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Pinochet Menu
Pinochet Latest News and Menu:
latest on the arrest of the Chilean strong man
Pinochet Archive News:
previous news relating to the General
Pinochet Comment:
LondonNet's view on the extradition saga
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guide to the man who Peter Mandelson calls a "brutal dictator"
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diverse opinion from around the world
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LondonNet Comment
18/1/99
A brutal thug who must now face justice
25 NOVEMBER 1998 will be remembered for centuries as the day
international justice came of age.
In an historic ruling the House of Lords decided that a sovereign
cannot enjoy immunity for crimes against humanity. As we stood
on the precipice of a new millennium it looked for a moment as
if we had discarded the bloody and harsh 20th century. The world
had grown up.
That brave ruling was endorsed by Home Secretary Jack Straw
on 9 December but was then set aside by five more Law Lords who
agreed with Pinochet's lawyers that there was 'an appearance
of bias' as one of the original panel had links with a party
to the action Amnesty International. That Lord Hoffman's connections
were known by the General's lawyers months before his arrest
cut no ice. And so once more the world's gaze is focused on Westminster
as a fresh tribunal determine the former dictator's fate.
Augusto Pinochet is a strange and twisted product of a Prussian
modelled military. A strict disciplinarian who ultimately failed
to keep his word and thus a man of little or no honour. For it
was this man with a fetish for outlandish military uniforms who
swore allegiance to his President, Salavdor Allende, at the same
time as he was planning his master's downfall. Such deceit and
corruption had rarely been witnessed even in this amoral century.
But Pinochet's moral decay did not stop there. On seizing
power he set upon a systematic and determined plan to eliminate
all agents of opposition and democracy in his country. Thousands
were brutally tortured and killed. Many more suffered years of
harsh economic policies which rode roughshod over the interests
of the populace while lining the pockets of Pinochet's middle
class supporters. In 1988 he confidently faced his first election
for the position of President, despite having held the office
since 1974. A clear majority of the Chilean people voted against
him and his tight grip on power began to unravel. At the time
he compared his loss to Jesus losing to Barabbus.
A thug and a thief. If the rule of law is to mean anything
in this evolving world Pinochet must face justice in Spain or
elsewhere. Sadly we predict that the Lords this week, now dominated
by establishment judges, will let their man go. That would be
a tragedy and an outrage. Let us pray it does not happen and
that justice once more prevails.
(10/12/98)
LondonNet Comment on Jack Straw's Approval of Pinochet's Extradition
'Straw does the right thing'
Jack Straw was sure to run in controversy whichever way he
ruled in the Pinochet extradition affair.
LondonNet is pleased that Straw has effectively now drawn
a line in the sand, creating a modern framework for international
law and human rights to take us into the new millennium. It would
be wrong to enter the new era saddled with the same injustices
and toleration of butchers that have dogged this bloody century.
From this moment all leaders who play fast and loose with
citizens rights can never sleep easy. This is the prime achievement
of this new world order. We now hope that truth and reconciliation
can follow for the people of Chile.
(25/11/98)
LondonNet Comment on the Lords' Ruling
'Pinochet gets a lesson in the Rule of Law'
'You're going to reap just what you sow' sang Lou Reed at
the time of Pinochet's bloody overthrow of Salvador Allende's
government in 1973.
Twenty five years later Reed's words have returned to haunt
the South American sadist. And to the disbelief of many campaigners
here in the United Kingdom our Labour Government has finally
rediscovered its radical roots by allowing the English courts
to further the boundaries of international justice.
Aside from an ugly rabble of Pinochet supporters, be they
our ex Premier Margaret 'Milk Snatcher' Thatcher, or the sinister
Pinochet Foundation in Chile, citizens all over the world will
welcome today's historic and brave ruling. A tremor of fear will
shudder down the spine of every leader around the globe who plays
fast and loose with the human rights of their own people and
those of their foreign guests.
Pinochet may reflect that while the British have afforded
him a full and fair hearing under Common Law he extended no such
rights to those foreign citizens he tortured, mutilated and murdered
during his long stay in power. As for dissidents from his own
nation, he showed nothing but contempt. When asked a short time
before his fateful journey to Britain whether he had any regrets
over his actions, he replied yes, he wished he had been even
firmer.
Some have pressed for mercy for the strongman who today celebrates
his 83rd birthday a frail and indicted old man. But mercy can
only follow justice. The allegations of Spanish Judge Baltazar
must first be put to Pinochet. The evidence must be heard and
the truth must out. Only then can consideration of mitigating
personal circumstances be aired. That is the Rule of Law. A subject
the octogenarian will finally get a lesson in over the coming
months. Eighty three years too late but timely nonetheless.
(18/10/98)
LondonNet Comment on Pinochet's Arrest
We called for the arrest of General Pinochet when we learned
of his London visit and welcome this courageous move by our Home
Secretary Jack Straw. While we cherish the special relationship
this country has with the government and people of Chile we should
remember that this closeness was in large part a result of the
long standing democratic traditions of the South American state.
Salvador Allende was a hero of the left when he came to office
and introduced wide ranging social reform. When he was arrested
and subsequently executed following Pinochet's coup d'etat he
rapidly became a martyr to the cause of international socialism.
Rumours abounded at the time that the coup was supported by the
USA's Central Intelligence Agency who feared a spread of left
wing government in their own backyard.
Allende and his supporters were no revolutionaries, they were
democratic socialists. As such they follow the tradition of the
Labour Party in this country, the party that now governs under
Prime Minister Tony Blair. As a young radical Straw strongly
opposed Pinochet's regime at the time and his agreement to extradite
the general can be seen as an act of continuity.
Make no mistake we do not wish this move to prejudice our
long term friendship with the beautiful and proud people of Chile.
We understand it may have a negative effect in the short term
for trade between the two "allies". This must, however,
be a risk worth taking if on the one hand we seek to bomb Serbs
for human rights abuses today while on the other turning a blind
eye to a butcher who stays in our own capital.
The arrest of Pinochet has brought mixed reaction from Chileans
both here and in Chile itself. Our Talkback
bulletin board has received dozens of messages, some supporting
the General , others agreeing with his imminent prosecution.
One North American wag even suggested that former US Secretary
of State Henry Kissinger should postpone any planned UK trips
indefinitely - otherwise British Police could arrest him too,
for his part in the violent overthrow of Allende's government.
(21/10/98)
Pinochet Menu
Pinochet Latest News and Menu:
latest on the arrest of the Chilean strong man
Pinochet Archive News:
previous news relating to the General
Pinochet Comment:
LondonNet's view on the extradition saga
Pinochet Links: our
guide to the man who Peter Mandelson calls a "brutal dictator"
Pinochet Key Quotes:
diverse opinion from around the world
LondonNet Talkback:
Leave messages on our interactive bulletin board
LondonNet News Headlines:
Latest news from LondonNet
LondonNet Home Page: Full
site menu: Guide, Entertainment, Talk
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