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Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lazarre who wrote (16056)	11/25/1998 10:25:00 PM
From: pezz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

Lazarre There is no such thing as O T on this thread. I have discussed everything from Post and Beam construction to Fly fishing in depth. Although justice will finally catch up with Pinochet at age 83 it is a hollow victory. I know it is a matter of principal and that the world governments finally recognize his guilt on the matter. But I am a bit more on the blood thirsty side.And he is too old and lived the good life for too long for this to satisfy my need for revenge. But of course better late than never. pez

To: lazarre who wrote (16056)	12/17/1998 1:28:00 PM
From: Zoltan!	Respond to of 67261

>>Heartening to see big governments do the right thing now and again. And from the House of Lords, no less! I agree and in an unprecedented decision too! Ain't the rule of law wonderful? All those cheering crowds in Chile and Britain! Though this is not good news for those who want to try Clinton for bombing those innocent people in Sudan last August in that ploy to deflect attention from his domestic troubles. Pinochet ain't my cup of tea but he did save Chile from far far worse. "It was the first time the Lords had overturned a decision by their own tribunal and marks a setback in Spain's efforts to extradite the 83-year-old general to face charges of murder and torture. The head of the lords' tribunal which heard the complaint by Pinochet's lawyers against the judge said the Amnesty-affiliated judge ''did not disclose his links'' and should not have sat on the first panel. ''I am satisfied that the earlier decision of this house cannot stand and must be set aside,'' tribunal head Lord Justice Nicolas Browne-Wilkinson said. " Court Orders New Pinochet Immunity Hearing By Maureen Johnson Associated Press Writer Thursday, December 17, 1998; 12:22 p.m. EST LONDON (AP) -- Britain's highest court today set aside its decision that Gen. Augusto Pinochet has no immunity from arrest and ordered a new hearing because of a judge's ties with the human rights group Amnesty International. The decision by the House of Lords means that a panel of judges will hold another hearing next month on the former Chilean dictator's claim to immunity under British law. It was the first time the Lords had overturned a decision by their own tribunal and marks a setback in Spain's efforts to extradite the 83-year-old general to face charges of murder and torture. The head of the lords' tribunal which heard the complaint by Pinochet's lawyers against the judge said the Amnesty-affiliated judge ''did not disclose his links'' and should not have sat on the first panel. ''I am satisfied that the earlier decision of this house cannot stand and must be set aside,'' tribunal head Lord Justice Nicolas Browne-Wilkinson said. Pinochet, who was arrested Oct. 16 while recovering from back surgery, remains under police guard at a rented mansion in Wentworth, 20 miles west of London. Chilean officials praised the lords' decision and promised to support Pinochet in the new hearings. Chile's President Edouardo Frei said London immediately should free Pinochet to return to his country. ''It seems logical that Sen. Pinochet be allowed to return to Chile and let us Chileans decide our affairs,'' Frei said. Pinochet's lawyers complained during a two-day hearing this week that Lord Justice Leonard Hoffmann -- one of the majority in the Lords' 3-2 ruling Nov. 25 against Pinochet -- is the director of Amnesty's fundraising arm. In addition, Hoffmann's wife, Gillian, has worked since 1977 at the group's London headquarters. ''These facts had not been disclosed to the parties,'' Browne-Wilkinson said. Amnesty has been a prime mover in a campaign to have Pinochet brought to trial for murder, torture and other gross human rights abuses committed by his secret police during his 1973-90 rule after he overthrew the government of elected Marxist President Salvador Allende. The human rights group, which has insisted the Hoffmanns played no part in the Pinochet campaign, said it was disappointed about ''having to come back and do it all over again.'' ''Our view has always been that everyone has their right to a fair trial, one that is also seen to be fair,'' Amnesty chairman Andy McEntee said. ''Augusto Pinochet has very inventive lawyers. ... They will make this a long case, one that is hard for him to lose.'' Pinochet was due next month to start fighting the Spanish extradition warrant at a London magistrate's court. But that move will likely be on hold because of the new Lords' hearing. Chile has insisted that Pinochet is entitled to immunity as a member of the Chilean Senate and argues he should be tried at home. Pinochet, however, has immunity from prosecution in Chile as a senator-for-life and under laws he instigated in office. An official Chilean report says some 3,000 people were murdered or disappeared at the hands of his secret police. Chilean Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Insulza said lawyers will drop the legal argument used in the first hearing, that Pinochet has full immunity for his acts as chief of state. ''We didn't like'' that strategy, Insulza said. ''We will not claim a legitimacy to commit crimes, but will say which court we think is the one that has jurisdiction to try this case.'' washingtonpost.com