DATE=3/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247040
TITLE=CHILE / PINOCHET (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JONATHAN FRANKLIN
DATELINE=SANTIAGO, CHILE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING IN CHILE AS ITS CITIZENS AWAIT
BRITAIN'S DECISION WEDNESDAY WETHER TO ALLOW THE EXTRADITION OF
FORMER DICTATOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES OF
COMMITTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING HIS REGIME. FROM
SANTIAGO, JONATHAN FRANKLIN REPORTS AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARING FOR
POSSIBLE CLASHES BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF THE FORMER
DICTATOR.
TEXT: THE CHILEAN PUBLIC IS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING WEDNESDAY'S
DECISION AFTER SIX MONTHS OF RAMPANT SPECULATION OVER THE RETIRED
GENERAL'S FATE. FEARS ABOUND THAT EITHER WAY THE DECISION GOES
THERE WILL BE UNREST -- INCLUDING RIOTING, VANDALISM, AND CLASHES
BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF GENERAL PINOCHET. TO PREVENT
THIS, CHILE'S NATIONAL POLICE (EDS: CARABINEROS) WILL EFFECTIVELY
PARTITION THE CITY OF SANTIAGO IN TWO WEDNESDAY -- SETTING THE
EASTERN HALF ASIDE FOR PRO-PINOCHET DEMONSTRATIONS, AND THE
WESTERN HALF FOR ANTI-PINOCHET PROTESTS.
THESE PREPARATIONS UNDERSCORE WHAT CHILEANS ACROSS THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM ACKNOWLEDGE -- THAT THE FORMER DICTATOR REMAINS A MAJOR
POLITICAL FIGURE IN THIS SOUTH AMERICAN NATION. AND HIS FATE IS
LIKELY TO HAVE A POLITICAL IMPACT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN
LONDON WEDNESDAY.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER BRITISH JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES DECIDE TO LET
HIM RETURN HOME OR PERMIT SPAIN'S EXTRADITION REQUEST TO PROCEED,
MR. PINOCHET IS NOW FACING LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLES IN BOTH EUROPE
AND CHILE. IF MR. PINOCHET IS FORCED TO FACE EXTRADITION TO
SPAIN, THAT PROCESS ALONE COULD STRETCH FOR AS MANY AS 11 YEARS.
IN CHILE, WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF MR. PINOCHET BEING HAULED INTO
COURT ARE SLIM, THE LEGAL WRANGLINGS WILL CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS
THE FORMER GENERAL IS ALIVE.
IF MR. PINOCHET IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE ENGLAND, HIS RETURN TO CHILE
IS FRAUGHT WITH LOGISTICAL AND LEGAL HURDLES. EVEN GENERAL
PINOCHET'S FLIGHT PLAN MUST BE SCRUTINIZED BY LAWYERS. MANY
CHILEAN POLITICAL OBSERVERS SPECULATE MR. PINOCHET MAY ATTEMPT TO
AVOID THE FRACAS IN SANTIAGO AND SEEK REFUGE IN IQUIQUE, A REMOTE
NORTHERN PORT THAT IS HOME TO AN ARMY DIVISION INCLUDING TANKS
AND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
DURING HIS TENURE AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, MR. PINOCHET FREQUENTLY
SENTENCED HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS TO INTERNAL EXILE AND SHIPPED
THEM OFF TO THE NORTHERN DESERTS. NOW, THE 83-YEAR OLD GENERAL
CAN ONLY WATCH AS RETIRMENT PLANS DISSOVLE AS HIS OPPONENTS
CONSTRUCT A LEGAL NOOSE WHICH HAS EFFECTIVELY CONVERTED MR.
PINOCHET INTO A PRISONER BOTH ABROAD AND IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JF/ENE/WFR
23-Mar-99 2:58 PM EST (1958 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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