DATE=3/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247091
TITLE=PINOCHET RULING (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS HAS RULED THAT FORMER CHILEAN
LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET IS NOT PROTECTED BY DIPLOMATIC
IMMUNITY AND CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN. BUT V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THE LAW LORDS
SAY EXTRADITION WOULD BE ONLY VALID FOR CHARGES OF TORTURE
COMMITTED AFTER 1988.
TEXT: THE FINAL RULING BY SIX TO ONE SAYS MR. PINOCHET CAN FACE
EXTRADITION TO SPAIN ON CHARGES OF TORTURE AND CONSPIRACY TO
TORTURE FOR ALLEGED CRIMES COMMITTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1988.
ONE LAW LORD EXPLAINS THAT IS WHEN BRITAIN RATIFIED THE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE.
/// OPT // LAW LORD ACT ///
THE MAJORITY, THEREFORE, CONSIDERS THAT SENATOR PINOCHET
CAN BE EXTRADITED ONLY FOR THE EXTRADITION CRIMES OF
TORTURE AND CONSPIRACY ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED
AFTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPTEMBER 1988.
/// END ACT ///
PIERRE SANE OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS HE IS SATISFIED WITH
THE JUDGMENT.
/// SANE ACT ///
I THINK THAT EVEN IF THE NUMBER OF CASES IS LIMITED DUE
TO THIS TECHNICALITY, AS LONG AS SOME OF THE VICTIMS CAN
BRING THEIR CASES INTO A COURT OF LAW, BE HEARD, AND THE
INFORMATION BE SHARED, AND JUSTICE BE METED OUT, THIS IS
A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
/// END ACT ///
AN EARLIER JUDGMENT BY THE LAW LORDS ALSO RULED THAT MR. PINOCHET
IS NOT IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION AND CAN FACE EXTRADITION. BUT
THE EARLIER RULING WAS SET ASIDE BECAUSE OF ONE JUDGE'S LINKS TO
THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
CHILEAN EXILES WAITING OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF LORDS FOR THE VERDICT
BROKE INTO LOUD CHEERING, BEATING DRUMS IN CELEBRATION.
/// APPLAUSE AND EXILE ACTS ///
I'M RECONCILED WITH BRITISH JUSTICE AGAIN. I THINK THIS
IS GOING TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL CONSEQUENCES AND NOW
DICTATORS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE GOING TO THINK TWICE
BEFORE OPENING TORTURE CENTERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY
CAN BE JUDGED.
THE FAMILIES OF THE DISAPPEARED ARE THE ONES WHO DESERVE
THE VICTORY BECAUSE IT'S A VICTORY AND ALSO FOR THE
HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
/// END ACTS ///
THE LAW LORDS' RULING OPENS THE WAY FOR THE EXTRADITION CASE
AGAINST MR. PINOCHET TO GO AHEAD BUT SEVERELY LIMITS THE NUMBER
OF CHARGES AGAINST HIM. A SPANISH JUDGE HAS ACCUSED THE FORMER
CHILEAN RULER OF THE MURDER, TORTURE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF
CHILEANS AND OTHER NATIONALS AFTER HE SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODY
COUP IN 1973. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
24-Mar-99 11:34 AM EST (1634 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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