Gen. Augusto Pinochet is being held at a London hospital on a warrant by a Spanish judge who wants to extradite him to face charges of genocide and murder. The charges concern actions during Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship in Chile. Pinochet's fate rests with Britain's highest court, which has set Nov. 25, Pinochet's 83rd birthday, to rule whether he qualifies for state immunity. If the court, the House of Lords, rules he is entitled to immunity, Pinochet will be free to return to Chile, where it is doubtful he will ever face prosecution. If he is denied immunity, British Home Secretary Jack Straw will decide whether to grant Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón's extradition request. (Find more information at Amnesty International, http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/index.html.)
YOU CAN DO THREE THINGS:
1. Contact the Law Lord of the British House of Lords with this message: "Overturn the High Court decision to grant Augusto Pinochet diplomatic immunity, based on the principle that perpetrators of crimes against humanity are not protected by diplomatic immunity."
Judicial Office House of Lords Parliament Phone: 011-44-171-219 3111 Fax: 011-44-171-219 2476 E-Mail: crossni at parliament.uk (c/o Nick Cross, Judicial Office)
2. Contact British Home Secretary Jack Straw with this message: "Accept the Spanish court's extradition request of Pinochet on the grounds that he is charged with well-documented 'crimes against humanity.' "
Rt. Honorable Jack Straw, MP Home Secretary Phone: 011-44-171-273-4000 Fax: 011-44-171-273-2190 E-mail: gen.ho at gtnet.gov.uk
3. Contact U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno with this message: "Cooperate fully with the Spanish court's petition for all classified documents from U.S. investigations into Pinochet's human-rights violations, and reopen the investigation into the 1976 murders of Orlando Letelier and Ronnie Moffitt in Washington D.C. and name Pinochet as a co-conspirator."
Honorable Janet Reno U.S. Attorney General Phone: (202) 514-2063 Fax: (202) 514-4507 E-Mail: web at justice.usdoj.gov (in subject line put "A.G. Janet Reno")
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Tom Kruse Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242 Email: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net