Article on Pinochet

[Picciotto, Sol]

I also agree with Tom that Jim's article, though clear and well-written, comes
to conclusions which I can't accept in this case. Sure, the aim of
demilitarising and redemocratising Chilean society is one that has to be
accomplished primarily by people in Chile. But the left there was smashed by
the brutal extermination carried out under Pinochet, with significant external
support from the CIA and others. There seems room now for international
solidarity in the reverse direction. The question is whether in practice this
is used to rejuvenate socialist forces in Chile and actually has a positive
effect, or whether it disarms them. So far the effects seem positive, in that
the moves to put him on trial have reopened questions which the right had tried
to close. 

More importantly, I think, is that the moves to try P. as a former head of
state under the anti-terrorism and anti-hostage taking conventions agreed in
the early 1980s demonstrates that the state terrorism of the right was and is
the main threat to democracy. We can't let the category of 'terrorism' go
uncontested, and the P. case is one which can and must be used politically in
this sense.

cheers

sol


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tom Kruse [SMTP:tkruse at albatros.cnb.net]
> Sent:	Sunday, December 06, 1998 1:42 AM
> To:	lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject:	Re: Article on Pinochet
> 
> Jim:
> 
> Great article.  Finally I think you've done justice to your position.
> There is much I can agree with; other parts I can't.  For example:
> 
> >The campaigners demanding Pinochet's trial have the moral authority of
> >thousands of victims murdered on their side. But by pressing the British
> >and Spanish courts to realise their aims they are making a tragic
> >mistake, that will reinforce the authority of the very powers that
> >imposed Pinochet on Chile in the first place. By placing their trust in
> >the European courts, they have side-stepped the need to build support in
> >Chile for a proper resolution to the struggles of the seventies. The
> >sight of the dictators' supporters claiming to stand up for Chilean
> >independence is sickening, given the real meaning of the dictatorship.
> >But in turning to the Western courts the left has made itself an adjunct
> >of Western diplomacy instead of a real opposition.
> 
> Yes.  But "tragic mistake" is too strong.  Things as simple as you paint
> them.  The process of the Pinochet affiar has opeend up spaces for a
> "public opinion" plebiscite to start.  And in Chile, as recent polls have
> shown, people are on the whole for seeing Pinochet brought to justice; and
> they prefer in Chile over elsewhere.  Public articulation of this would
> never have happened -- that is, creating political forces and spaces in
> Chile that might start to add up to a possibility of trying Pinoch there --
> had this affiar not erupted as it did.  Silver lining, perhaps, to the dark
> cloud you paint.
> 
> Tom
> 
> Tom Kruse
> Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
> Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242
> Email: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net