Odlanier Rafael Mena Salinas (2 April 1926 – 28 September 2013) was a Chilean general during the military dictatorship of Chile. He was director of the Central Nacional de Informaciones (CNI), a Chilean intelligence agency, between 1977 and 1980. He was convicted for three murders related to the Caravan of Death and was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 2009. From June 2011 onwards he was allowed to stay weekends at his own home.[1][2] In September 2013 Chilean President, Sebastián Piñera, announced to closure of the Cordillera prison where Mena had been housed. The luxurious conditions at the jail had been criticized, amongst others by former Chilean presidents. According to his lawyer, Mena was worried about moving to a new jail due to a lack of medical attention possibilities. Mena shot himself at his home on 28 September 2013, at the age of 87.[3] His lawyer blamed the suicide on the upcoming relocation of prisoners detained at Cordillera.[4]

Before late 1975 Mena had been head of the Army Intelligence Unit (SIM), when he fell out with Manuel Contreras. In 1975 he retired from the Army. Mena was subsequently made ambassador to Panama and eventually Uruguay. During his time in Uruguay he was recalled to Chile to become head of the CNI.[5][6] From 1983 to 1985 Mena was ambassador to Paraguay.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Se suicida Odlanier Mena, uno de los presos del Penal Cordillera" (in Spanish). Diario Uchile. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Umberto Bacchi (30 September 2013). "Chile: Pinochet's Secret Police Chief Odlanier Mena Shot Himself Ahead of Luxury Prison Shutdown". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Chile 'Caravan of Death' general commits suicide". BBC News. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Ex-Chilean spy chief Odlanier Mena commits suicide over transfer from luxury prison". South China Morning Post. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. ↑ John Dinges; Saul Landau (16 September 2014). Assassination on Embassy Row. Open Road Media. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-4976-7273-4.
  6. ↑ Patricio Meza (4 October 2013). "Cómo fue la CNI de Odlanier Mena: Lo que dicen los archivos históricos, abogados y amigos" (in Spanish). La Segunda. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Se suicidó el general en retiro Odlanier Mena primer director de la CNI" (in Spanish). Terra. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
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