DATE=4/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248135
TITLE=BRITAIN / PINOCHET (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN'S JUSTICE MINISTER HAS RULED THAT FORMER CHILEAN
LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN ON CHARGES
OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN
IN LONDON REPORTS THE RULING OPENS THE WAY FOR A LONG LEGAL
BATTLE.
TEXT: BRITISH HOME SECRETARY JACK STRAW HAS RULED THAT THE
EXTRADITION CASE AGAINST GENERAL PINOCHET CAN PROCEED.
/// STRAW ACT ///
I'VE CONSIDERED AFRESH THE ISSUES BEFORE ME RELATING TO
HIS EXTRADITION. I'VE CONSIDERED ALL THE
REPRESENTATIONS I'VE RECEIVED AND THEN TAKEN FULL
ACCOUNT OF MY DUTIES UNDER THE LAW. I'VE DECIDED TO
ISSUE AUTHORITY TO PROCEED IN RESPECT OF HIS EXTRADITION
FOR REASONS SET OUT IN GREATER DETAIL IN A LETTER SENT
TO THE PARTIES.
/// END ACT ///
THE EXTRADITION CASE IS DUE TO START AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
A SPANISH JUDGE REQUESTED THE FORMER CHILEAN RULER'S EXTRADITION
TO FACE CHARGES OF TORTURE, MURDER, AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF
THOUSANDS OF CHILEANS AND OTHER NATIONALS -- INCLUDING SPANIARDS
-- DURING HIS 17-YEAR RULE.
LAST MONTH, A PANEL OF BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS RULED THE
EXTRADITION CASE COULD COVER ONLY ALLEGED CRIMES COMMITTED AFTER
1988 WHEN BRITAIN SIGNED THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON TORTURE.
THE SPANISH JUDGE THEN INCLUDED 40 NEW CASES AGAINST THE FORMER
CHILEAN DICTATOR, MOST OF THEM DATED AFTER 1988.
MR. PINOCHET WAS ARRESTED LAST OCTOBER WHILE RECOVERING FROM BACK
SURGERY IN A LONDON CLINIC..
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE WELCOMED THE LATEST RULING AGAINST
GENERAL PINOCHET. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ISSUED A STATEMENT
CALLING THE EXTRADITION CASE AGAINST MR. PINOCHET A MILESTONE IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.
MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL APPEAL THE DECISION AND
FIGHT THE EXTRADITION. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
15-Apr-99 9:48 AM EDT (1348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
