A couple of points, first a small one. From emilio we read:
>BBC-TV shows interviews with refugees from Chile living in London.
>
>Refugees ?
>
>I doubt because since 1990 Chile had been a full democratic government's
>system without political repression and all the constitutional freedoms
>guaranteed by Law.
Not so fast; exile is not so simple. Say you were forced to flee Chile in 1973; you set up shop in Britian, and over the next 17 years you kinda make a life, in exile, for self and family. Pulling up stakes in the 18th year is not so simple a decision as it might seem. I know: this is the situation of the parents of a dear friend. She did return to Chile; her parents did not. Let's try to imagine the real people behind the new here.
Second point: good analysis from Chris in London, all interesting, if our primary concern is the texture of global management of capitalism at century's end. And of course it is, etc. James's note is right on:
>Turning their own former allies like Noriega, (or Mladic and
>Saddam?) is one way that imperialism is seeking to promote itself as
>'humanitarianism'.
BUT: what of the Chileans? And other South Americans generaly? They seem to be absent from the anayses so far.
Example:
>I am sure James is right that this move, albeit done ambiguously as a
>technical matter, for the reasons I have stated, will enhance the status of
>the British Government. It therefore has reformist dangers. *But* it is
>necessary to analyse what is going on so that we are not merely cheering
>outside the gates of the British Embassy. Blair and Clinton are the most
>forward looking managers of global capitalism at present in power.
>From here, the vicissitudes of British politics are surely relevant (on such
stuff turns what happens next). But they are not the most important
aspects. Here the feeling is: THE FUCKER is sweating; impunity is being
questioned; punto(s) final(es) are being reconsidered; memories are being
dusted off. And there is joy, as on the day when Anastasio Somoza to a
direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade launcher.
Just a minute ago Pinochet took his seat in Senate for Life, his immunity, and seemed to ride off into the sunset. Now, just a moment later, the end of the movie might have another outcome. The simple admission/recognition of this *possibilty* -- a different end, a whiff of justice -- is dramatic. I can't emphasize this enough!
And look at how this brings things into sharp relief in Chile (this from today's paper):
- Pinochet's defender decry, citing the "indignity" of serving the warrant at midnight, while he was in bed, and leaving him incomunicado for 2 hours! Pinochet, "disappeared" for 2 hours!
- The left (PDD, Comunists, etc.) acknowledging that it's unfortuante that foreigners must do what they couldn't (make the fucker sweat), but none the less welcoming the move.
- And Ricardo Lagos, Socialist Party candidate and serious challenger for the presidency, limiting his comments to blather like (I'm paraphrasing the paper) "it's too bad it had to happen this way ... there seem to be serious internatinoal realtions issues", etc.
Point: by omission, the dynamics internal to South Am politics seem like a side show to analyses of global capitalism, etc. No. Much is to be learned by looking and listening southward. Undoubtedly friends in Chile will be sending me their views in the upcoming days; I will pass them on as they arrive. And in the meantime, dust off the Spainsh-English dictionary folks, and take a look at Punto Final web site:
http://home.mem.net/~punto/punto.html
PF is the best and only remaining weekly from the left in Chile. They are also in dire financial straits, so if you're flush at year end, consider giving.
Tom
Tom Kruse / Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242 Email: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net