Word: pinochets
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Lately, a lot more has been bothering General Augusto Pinochet of Chile than his bad back. Visiting the United Kingdom for surgery, the former dictator of Chile was threatened with extradition by a Spanish judge for mass murder and brutality during his reign. Britain's House of Lords declined to give him the immunity heads of state usually receive, since hostage-taking and torture "do not qualify as legitimate acts of a head of state." By December 11, the British home secretary must decide whether or not to give the man with the bad back a break...
Does embarrassment constitute a threat to U.S. security? The answer to that question may determine which classified documents Washington releases to prosecutors investigating General Augusto Pinochet. "The decision seems to indicate that the Clinton Administration believes that the pursuit of justice is the most important consideration here," says TIME correspondent William Dowell. "But this could be a Pandora's box, because it inevitably raises questions about America's involvement in the Chilean coup." Previously declassified U.S. documents implicate Pinochet in human rights abuses, but also suggest that the Nixon administration actively encouraged the coup that brought the dictator to power...
General Augusto Pinochet must be praying for the flu. Unfortunately for him, the former Chilean dictator got a clean bill of health today from the London Hospital where he's been recuperating from surgery...
...generalissimo is not untouchable. Britain's court of appeals Wednesday ruled that General Augusto Pinochet has no immunity from prosecution, opening the way for London's courts to hear a Spanish extradition request. Violent demonstrations erupted in Chile following the decision. But with the immunity issue resolved, the final word on Pinochet's fate will now rest with the Labor party government. "They could release him on compassionate grounds," says TIME London bureau chief Barry Hillenbrand, "but there'll be strong pressure from within the party to proceed. This government has cloaked itself in the mantle of human rights...
...Whether elated or angry, Chileans were united by their incredulity at the decision. "Human rights groups want Pinochet tried but doubted that Britain would see the process through," says TIME Chile reporter Elizabeth Love. "The right wing are livid and are vowing to fight on." But even as Chileans take the issue to their country's streets, their former dictator will finally get his day in court...