DATE=3/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247041
TITLE=BRITAIN / PINOCHET RULING (L ONITER)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS' LAW PANEL WILL RULE WEDNESDAY  
ON WHETHER FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET CAN BE 
EXTRADITED TO SPAIN TO FACE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT:  A GROUP OF CHILEAN EXILES SPENT TUESDAY MORNING PLANTING 
HUNDREDS OF SMALL WHITE CROSSES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS TO
HONOR THE VICTIMS OF MR. PINOCHET'S 17-YEAR RULE IN CHILE.  THEY 
ARE WAITING FOR THE SEVEN LAW LORDS TO DECIDE ONCE AGAIN IF 
GENERAL PINOCHET CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN.

LAST NOVEMBER, FIVE LAW LORDS RULED MR. PINOCHET WAS  NOT IMMUNE 
FROM PROSECUTION.  BUT THE RULING WAS NULLIFIED AFTER ONE OF THE 
JUDGES WAS FOUND TO HAVE LINKS WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL.

A SPANISH PROSECUTOR HAS CHARGED MR. PINOCHET WITH THE MURDER, 
TORTURE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF CHILEANS AND OTHER NATIONALS AFTER 
HE SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODY COUP IN 1973.

THE JUDGMENT OF THE LAW LORDS COULD OPEN THE WAY FOR THE 
EXTRADITION CASE TO PROCEED AGAINST THE FORMER GENERAL.  THEN IT 
WOULD BE UP TO THE JUSTICE MINISTER, JACK STRAW, TO DECIDE IF THE
CASE WARRANTS EXTRADITION TO SPAIN.

MR. PINOCHET'S LAWYERS COULD ARGUE THAT MR. STRAW ALSO HAS A 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE CASE.  HE TRAVELED TO CHILE 30 YEARS 
AGO WHEN HE WAS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT TO HELP BUILD HOMES FOR THE 
POOR.

CHILE'S FORMER RULER AUGUSTO PINOCHET WAS ARRESTED IN LONDON LAST
NOVEMBER WHILE RECOVERING FROM BACK SURGERY.  HE HAS BEEN 
CONFINED TO A LUXURY MANSION IN THE LONDON SUBURBS WHILE HE 
AWAITS THE LAW LORDS' DECISION.  A CHILEAN MILITARY PLANE IS 
WAITING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT TO TAKE HIM HOME IF THE LAW LORDS 
RULE THAT HE DOES ENJOY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND  CANNOT  BE 
PROSECUTED.

IRONICALLY, EVEN IF THE 83-YEAR-OLD FORMER GENERAL WERE TRIED AND
CONVICTED BY A SPANISH COURT, HE WOULD  NOT  GO TO PRISON.  SPAIN
DOES  NOT  JAIL ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 70.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/LMK/JWH

23-Mar-99 12:59 PM EST (1759 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.