November 29, 1998, Sunday
Labour in secret deal to send Pinochet home
by TOM BALDWIN and GRAEME WILSON
THE Government was close to accepting last night a face-saving compromise in the extradition crisis over Gen Augusto Pinochet that would allow him to leave Britain and stand trial in Chile.
The development follows pleas from the Chilean government for the former dictator to be sent home on legal, humanitarian and political grounds. In talks with senior members of the Government, Jose Insulza, the Chilean foreign minister, said that there was a "genuine prospect and desire" for the general to be brought to justice in his home country.
Although Government insiders insisted that no decision had been taken, the compromise deal is being seen as the best route to avoiding the diplomatic and economic consequences of allowing the former dictator to be extradited to Spain to stand trial on charges of murder and torture.
It would solve the dilemma facing Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, who would never be forgiven by some sections of the Labour Party if he allowed Gen Pinochet to escape prosecution.
A decision on whether Bow Street magistrates should proceed with the extradition case must be taken by Dec 11.
Although Mr Straw has insisted that he will decide what action to take on strict legal grounds, he does have the discretion to release the 83-year-old general, who is recovering from a back operation, on compassionate grounds.
In talks on Friday with Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, and Peter Mandelson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, Mr Insulza said that the implications for Chile's fledgling democracy - in addition to its relations with Britain - would be grave if the general was allowed to be tried elsewhere.
Afterwards, Mr Mandelson emphasised that the decision on whether the extradition should proceed was one for the Home Secretary alone and that there was no question of any minister intervening over the issue.
But in contrast to his remarks last month that it would be "gut- wrenching" if the former dictator was allowed to escape prosecution through diplomatic immunity, Mr Mandelson said he understood that the Chilean people would be "offended" if the general was allowed to be tried in Spain. "Whatever they feel about Pinochet, they want to deal with him in their own way."
Mr Insulza said yesterday that although he accepted that the issue had so far been a legal matter, "we are interested to know when is the moment to make some political considerations".
Fourteen cases have been opened against the former dictator in Chile, the minister said. Although he could not guarantee that Gen Pinochet would be brought to trial or found guilty, he was confident the cases would be investigated thoroughly.
As clashes between Pinochet supporters and opponents continued in Chile, Doug Henderson, the defence minister, cancelled a visit to a trade fair in Valparaiso, the main naval base, this weekend because authorities could not guarantee his "personal comfort and dignity". The Royal Navy frigate, Sutherland, has been pulled out of a visit to the fair.
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