Court, Manuel Garcia and Baltassa Garson. They have been investigating the disappearances and killings of dozens of Spanish nationals during the Pinochet junta since 1996. When it was confirmed that Pinochet was being treated in the UK, they filed an extradition request with British police through the International Criminal Police Organisation on the 14th. They explained that this was faster and more effective than diplomatic channels. They said they had enough evidence to charge Pinochet with murder. In the next few days, they will submit a report to the British government accusing Pinochet of killing Spanish nationals and will complete all the formalities required for extradition within a stipulated 40 days.