Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet's friends are once more rallying to save him from a fate that he well deserves since he decided in the early 1970s to overthrow the democratically elected Chilean government and initiate a bloody dictatorship. He was and is responsible for the killing and disappearance of more than 3,000 people and the torture and exile of thousands.
It is an irony to hear anyone calling General Augusto Pinochet a human rights victim or to appeal to humanitarian reasons to free him. Such pleas are particularly sick coming from someone like Margaret Thatcher. Indeed, Pinochet may be measured by the calibre of friends who are defending him. Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, Felipe Gonzalez... All of them have good reason to rally against the detention and extradition of Pinochet, because there but for the grace of God, etc... ``There are implications for heads of government everywhere, as they see that they may be hauled out of hospital in a foreign country at dead of night to face some trumped up charge,'' said Thatcher.
But it could be even easier to understand why ``rusty'' Maggie was trying to save her friend, as lawyers acting for the former Chilean dictator have established as one of the arguments of his defence that his actions were no worse than those carried out by British security forces in the Six Counties. In his closing remarks to the court, Clive Nicholls QC explained that ``the conduct is exactly the same as the European Court of Human Rights found in the case regarding the treatment of prisoners in Northern Ireland,'' being, he argued ``incapable, as a matter of law, of amounting of torture''. Nicholls contended that making suspects stand on tiptoe against a wall clutching a small ledge for long periods and imposing sleep, food and drink deprivation ``may amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, but that is another matter''.
There are many similarities between the policies of Pinochet and those of Britain in Ireland. Internment, torture, human rights violations... Pinochet did not need to resort to collusion with paramilitary groups, however, as he had the Chilean security forces and total impunity to kill and ``disappear'' over 3,000 people and to torture and force into exile thousands more.
The general felt safe while he was in power. When he decided to step down, he designed a Constitution that would allow him to remain safe the rest of his life. He was so sure that his victims would never catch with him. Today, however, the general is closer than ever to justice. Not the justice he liked to apply, without judge or jury, but at least the justice that his victims and the relatives of his victims deserve.
d this process has already created the conditions for changes within the Chilean political context. The Chilean defence minister, Edmundo Pérez, organised a meeting two months ago between members of the military and lawyers for the victims of the dictactorship. ``Some people have realised that it is possible to make justice without pressure,'' says Roberto Garretón, a human rights lawyer in Chile. Five generals have been arrested, around 25 members of the army are undergoing trial, and dozens more have being called to answer charges. On Monday, 11 October, the Supreme Court of Chile approved a petition from Judge Juan Guzmán for Pinochet to be questioned in relation to his knowledge of human rights abuses. Guzmán is investigating 43 charges against Pinochet.
The extradition process against the general has caused a lot of diplomatic problems, but it has also become a reference for the worldwide protection of human rights.
This extradiction has no precedents. But if international law is to become an effective instrument for the protection of the human rights, this precedent is necessary. Pinochet should have to answer for his actions.
Mexican flood tragedy
Flooding and mudslides in Mexico have claimed over 300 lives. Flood victims across South-Eastern Mexico were angry at the slow government response. Many urged the president, Ernesto Zedillo, to call for foreign aid, but he maintains that ``the Mexicans can do it on their own''. More than 500,000 people have been affected by the torrential rains. With clean drinking water scarce, officials warned of possible outbreaks of cholera and respiratory, skin and stomach infections.
Socialist success in Portugal
The Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Guterres, scored a historic victory in general elections as his Socialist Party took 113 out of the 230 parliament seats, just three short of absolute majority.
Hecklers in Hebron
A group of Jewish settlers, shouting ``Death to Arafat'' heckled Jordanian deputies visiting Hebron. The delegates, led by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Al-Majali, and their Palestinian escorts had to run for cover and drive off as Israeli soldiers restrained the settlers. Al-Majali said deliberate provocation started when Israeli guards insisted on searching the legislators, who wanted to enter the Ibrahimi mosque to pray. Jordan has lodged a formal protest with the Israeli government over the incident.
Basque rights
Over 12,000 people have demonstrated on the streets of Baiona, in Iparralde, North Basque Country, asking for the French government to recognise the area as a linguistic, social and cultural entity through the creation of a Basque Department.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)